Czech couple held over theft of insect genes

A Czech husband and wife duo were arrested over the alleged theft of insect genes, police said yesterday. They were arrested in Elpitiya’s Kurundugahahatekma on Friday along with their local aide.

The Elpitiya magistrate released them on bail and ordered them to be present in Court tomorrow, police said.The duo had insects in polythene bags and insect gene collecting apparatus.

Wildlife officials said that an international racket of collecting genes of insects indigenous to Sri Lanka is being carried out by those who arrive in the island on tourist visas. In late April, a Dutch professor was fined US$ 12,000 for keeping many small insects in polythene bags.

Forest Department officials are paying more attention especially around the Sinharaja Forest reserve on gene robberies in the guise of eco-tourism.