Looking to Import a Tortoise / Turtle in to Sri Lanka??

Mediterranean Tortoise

For those of you who are thinking of importing Tortoises/Turtles as Pets to Sri Lanka, we have sad news to offer...!! As a leading pet relocation service provider in Sri Lanka, we would like to draw your attention to the matter of importing a Tortoise / Turtle to Sri Lanka...

African Spurred Tortoise

Tortoises/Turtles are NOT ALLOWED to be imported to Sri Lanka anymore as Pets or for any other commercial purpose... except for licensed Zoological gardens... As many of these Species are already protected by CITES, some countries have extra laws covering trade an import/export of these animals.

Red Eared Turtle

Even though some of these Animals can be imported/exported under special permits, The Department of Wildlife, Sri Lanka or the Department of Animal Production & Health, Sri Lanka, will not be issuing permits to import these animals as Pets or for any other commercial purpose, except for Zoological Gardens under special permission.

The officials stated the main reason for taking this kind of a decision regarding Tortoises/Turtles is that there is the risk of them being invasive. If the animals are released in to the environment (even by accident) there is a chance they can adapt to the environment, breed and increase in number, probably difficult to be tolerated by the environment in Sri Lanka. The rapid increase of "Red Eared Turtle" population in Sri Lanka is an example to this...

So... if you are planning to visit or reside in Sri Lanka, and if you have a "Shelly friend" you want to bring along, sorry; permissions will not be granted... Therefore I suggest that you work on finding a family to adopt your little friend... I know it's hard... but, it is for the best...