Man lists rare hawksbill turtle shell for $2,700, gets felony charge

A Florida man's attempt to turn a shelf ornament into quick cash on Facebook Marketplace has instead landed him a felony wildlife charge. The man’s listing of a ‘rare turtle shell’ for $2,700 turned into an investigation involving one of the most protected animals in Florida waters.The investigation opened on 30 June, after a Boynton Beach police officer flagged an online listing of the shell to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.The listing on Facebook Marketplace described the item as a ‘rare turtle shell’, which was claimed to be in ‘perfect condition’, priced at $2,700. The accompanying photos were clear enough for investigators to identify the item as the shell of an Atlantic hawksbill sea turtle, a species that does not often turn up for sale in someone’s living room.Atlantic hawksbill sea turtles are protected under Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act and the federal Endangered Species Act.