TINY turtles smuggled in from China have been found inside a container by the Guardia Civil at a checkpoint in Gandia(Valencia).

20 black-bellied leaf turtles were hidden among stuffed toys and socks, with some of them having died from stress, improper handling, and the sheer length of the journey.

The surviving turtles were taken to the Terra Natura park in Benidorm which has extensive experience in looking after exotic animals.

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Terra Natura staff immediately went into overdrive to provide critical care and rehydration for the turtles which in adulthood reach just 15 centimetres in length.

They found some of them suffering injuries during transportation as well as catching certain parasites.

Regular tests are being carried on them to identify what they may have contracted and how to deal with it.

Each of the turtles have been microchipped and remain closely monitored under isolation.

Another concern is food as it is an omnivorous species with a very specialised diet in its natural habitat.

Terra Natura Benidorm’s herpetologist, David Marti, said: “ We are working against the clock to identify acceptable foods in captivity that guarantee their survival and avoid starvation”.

He added that it was a particularly ‘worrying’ case of illegal wildlife trafficking which poses ‘problems for the conservation of already vulnerable species’.

A 53-year-old Spaniard is being investigated by the Guardia Civil for wildlife trafficking.

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VICENTE Climent who founded and owned the Costa Blanca’s best-known entertainment venue, the Benidorm Palace, has died at the age of 80.

He passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning according to the Benidorm Palace’s social media networks.

The Palace said it ‘deeply mourned the death of a key figure in the venue’s history’.

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“His dedication, humanity, and vision have left a mark that will last forever,” it stated.

“Thank you for everything you gave us, Vicente.”

His funeral takes place this Friday at noon at the Marina Baixa Funeral Home in Villajoyosa.

Climent is survived by his British-born wife Christine, who co-owned the venue, and their children David and Joanna.

Originally from neighbouring Finestrat, Vicente Climent became a towering figure within Benidorm’s tourism sector.

The Benidorm Palace started bringing glitzy entertainment within a night-club format to the city from 1977.

Climent bought the actual building in 1997 and upgraded it from a seventies-look plus introduced the popular meal packages to increase revenues.

The venue has also hosted many charity fundraising events over the years.

Within his Palace group, Vicente Climent also operated the Benidorm Circus which opened over 20 years ago.

In 2019, he received a Valencian Community Tourism Award in tribute to his career and his contribution to Benidorm.

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A MAN who worked for an elderly woman has been arrested in Elche for clearing out her bank account.

The non-Spanish victim was hoodwinked while she was recuperating from an operation at home.

The 58-year-old man- also of undisclosed nationality- looked after her home and garden.

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The Policia Nacional said he brazenly abused her trust when she let him use her bank card to buy essential items during her recovery.

He made multiple withdrawals totalling €3,900 which left nothing in her account.

The thief took advantage of the fact that the woman lived alone and had no support network or family in Spain.

It was her daughter from abroad that noticed her bank account was empty.

She contacted her with the shocking news and suspecting she had been scammed, the victim went to the Policia Nacional station in Elche to report the unauthorised withdrawals.

The bank records confirmed what happened and with the carer linked to the cash card, he was charged with committing fraud.

The Policia Nacional contacted social services to ensure the woman’s well-being and care.

The investigation is still active to establish whether the man defrauded her further or whether other people in vulnerable situations were conned by him.

Click here to read more Costa Blanca News from The Olive Press.