<p>An Ecuadorian policeman has been arrested after airport officials in the Galapagos Islands discovered 185 baby giant tortoises stuffed in a suitcase to be trafficked, prosecutors said Monday.</p>.<p>The reptiles, no more than three months old, were found in luggage destined for Guayaquil in mainland Ecuador during a routine inspection on Baltra island Sunday, authorities said.</p>.<p>The juvenile critters had been wrapped in plastic, and ten of them had died by the time the suitcase was opened.</p>.<p>Another five have died since, possibly due to stress, the environment ministry reported Monday.</p>.<p>The policeman will be charged with crimes against wildlife and risks a three-year prison sentence, the prosecutor's office in Ecuador tweeted.</p>.<p>The Galapagos Islands, some 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) off the coast of Ecuador, are a protected wildlife area and home to unique species of flora and fauna.</p>.<p>The Galapagos are where Charles Darwin's observation of birds and tortoises on different islands gave rise to his theory of natural selection.</p>.<p>The reptiles -- the largest living tortoises in the world -- are the volcanic islands' star attraction, but are listed as endangered.</p>.<p>The environment ministry said the surviving tortoises were taken to a breeding centre on the neighbouring Santa Cruz island.</p>.<p>"The veterinary evaluation found that they are not in good health," it added.</p>.<p>According to the Galapagos Conservation Trust, the giant tortoise arrived in Galapagos from mainland South America some two to three million years ago, diversifying into 14 species on different islands.</p>.<p>After the death of Lonesome George, the last Pinta island tortoise in 2012, 12 species are thought to remain today, scattered over 10 islands, the trust website says.</p>.<p>About 1.5- to 1.8 meters long, the slow-breeding creatures can live to over 100 years.</p>.<p>On Twitter, Environment Minister Marcelo Mata on Sunday blasted "these crimes against Ecuadorans' wild fauna and natural heritage."</p>
<p>An Ecuadorian policeman has been arrested after airport officials in the Galapagos Islands discovered 185 baby giant tortoises stuffed in a suitcase to be trafficked, prosecutors said Monday.</p>.<p>The reptiles, no more than three months old, were found in luggage destined for Guayaquil in mainland Ecuador during a routine inspection on Baltra island Sunday, authorities said.</p>.<p>The juvenile critters had been wrapped in plastic, and ten of them had died by the time the suitcase was opened.</p>.<p>Another five have died since, possibly due to stress, the environment ministry reported Monday.</p>.<p>The policeman will be charged with crimes against wildlife and risks a three-year prison sentence, the prosecutor's office in Ecuador tweeted.</p>.<p>The Galapagos Islands, some 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) off the coast of Ecuador, are a protected wildlife area and home to unique species of flora and fauna.</p>.<p>The Galapagos are where Charles Darwin's observation of birds and tortoises on different islands gave rise to his theory of natural selection.</p>.<p>The reptiles -- the largest living tortoises in the world -- are the volcanic islands' star attraction, but are listed as endangered.</p>.<p>The environment ministry said the surviving tortoises were taken to a breeding centre on the neighbouring Santa Cruz island.</p>.<p>"The veterinary evaluation found that they are not in good health," it added.</p>.<p>According to the Galapagos Conservation Trust, the giant tortoise arrived in Galapagos from mainland South America some two to three million years ago, diversifying into 14 species on different islands.</p>.<p>After the death of Lonesome George, the last Pinta island tortoise in 2012, 12 species are thought to remain today, scattered over 10 islands, the trust website says.</p>.<p>About 1.5- to 1.8 meters long, the slow-breeding creatures can live to over 100 years.</p>.<p>On Twitter, Environment Minister Marcelo Mata on Sunday blasted "these crimes against Ecuadorans' wild fauna and natural heritage."</p>