Impounded Tortoises Headed For Holding Ground

By Gerald TenywaUGANDA Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials have said the 100 tortoises confiscated from a Kampala hawker were being taken to an animal holding ground in Kajjansi, belonging to Avi Nature.Avi Nature, which belongs to Floyd Nsimenta, is one of the six companies permitted by UWA to trade in various species of wildlife.According to the Mount Elgon National Park chief warden, James Okonya, the live animals were intercepted on a Gateway Kampala-bound bus, which was travelling from Moroto. Faisal Batte, who had allegedly concealed them in three gunny bags, was arrested and detained at Mbale Police Station.Batte picked the tortoises at Atari Swamp in Sironko district.Okonya said Batte was arrested because he had two permits issued within the last two years authorising a game trapper, Hussein Muhammad, to collect various wildlife species excluding tortoises.Park authorities said the way he was transporting the animals did not respect humane treatment.They said the animals were temporarily being kept at the Park headquarters and would later be released into their natural habitat.Okonya said this was the second consignment he was taking to his brother.But he declined to reveal the number of animals, which the previous consignment contained. “Police are still carrying out investigations,’’ Okonya said.Companies export wildlife species to Europe USA and Japan where they are kept as pets. They said the animals were temporarily being kept at the Park headquarters and would later be released into their natural habitat.Okonya said this was the second consignment he was taking to his brother.But he declined to reveal the number of animals, which the previous consignment contained. “Police are still carrying out investigations,’’ Okonya said.Companies export wildlife species to Europe USA and Japan where they are kept as pets.Ends