Rare Philippine turtles returned by Hong Kong

    A smuggled rare pond turtle, only about 120 remain in the wild, is presented to the media upon arrival along with 17 others to their native Philippines from Hong Kong at Manila's international airport. A Philippine wildlife official said the smuggled 18 pond turtles were confiscated at the Hong Kong airport in February along with 13 more common box turtles. 

 Turtles represent longevity and good luck, and that's certainly true for 18 rare smuggled turtles that were returned from Hong Kong to their native Philippines. Pond turtles live only in forests on Palawan Island southwest of Manila. Lim says they are prized as novelty pets or food.

Philippine officials took the unprecedented step of traveling to Hong Kong and retrieving the turtles because they are so rare. Palawan's governor received the turtles at the Manila airport. The 18 will be rehabilitated before being released.