Bangkok, Thailand CNN —Thailand is sending almost 1,000 highly endangered tortoises and lemurs home to Madagascar in a landmark victory against animal trafficking, with the first batch on its way on Saturday. Thai police recovered 1,117 animals, eight of which had died, during an anti-trafficking operation in the southern Thai province of Chumphon in May. Tortoises rescued in Thailand are put under authorities' care before being sent home to Madagascar. Attapol Charoenchansa, director of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, told CNN he expected the operations would have a deterrent effect. Between 1975 and 2019, Thailand directly and indirectly exported almost 35,000 animals or their products from Madagascar, according to the report.

---

Persons: munch, Chalermchai, Charoenchansa, ”, that’s Organizations: Thailand CNN, Convention, International Trade, Fauna, Department of National, Wildlife, Plant, Qatar Airways, Department of National Parks , Wildlife, Plant Conservation Department of National Parks , Wildlife, CNN Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Madagascar, Thai, Chumphon, Asia, Southeast Asia