Chinese student jailed for smuggling reptiles from Australia

An international student in Australia, Yinan Zhao, was caught trying to smuggle protected reptiles back to China. A recent release of photos and videos showed her attempts to hide 15 lizards in packages filled with toys and candy. The reptiles, which have a street value of over $74,000, were discovered by Australia Post's X-ray machines in Brisbane and Sydney. In February, a Brisbane District Court convicted Zhao of multiple wildlife trafficking offenses and sentenced her to 18 months in prison, with five months not eligible for parole. The announcement of her conviction came from Queensland’s Department of Environment (DETSI) on Wednesday. Authorities revealed that Zhao was one of many students targeted by criminals on social media, who promise easy money for smuggling wildlife. After her arrest, more reptiles were found being prepared for sale online. DETSI’s Warren Christensen highlighted the cruel nature of mailing reptiles, stating they often lack food, water, and fresh air during transport. Many intercepted animals cannot be returned to the wild due to lack of information about their capture or potential diseases. The lizards intercepted included several species, such as shinglebacks and blue-tongues. Christensen warned that anyone considering smuggling animals for profit will be caught and face serious consequences.