Rare pig-nosed turtles kept illegally in Perth

Two rare pig-nosed turtles that can fetch at least $2000 on the exotic pet black market have been seized in Perth.

Only one of the pig-nosed turtles was alive when they were seized from a Mt Helena home, with two illegally kept south-west carpet pythons and an oblong turtle.

The WA Department of Parks and Wildlife said the turtles, which were close to extinction, were native to New Guinea and the Northern Territory, which was where police believed the seized animals originated.

The man who was allegedly keeping the reptiles illegally was caught while trying to sell the live turtle.

Wildlife officer Cameron Craigie said the turtles were the only freshwater species with flippers and were internationally protected.

"This extremely vulnerable species is being put at further risk by poachers and traffickers, who are driven by the prospect of monetary gain from supplying people wanting to keep them as pets illegally," he said.

"Pig-nosed turtles are very difficult to care for in captivity, as seen by the death of one of the seized animals, which became trapped in an aquarium pipe several years ago."

Mr Craigie said the dead turtle and some other dead animals had been preserved in formaldehyde.