A prison sentence for a reptile trader should serve as a warning to other potential wildlife criminals, Australia's Environment Minister says.
Beichuan Zhang was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for trying to send 43 crawlers in parcels from Australia to Hong Kong over the summer. The seven enclosures contain blue-tongued lizards, eastern water dragons, scale-backed skinks and other reptiles.
Photos released by the federal government show reptiles in plastic containers tied up in stockings and surrounded by plastic toys.
The Chinese national was found guilty of five counts of attempting to export the lizards and will spend at least 14 months in prison before becoming eligible for parole.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said crimes against wildlife were a global problem and were recognized as part of organized crime.
People who trade animals like this are cruel and selfish, and I will do everything I can to make sure they apply the full force of the law. https://t.co/2OlIhWsZQe
– Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) April 12, 2024
