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30-05-2019, 01:00 AM
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Leech smuggling: Canada fines man after 4,700 carried on plane

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48434072



A man has been fined C$15,000 ($11,000; £8,800) for trying to smuggle thousands of leeches in his carry-on luggage on a flight from Russia to Canada.

The discovery was made after a dog working with border agents smelled the leeches.

They were then sent off for tests to determine if they were lawful, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said in a statement.

The leeches were identified as Hirudo verbana, one of only two species of medicinal leech that come under regulations aimed at controlling wildlife trade.

All of the leeches tested had come from the wild.

Medicinal leech saliva contains blood-thinning properties and was vital in the first positive results of human dialysis treatments.
"Snakes On A Plane" may have been fantasy but these little beasties were real .....

..... but who would have thought that leech "over-harvesting" was an environmental concern .....
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30-05-2019, 08:59 AM
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Re: Leech smuggling: Canada fines man after 4,700 carried on plane

Just did some leech-googling, and they are actually rather interesting creatures.
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30-05-2019, 08:59 AM
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Re: Leech smuggling: Canada fines man after 4,700 carried on plane

Bloody hell!
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30-05-2019, 09:03 AM
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Re: Leech smuggling: Canada fines man after 4,700 carried on plane

Ewwww....
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30-05-2019, 10:02 AM
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Re: Leech smuggling: Canada fines man after 4,700 carried on plane

Originally Posted by Bratti ->
Ewwww....
No, not eww! Trust me, they are fascinating!

They have their own place in the food chain.
They are an indicator of pollution levels in the environment.
Not all types are vampiric; some live on detritus.
They have a fascinating sight organ.
They are deaf.
Some species make fantastic, caring parents!

Plus, from the medicinal point of view, they are invaluable!


Not that long ago, the medicinal sort were on the endangered species list.
 

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