California couple convicted after plane chat leads to animal trafficking bust -- The Guardian

[erronis]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/27/california-animal-trafficking

Couple unwittingly revealed to state wildlife agents that they were transporting the remains of a protected sea turtle

A California couple learned the hard way that discussing their travel plans with strangers can have dire consequences, especially when those plans involve transporting the remains of a protected sea turtle in their carry-on luggage.

More than a year ago, two officers from the California department of fish and wildlife (CDFW) were flying back to northern California from San Diego, dressed in plain clothes, and struck up a conversation with a couple seated nearby who were discussing hunting.

During the conversation, the couple admitted they were carrying a sea turtle skull from the east coast in their luggage. They also mentioned illegally hunting a mountain lion, a specially protected species in California, and told the officers about a relative’s “trophy room” full of taxidermized mountain lions, a wolverine and other animals.

...

Global wildlife trafficking is the third-largest illegal trafficking activity in the world, behind drug trafficking and counterfeit foods, according to a 2023 report from the ratings firm Moody’s. The US is the “source, destination and transit location” for illegal trafficking in wildlife and animal products, the report says.

Any bets that they'll be awarded a prize by trump of one of his bastard sons?

[MagickMuffin]

1. It's interesting they spilled the beans so openly to strangers

And I’m definitely glad they did.

That room with the now lifeless bodies of animals is quite disturbing.

[erronis]

2. I don't understand how people can get joy from that activity.

I understand hunting for food, but the obvious gluttony of people like the trump children with trophy animals is incomprehensible to me.

[MagickMuffin]

3. I'm no longer in direct contact with my family

But my sil sends out yearly newsletters at Xmas. She mentioned my brother went to Argentina to kill an elk there, it was on his bucket list. It upsets me that he traveled to another country just to kill an animal.

[pansypoo53219]

4. i did one estate sale years ago. the death room was in the basement. but mr taxi saved + mounted stuff that froze

on the lake in his front yard. lot of baby things.