A total of 1,255 protected Chinese yellow margined box turtles have been seized at Kaohsiung International Airport, a customs official said Monday. The snake-eating turtles, known by the scientific name Cuora flavomarginata, were uncovered last weekend when customs officers inspected an export shipment that was listed as green-headed turtles, or Ocadia sinensis, on the customs declaration form, the official said. It marked the first time that the Kaohsiung customs office has ever seized such a large number of protected animal species to be sent abroad, the official said. The turtles were placed in 50 well-packed cases, each containing three plastic containers separated by dividers. Unfastening the screws securing the dividers proved difficult and time-consuming, but customs officers discovered the protected turtles in the containers below those packed at the top of each carton. A close examination by experts from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology confirmed that the animals were a protected species barred from being exported, the official said. Noting that the would-be exporter has violated the Wildlife Protection Act and smuggling regulations, the official said the customs office has referred the case to relevant authorities for processing. 