TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $2,500
for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons
responsible for killing 20 gopher tortoises in Ocala, Florida last month.
The case
Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) law enforcement investigators received
information recently of two trash bags filled with 20 gopher tortoise shells
near a wooded area in the 700 block of Northwest 14th Street on November
28. FWC investigators suspect the tortoises were killed for their meat.
Anyone with any information that may help solve this case should call the
Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922. Information such as someone seen
dumping the shells, or buying or selling gopher tortoises or their meat, would
be extremely helpful. The call is toll-free, callers may remain completely
anonymous and could be eligible for an FWC reward of up to $1,000 from
Wildlife Alert if their information leads to an arrest.
Gopher Tortoises are
protected as a species of special concern in Florida;
it is a second-degree misdemeanor to kill these animals without a FWC permit.
FWC recently voted to change the species’ status to threatened,
which will afford the animals greater protection when the change becomes
official with the approval of a new management plan, expected in June 2007.
Recently, The HSUS
and other local animal welfare groups have worked with the FWC and local
construction companies to relocate gopher tortoises that were making their
homes on land scheduled for development.
The investigators
The Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the case. If you have any
information, contact FWC’s 24-hour Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
For more
information, contact Jen Hobgood, Ph.D., program coordinator for The HSUS’
Southeast Regional Office at 850-386-3435, jhobgood@hsus.org, or Belinda
Mager at 646-469-4987, bmager@hsus.org
.
The Humane Society of
the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with
nearly 10 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for
animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and
response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research,
equine protection and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals
through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field
work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field
representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
The HSUS Southeast Regional Office serves Florida, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
