Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Three men have been ordered to stand trial after allegedly capturing an endangered Vallarta Casquito mud turtle, a rare species found nowhere else in the world. The suspects were arrested in Puerto Vallarta on October 8 while carrying traps believed to have been used to capture additional turtles in a nearby wetland.
The case marks the first time authorities in Puerto Vallarta have caught individuals in the act of extracting the elusive turtle, known scientifically as Kinosternon vogti. The species has an extremely limited natural range and faces growing pressure from habitat loss and poaching.
Arrest Made Near Local Wetlands
According to the police report, officers responded at approximately 9:30 pm on October 8 after receiving a request for assistance from a representative of Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) and Puerto Vallarta’s deputy director of Sustainability.
The environmental officials had reported three men carrying traps near wetlands at the intersection of Avenida Palmares and Arboledas in the Villas Universidad neighborhood.
When officers arrived, they found a Chevrolet Beat with Jalisco license plates parked near the wetland. Three men exited the vehicle, each carrying a homemade trap made from woven plastic.
Through an open vehicle window, an officer spotted an uncovered transparent container on the front passenger seat. Inside was a Vallarta Casquito mud turtle. A subsequent search, conducted with the occupants’ consent, uncovered four additional makeshift traps in the trunk.
The three men were arrested and turned over to the Attorney General’s Office. The vehicle was impounded, and the turtle was transferred to a Wildlife Management Unit (UMA) for safekeeping.
Federal Judge Orders Trial
On October 11, a federal judge ordered the three defendants to stand trial on charges related to the illegal possession of the protected turtle. As precautionary measures, they were fined, required to appear before the judge every 15 days, and prohibited from approaching the wetlands inhabited by the species.
Authorities considered the case particularly serious because the captured turtle was a reproductive female that had sustained an injury, reportedly during its capture.
The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) is participating in the investigation as a victim. Prosecutors requested that the agency be formally recognized in that capacity so it could assist in pursuing the biodiversity-related offense under Article 420, Section IV, of Mexico’s Federal Penal Code.
A Turtle Found Nowhere Else
The Vallarta Casquito mud turtle was introduced to the scientific world in 2018, when researchers identified the species in the Banderas Bay region. Measuring just 10 to 15 centimeters (about 4 to 6 inches) in shell length, it has distinctive markings that help distinguish the sexes. Males have a yellow spot on the nose, while females have a brown one.
The turtles inhabit freshwater lagoons and floodplains around Banderas Bay, but their natural habitat has diminished as urban development has expanded across the region. Their restricted range makes protecting these remaining wetlands essential to their survival.
Conservation of the Vallarta Casquito has become a priority for Puerto Vallarta’s Department of Environmental Sustainability, working alongside Semarnat and Profepa.
Authorities say they will continue coordinating with law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute crimes against wildlife. The arrests offer a significant opportunity to address illegal collection and strengthen protection for this unique local species.
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