Tortoise Importation Ban

Working towards a ban on imports for the commercial pet trade

Tortoises are imported into the UK just to satisfy pet shops and garden centre traders.  Sadly, it is a trade that is hugely escalating out of control since the initial ban was introduced in 1984.  Imports have continued to spiral, quite dramatically, since Slovenia joined the EU in May 2004 and tortoises are arriving in their droves once again.

Many of these tortoises are "captive farmed", the eggs incubated and once hatched they, along with the ones that have already been wild caught, are imported into the UK just to line the pockets of greedy dealers and indulge the commercial pet trade.

Imagine being packed in a box for days on end, the stress alone can bring on serious health problems for these poor creatures.  Chronic worm infestations in imported tortoises are all too common.  It is a well known fact that stress in tortoises make them susceptible to any pathogens they may have contracted.  We know of many cases where these animals are really ill or which die within a few weeks of being sold to new keepers, who are unaware of the untold misery they may have already suffered on their journey here.

The TPG is campaigning for a ban on the importation of tortoises for the UK pet trade in order to help preserve them in their natural habitat and put an end to the pain and suffering they have to endure for our pleasure.....

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TPG Online Petition

We would like to thank everyone who has taken time to sign our online petition and we do hope to be in a positon to present both the online and the paper petitions in the near future. 

We currently have over 15000 signatures in total but we would appreciate more. If members would kindly consider either signing our online petition, which fortunately we have been able to continue, by clicking here  or continuing to collect signatures from work colleagues, friends etc on our paper petition, which can be downloaded here, we should be grateful:-

In the meantime we are waiting to hear back from an MP who is working on our behalf with regards to obtaining answers from Animal Health/DEFRA regarding important issues on importation raised by us.

April 2009