BY OUR STAFF FOUR Chinese nationals were arrested in Masvingo recently for contravening the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act after killings at least 40 tortoises, listed as endangered species.
The quartet allegedly procured the animals from the local community.
The arrests of the four were the result of joint efforts undertaken by the police, National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, The Tikki Hywood Trust and The Save Valley Conservancy Anti-Poaching Unit.
The raid recovered 13 live tortoises together with the skeletal remains of another 40. The four men are presently detained awaiting deportation.
ZNSPCA said the tortoises were stored in two empty 200-litre steel drums with no provisions for food or water.
