(Ecns.cn)--A man in east China's Anhui Province recently bought and took home a dangerous animal without realizing the potential threat, according to Anhuinews.com on Wednesday.
As they were driving home, a Mr. Xiao and his friend saw two men standing at a road crossing trying to sell an odd-looking turtle. Intrigued, they moved in to have a closer look.
According to the two men on the road, the turtle had been found at the construction plant where they worked, and because it looked unusual they decided to sell it and make some extra money.
Though Xiao had no knowledge about the turtle, he decided to buy it for 1,000 yuan (US$156.89). Later when he wanted to free the turtle in a pond, a neighbor informed him that it might be an alligator snapping turtle, which is very dangerous and harmful to the environment.
A picture of the turtle was sent to the deputy director of a wildlife zoo in Hefei, capital city of Anhui Province, where the turtle was indeed confirmed to be an alligator snapping turtle.
Originating in North America, the alligator snapping turtle has a thick shell with three large dorsal ridges, and is imported and raised in zoos in China.
But because of the large size and danger of the animal, China only imports a limited number of them, according to the deputy director. Mr. Xiao's turtle was estimated to be seven or eight years old and would usually go for about 60 yuan (US$9.41) per kilogram.
The turtle is larger than common ones, so retailers often cheat people for higher prices by saying they are "divine" turtles.
