Turtle trafficking at U.S. airports has surged in recent years, driven largely by increased demand in the exotic pet market, particularly in China, according to conservationists and law enforcement officials. Native box turtles, including eastern and ornate species, are being poached and smuggled out of the United States by organized crime networks, with hundreds intercepted in recent months.

Paul Chapelle, assistant special agent in charge with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Office of Law Enforcement, highlighted the alarming scale of the trade. “They’re going out by the hundreds,” he said, referring to the number of turtles seized before leaving the country. The animals are often packed tightly in inappropriate materials like socks and diapers, bound with duct tape, and deprived of food and water during transit, resulting in high mortality.

The Bronx Zoo has become a key sanctuary for many of these rescued turtles. Since October 2024, the facility has received more than 850 animals confiscated primarily at John F. Kennedy International Airport. These turtles are housed in controlled enclosures, where veterinary staff provide care and rehabilitation. The zoo’s veterinarian, Dr. Aubrey Alonzo, noted that many confiscated turtles arrive carrying diseases, including over a dozen newly identified virus variants, which complicates efforts to safely reintroduce them to the wild.

The trade is fueled in part by growing demand in Asian markets, particularly China, where turtles are valued for traditional medicine, meat, and as pets that require limited living space in urban environments. Conservation scientist Alice Hughes of the University of Melbourne explained that once smuggled into mainland China, American turtles often enter an ambiguous regulatory zone, facilitating their sale as exotic pets despite international restrictions. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates the international commercial trade of box turtles, requiring permits for legal cross-border movement.

In the United States, trafficking is concentrated at major international airports and shipping hubs like those in New York and Los Angeles, as well as international mail and express consignment facilities. The Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners have intercepted more than 2,500 turtles at U.S. ports of entry this year alone.

Releasing the turtles back into their native habitats remains a priority, but it is not without challenges. Many rescued turtles have been collected far from where they were found, and the risk of disease transmission poses a threat to wild populations. Additionally, ongoing demand means released turtles face the danger of being captured again by poachers.

The Bronx Zoo is collaborating with state agencies to facilitate the return of rehabilitated turtles to the wild when possible. However, staff acknowledge the growing volume of smuggled turtles represents a significant strain on resources. Kevin Torregrosa, the zoo’s curator of herpetology, urged public vigilance. “If you see someone picking up turtles, it might not be as innocent as it looks,” he said, encouraging people to report suspicious behavior to wildlife authorities.