Dozens Of Endangered Turtles Mysteriously Disappear From Zoo In JapanOfficials fear dozens of turtles from a zoo in Japan have been stolen to be sold illegally. A total of 64 turtles went missing from their enclosure at the Okinawa Zoo and Museum, Agence France-Presse reported Wednesday. The zoo said the turtles are small, measuring less than 20 centimetres long. "We feed them twice a week and a keeper noticed their number was clearly low," zoo section chief Kozue Ohgimi told AFP. Officials found that some cable ties used for netting over the turtles' enclosure were removed. "The nets were loose enough to enable an adult to sneak into the area," Ohgimi said. Officials worry the turtles —— were stolen to sell on the black market. In total, 15 Ryukyu leaf turtles and 49 yellow-margined box turtles were taken. "They are traded for high prices," Ohgimi said. Ryukyu leaf turtles and yellow-margined box turtles arecompiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a global organization focused on conservation and sustainability. They are also designated as "natural treasures" in Japan, making it illegal to commercially trade them. Bothand the illegal pet trade are threatening the of both species. An investigation is ongoing.