IRISH holiday makers are smuggling endangered tortoises into Ireland while returning from trips to Mediterranean countries.
Some of the animals have rhinitis, an infectious disease which can kill tortoise collections.
Ms Maureen Wallace, a tortoise breeder from Dublin, has received ill animals from people who had brought the reptiles into the State by concealing them in hand luggage.
"Most surrendered smuggled tortoises have died from rhinitis, an infectious, flu like disease which can kill reptiles.
"Symptoms of the disease include discharge from the eyes and bubbling of the nose," said Ms Wallace.
Tortoises cost £4 to £5 in tourist markets in most Mediterranean countries.
Most tortoises sold are young Mediterranean Spur thighed and Hermann's tortoises, which measure three inches, and are easily concealed.
Dublin Zoo's veterinary surgeon, Dr John Bainbridge, said rhinitis could kill captive collections of reptiles if an infected animal was introduced.
"It is inadvisable and illegal to bring any animals home from foreign destinations as they carry parasites which could establish themselves in reptile collections here."
He urged holiday makers not to buy tortoises, as removing them would reduce local breeding populations, thus causing small scale or local extinction.
A spokesman for Wild, the Irish exotic animal welfare group, confirmed the existence of the trade in reptiles.
"We are aware of tourists travelling to Mediterranean countries and bringing back reptiles. It is a major problem on the Canary and Greek islands and has caused several sub species of reptile to become threatened."
The group called on the Government to allocate more resources to the Wildlife Service to curb wildlife smuggling.
"There is so much animal smuggling taking place that there is now an urgent need for the Government to ratify the UN Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CIIES).
"The Wildlife Service also needs to be given extra powers and training to make an impact on the trade," said the spokesman. All species of tortoise are endangered and protected under CITES.
A spokesman for the Wildlife Service said people who wished to import wild animals required import licences and permission from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.