245 endangered pangolins seized at Bangkok airport

The pangolins - scaly ant-eating animals - were found in a joint sting operation conducted by police, airport and customs officers, said WildAid, a nonprofit group dedicated to ending the illegal trade in wildlife.

Photo: 245 endangered pangolins seized at Bangkok airport

A Malayan snail-eating turtle and 64 black marsh turtles were also discovered in the shipment, which had been labeled as containing a type of turtle not listed as endangered, WildAid said in a statement.

Pangolins can fetch 1,800-3,000 baht (US$47-US$78; Ђ 38- Ђ 62) per kilogram along the Thai-Laos border range, and they sell for US$200-US$300 ( Ђ 160- Ђ 240) each in China, WildAid said. An adult pangolin weighs 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) on average, the AP reports.

The seizure comes just a month after police and customs officials from around Southeast Asia met in Thailand to decide how to run a trans-border network to combat the illegal wildlife trade.