Police were stunned when they found more than 1,500 live turtles wrapped in duct tape in unclaimed luggage.

Bizarre on Female First

Bizarre on Female First

1,529 reptiles were discovered in four checked in suitcases at Manila's Ninoy Aquino airport on Sunday in the Philippines.

The Bureau of Customs found the suitcases to be filled with rare varieties of the animals including star tortoises, red-footed tortoises, sulcata tortoises and red eared sliders.

Many of the animals - which have a street value of £66,000 - were hidden inside plastic containers or concealed in tape.

According to officials, the cases had been brought on a flight from Hong Kong by a passenger from the Philippines and left unclaimed in the arrivals area.

The turtles have been transferred to a monitoring unit for safekeeping.