BALI, Dec 31 (dpa): The Indonesian navy has seized 32 sea turtles and arrested more than 20 suspected smugglers in a raid off the resort island of Bali.
The men set sail in three fishing boats on Wednesday afternoon and had caught dozens of the endangered animals by Thursday, the Balinese news website Coconuts reported on Friday, citing a navy spokesperson.
The fishers had only recently started catching sea turtles instead of fish - apparently out of financial need.
The smuggling of sea turtles is said to be very lucrative.
Where the animals were to be sold is still under investigation, the authorities said.,
The turtles are now to be rehabilitated in a rescue centre and then released into the wild.
According to the environmental organisation WWF, sea turtles are now threatened with extinction because of the hunting of the female animals, the collection of the eggs and the commercial use of the turtle shells, among other things.
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