Research on the Illegal Trade in Freshwater Turtles in Sindh
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Disclaimer: This ‘Research on the Illegal Trade in Freshwater Turtles in Sindh and Balochistan’ was made possible with support from the American people delivered through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of IUCN Pakistan and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of USAID or the U.S. Government. Published by IUCN Pakistan Copyright © 2017 International Union for Conservation of Nature. Citation is encouraged. Reproduction and/or translation of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from IUCN Pakistan, provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission from IUCN Pakistan. Compiled by Dr. Syed Ali Ghalib Syed Ali Hasnain Field Surveys undertaken by Adnan Hamid Khan Abdur Razzaq Khan Coordination by Saeed Akhtar Baloch Sindh Wildlife Department Edited by Danish Rashdi, IUCN Pakistan Naveed Ali Soomro, IUCN Pakistan Ruxshin Dinshaw, IUCN Pakistan Cover Photograph by Zahoor Salmi Designed by Azhar Saeed, IUCN Pakistan Printed by VM Printer (Pvt.) Ltd. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Importance of Freshwater Turtles 3 1.2 Freshwater Turtles of Pakistan 4 1.3 Threats to Freshwater Turtles in Pakistan 4 1.4 Literature Review 4 1.5 Need for the Present Study 5 2 Objectives 7 2.1 Activities 7 3 Methodology 9 3.1 Indirect Observations 9 3.2 Direct Observations 9 3.3 Analysis of the Record of Consignments seized by the Sindh Wildlife Department 10 4 Results and Discussion 11 4.1 Focus Group Discussions 11 4.2 Consultations with Stakeholders 11 4.3 Field Surveys in Select Localities 12 4.4 Ecological Study on the Black Spotted Pond Turtle 15 5 Conservation Efforts 18 5.1 National Efforts 18 5.2 International Obligations 26 6 Recommendations 28 7 Conclusion 31 8 Acknowledgments 32 9 References 33 Appendix 1: Record of consignments of freshwater turtles confiscated at Karachi (2005-2007) 35 Appendix 2: Record of consignments of freshwater turtles confiscated in Sukkur (2006-2008) 35 Annexure 1: Freshwater Turtle Conservation Action Plan 37 Executive Summary Five species of freshwater turtles (FWTs) in Pakistan are globally threatened. The present study reviews the efforts made to protect the species and control their illegal trade. It also identifies the hotspots for the capture and export of freshwater turtles Sindh and highlights the successful efforts of the Sindh Wildlife Department to control this illegal activity in the Province through detection and registration of cases of the illegal trade of the species. The study emphasizes the need for regular monitoring of the status of the species and recommends actions for their safeguard. Field surveys in Balochistan were also undertaken in Hingol National Park area, Hub Dam and selected localities in Jafarabad and Naseerabad Districts (Khirthar Canal, Beron Khirthar Canal and Pat Feeder Canal areas). No instances / cases of illegal trapping or export of freshwater turtles were reported in Balochistan. A Consultative Workshop to draft a Freshwater Turtles Conservation Action Plan was held in November, 2017 at Karachi and a brief action plan for the conservation of freshwater turtles was developed. This joint effort may serve as a milestone for the conservation of freshwater turtles in Sindh and Balochistan. Wetlands of Deh Akro Wildlife Sanctuary. Q Naveed Soomro 2 1. INTRODUCTION There are about 300 species of freshwater turtles worldwide and more or less 50% of them are threatened. Turtles have slow growth and late maturity with relatively modest annual reproductive output. They are responsible for cleaning the aquatic environment by feeding upon the dead organic material and diseased fish. The freshwater turtle is a keystone species which also controls the population of fish. 1.1 Importance of Freshwater Turtles Freshwater turtles are found residing in the whole Indus River system. This system comprises of many canals, irrigation ditches, ponds, agricultural ponds, fishing farms and water reservoirs. All these sites provide favourable habitats for the turtles. Freshwater turtles play a major role in maintaining balance in the ecosystem of any wetland. They act as scavengers by decaying dead organic matter. They act as indicators of a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Some of them are carrion eating species that feed on aquatic weeds and reduce eutrophication. Economically, freshwater turtles are considered more valuable compared to fisheries because of the presence of good quality flesh and fats which are in high demand in international markets for different purposes. Hardella_thurjii 3 The pharmaceutical industry also utilizes turtle for irrigation purposes and water pollution. plastron for preparing specific medicines. China People, particularly fishermen, are unaware of the and Taiwan are considered the major markets for ecological role of turtles in the river ecosystem plastron imports. Freshwater turtles have served and consider the turtles as being harmful to the as an important food resource in many Asian fishing economy. countries. However, several countries in the region have made attempts for the conservation Turtle hunting takes place everywhere in the and management of the resource. In Asian region and people are well aware of this countries, freshwater turtles are rarely exploited business. Wildlife trade, particularly in freshwater for jewelry, tourist souvenirs, or leather; rather, turtles, has been taking place in a well organised they are mostly utilized in medicine and as food. manner in Sindh Province (Shah, 1996). 1.2 Freshwater Turtles of Pakistan 1.4 Literature Review Around 167 reptile species have been recorded in In Pakistan, scientific studies have been Pakistan (Ghalib et al., 1976). As many as 105 undertaken on the status and distribution of species of reptiles have been recorded in Sindh freshwater turtles in Sindh, KPK and Punjab, with (Khan et al., 2012). Pakistan has eight species of the main objective being to determine the freshwater turtles, all of which can be found in distribution, status and abundance of freshwater Sindh and Balochistan. Based on the absence or turtle species, particularly in the districts rich in presence of horny scutes or scales on their wetlands, which potentially provide habitats for carapace, freshwater turtles have been divided turtles. into two categories, viz. Softshell Turtles and Hardshell Turtles. Softshell turtle species include Many researchers have worked on the the Indian Softshell Turtle, Peacock Softshell distribution and conservation of freshwater Turtle, Indian Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle, and turtles, particularly in different locations in Sindh. Indian Flap Shell Turtle, while the Spotted Pond The information about the distribution and Turtle, Indian Roofed Turtle, Brown Roofed Turtle abundance of freshwater turtles in Sindh was first and Crowned River Turtle are Hardshell Turtle compiled by the Zoological Survey of Pakistan Species (Table 1). based on a survey on the distribution and status of freshwater turtles in the River Indus adjacent to 1.3 Threats to Freshwater Turtles in Sukkur Barrage, Guddu Barrage, Jamal din Wali, Pakistan and pond areas adjacent to Kandhkot during Besides poaching and trade, the threats to March and April 2003. A total of six species of freshwater turtles include unsustainable turtles i.e. Pangshura smithi, Pangshura tecta, development, scarcity of water in rivers and Hardella thurjii, Chitra indica, Nilssonia gangetica canals, water diversion and extraction projects and Lissemys punctata were recorded in the Table 1: List of Freshwater Turtle Species Recorded in Pakistan # Family Scientific Name Common Name 1 Geoclemys hamiltoni Spotted Pond Turtle 2 Pangshura smithii Brown Roofed Turtle Geomydidae 3 Pangshura tectum Indian Roofed Turtle 4 Hardella thurjii Crowned River Turtle 5 Nilssonia gangeticus Indian Soft Shell Turtle 6 Nilssonia hurum Peacock Soft Shell Turtle Trionychidae 7 Lissemys punctata Indian Flap Shell Turtle 8 Chitra indica Indian Narrow-headed Soft shell Turtle 4 Indian flapshell turtle. Q Naveed Soomro study area. Chitra indica and Pangshura smithii Change) conducted several studies on freshwater were observed to be abundant in various parts of turtles and highlighted their illegal trade. The the study area (Azam et al., 2005). findings of Noureen and Khan (2007, 2007a) gave a preliminary status of freshwater turtles in Later, Noureen (2009) reported eight species of Punjab and Sindh. Noureen et al., (2008) freshwater turtles in the Indus River system. described the preliminary findings of the turtle Arshad and Noureen (2010) conducted a survey trade around the major barrages and headworks to identify the causes of mass mortality of of Punjab. Noureen (2009) gave an account of freshwater turtles downstream of the Sukkur freshwater turtles trade in Sindh, and later Barrage. Regarding illegal trading, Noureen et al. Noureen et al. (2012) gave an account of the (2012) investigated the consequences of the illegal trade in freshwater turtles of Pakistan. exploitation and status of freshwater turtles in 1.5 Need for the Present Study Pakistan. Safi and Khan (2014) studied the status and distribution of freshwater turtles in It has been observed that Soft-shell turtles are Charsadda, KPK. Khan et al. (2015) described the mostly targeted by local communities in Sindh distribution and current status