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The Decline of Asian Turtles

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THE DECLINE OF ASIAN TURTLES Food markets, habitat destruction and pet trade drive Asia’s freshwater turtles and tortoises to extinction 2 The Decline of Asian Turtles Contents Page 1. Summary 1.1. in English, in German 3 1.2. in French, in Spanish 4 Millions of wild-caught Chelonians are on sale 2. Turtles in Mythology and Tradition at Southeast Asian food markets each year 2.1. Role of Turtles in Asian Mythology 5 2.2. The Medicinal and Culinary Use of Turtles 5 3. Turtles Traded as Food and Medicine 6 3.1. Local Demand 6 3.1.1. China 6 3.1.2. Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam 6 3.1.3. Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand 7 3.1.4. Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka 7 3.1.5. Indonesia and Papua New Guinea 7 3.2. International trade 10 3.2.1. China 10 3.2.2. Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam 10 3.2.3. Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand 10 3.2.4. Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal & and Pakistan 10 3.2.5. Indonesia, Papua New Guinea 11 3.2.6. USA 11 3.3. Transport and Treatment 11 3.4. Farming of Turtles 11 4. Extent and Increase of the Turtle Trade for Food and Medicine 12 4.1. Escalating Demand in Southeast Asia 12 4.2. Imports to Hong Kong 12 5. Other threats to Asian Turtle Populations 13 5.1. Habitat Destruction 13 5.1.1. Sand Mining and Damming 13 5.1.2. Agriculture and Deforestation 13 5.1.3. Chemical Pollution and Other Factors 13 Pro Wildlife Loefflerstr. 5a 80999 Munich 5.2. National and International Pet Trade 14 Germany 5.2.1. Turtles as Pets in Asian Countries 14 Tel.: +49-89-81299-507 5.2.2. Asian Countries as Suppliers for the Fax: +49-89-81299-706 International Pet Trade 14 [email protected] 5.2.3. Asian Turtles as Pets in Europe and USA 15 Written by 6. Indicators of the Decline of Asia´s Turtle Fauna 16 Sandra Altherr & Daniela Freyer 6.1. Asian Box Turtles - The Genus Cuora 16 6.2. The genus Kachuga in the Indian Subcontinent 17 Copyright: 6.3. Asian Softshell Turtles 17 March 2000, Pro Wildlife 6.4. Chelonian Populations in China 17 Photos by: 7. Legal Aspects 18 Cover: Qing Ping market, China, B. McCord 7.1. National Protection Measures 18 p. 2: M.-W. Lau ; p. 5: B. McCord ; 7.2. International Legislation 18 p. 6: P. Valentin ; p. 7: M. Hardtke ; 7.3. Trade in CITES-listed Species at Asian p. 10: P. Valentin ; p. 11: R. Wirth ; Food Markets 19 p. 12: B. McCord (left), p. Valentin (right); p. 13: Discovery; p. 14/15: R. Wirth; 8. Recommendations: 20 p. 16: Pro Wildlife (left); R. Wirth (right); 8.1. Immediate Measures at CoP 11 20 p. 17: R. Wirth; p. 18/19: B. McCord 8.2. Appendix II for all Chelonians 20 p. 20: E. Meier ; p. 21: B. McCord 8.3. Candidates for an Appendix I Listing 20 8.4. Recommendations beyond CITES 21 9. References 22 Pro Wildlife The Decline of Asian Turtles 3 1. Summary 1. Zusammenfassung Southeast-Asia holds the richest diversity of terrestrial Südostasien ist Heimat einer einzigartigen Artenvielfalt von turtles in the world, encompassing over 25 % of the Schildkröten: Mehr als 25 Prozent aller Land- und Sumpf- world`s chelonian species. Virtually all of these can be schildkrötenarten leben hier. Fast alle sind im Handel found in trade, either as food or medicine or for the pet vertreten. Sie werden seit Hunderten von Jahren gegessen trade. Freshwater turtles and tortoises have been utilised und als Heilmittel verwendet sowie heutzutage auch als by humans for centuries and are still favoured as food and Haustier gehalten. Bevölkerungswachstum und zuneh- medicine in many Asian countries. However, with growing mender Wohlstand in Asien ließen die Nachfrage nach human populations and increasing affluence in Asia de- kulinarischen Spezialitäten und Präparaten der traditionel- mand in luxury food and traditional medicine has in- len Medizin zunehmen. So stieg der Verzehr von und der creased. Consumption of and trade in turtles have risen Handel mit Schildkröten während des letzten Jahrzehnts dramatically in the past decade and, it is feared to rise explosionsartig an. Es ist zu befürchten, dass sich diese even further. Entwicklung sogar noch fortsetzt. At present a minimum of 12 to 20 million freshwater turtles In Asien werden inzwischen jährlich mindestens 12 bis 20 and tortoises are consumed in Asia each year. The trade Millionen Schildkröten verschlungen. Die Panzertiere ma- in turtles constitutes a large proportion of the trans-border chen vielerorts einen Großteil des grenzüberschreitenden wildlife trade between certain Asian countries. This trade Wildtiergeschäftes aus. Dieser Handel verläuft nahezu seems virtually unregulated. The great majority of animals unkontrolliert. Fast alle Tiere stammen aus der freien Wild- on sale are wild caught and already the huge and ever- bahn. Bereits jetzt kann die riesige und immer noch wach- growing demand can no longer be met by native species: sende Nachfrage nicht mehr mit heimischen Arten East Asian food markets are increasingly supplied with abgedeckt werden. So waren z.B. 98 Prozent der Schild- turtles from an ever-widening range of more and more kröten, die auf einem chinesischen Markt gesehen wurden, distant countries. For example 98 % of specimens ob- Importe aus anderen Ländern. Einige Arten stammten served on sale during a visit to a Chinese market were non sogar aus so weit entfernten Ländern wie Papua Neugui- native. Some species are even imported from Papua New nea oder den USA. Guinea or the USA. Die Wildbestände vieler gehandelter Arten sind drastisch The wild populations of many species that are on sale in zurückgegangen, manche sind bereits völlig zusammen- food markets have severely declined, some even col- gebrochen. Der größte Teil des Handels, sogar mit CI- lapsed. Most of the trade is not recorded, even in CITES*- TES*-geschützten Tieren, wird nicht erfasst. Ein erhebli- listed species. A significant proportion of the trade in turtles cher Anteil des Schildkrötenhandels verstößt gegen natio- contravenes national or international legislation. nale und internationale Gesetze. While both national and international trade for food and Während nationaler und internationaler Handel für den medicine constitute a major threat to Asian turtles, habitat Verzehr und als Heilmittel die größte Bedrohung für die destruction, pollution and the pet trade further imperil wild asiatischen Schildkröten darstellen, schaden Lebensraum- populations. For some rare species that are in demand zerstörung und Heimtierhandel den Wildbeständen zu- from Western turtle enthusiasts the pet trade has a particu- sätzlich. Insbesondere seltene Arten sind von der starken larly serious impact. Nachfrage westlicher Schildkrötenliebhaber betroffen. Immediate action and international co–operation are nec- Umgehende Schutzmaßnahmen in internationaler Zu- essary to avoid the impending extinction of turtle species: sammenarbeit sind dringend erforderlich, um die bevorste- The exploitation of turtle populations must be reduced to a hende Ausrottung vieler Schildkrötenarten zu verhindern. sustainable level and trade must be regulated. In a first Die völlig unkontrollierte Plünderung der Bestände muss step especially endangered species should be protected ein Ende haben. In einem ersten Schritt sind besonders through international legislation. In view of the huge vol- bedrohte Arten international zu schützen. Mit Blick auf das ume of trade and the fact that it is largely unselective, all Ausmaß des nahezu unselektiven Handels ist der gesamte trade in turtles should be monitored and in the medium- Handel zu überwachen. Mittelfristig muss er durch Auf- term all turtle species should be included in CITES Appen- nahme aller Schildkrötenarten in Anhang II von CITES dix II. Enforcement of existing national and international reguliert werden. Der Vollzug bereits bestehender nationa- legislation and in some countries improved legislation to ler und internationaler Gesetze ist unabdingbar, in einigen protect turtles is urgently needed. Ländern sind verbesserte Schutzvorschriften dringend erforderlich. In this report Pro Wildlife documents the increase in the exploitation of Asian turtles as food, medicine and pets as Im vorliegenden Bericht dokumentiert Pro Wildlife die well as the decline of turtle fauna in different Asian coun- zunehmende Ausbeutung asiatischer Schildkröten für den tries. In a 10 Point Plan immediate and long-term meas- Nahrungs-, Arznei- und Heimtiermarkt und die Folgen für ures to prevent Asian Chelonians from extinction are rec- die Wildbestände. In einem Zehn-Punkte-Plan werden ommended. sofortige und langfristige Maßnahmen empfohlen, um asiatische Schildkröten vor der Ausrottung zu bewahren. * CITES = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora Pro Wildlife 4 The Decline of Asian Turtles 1. Resumen 1. Résumé En el sureste de Asia hay una gran variedad de tortugas: 1. L'Asie du Sud-Est présente une diversité unique de tortues: más del 25 por ciento de todas las tortugas de tierra y de plus de 25 % de toutes les tortues terrestres et des tortues pantano viven aqui. Cási todas están representadas en el des marais vivent ici. De ces espèces, presque toutes font comercio. Desde hace cientos de años estas tortugas se l'objet d'un juteux commerce; mangées et utilisées comme comen y se usan como medicina, también se tienen como remède depuis des centaines d'années, elles sont également animales de compañia. El crecimiento de la población y la devenues aujourd'hui animal domestique. Avec la croissance prosperidad en Asia ha aumentado la demanda de démographique et l'amélioration du niveau de vie en Asie, la demande de spécialités culinaires et de préparations de mé- especialidades culinarias y preparados de la medicina decine traditionnelle croît hélas elle aussi. La consommation tradicional. Por esta razón el consumo y el comercio de et le commerce de tortues ont connu une montée spectacu- tortugas aumentó en los últimos decenios de forma laire au siècle dernier, et rien n'indique un renversement de vertiginosa.
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  • Eric V. Goode, 2016 Behler Turtle Conservation Award Recipient

    Eric V. Goode, 2016 Behler Turtle Conservation Award Recipient

    BEHLER AWARD Eric V. Goode, 2016 Behler Turtle Conservation Award Recipient Max Maurer, Ross Kiester, and Paul Gibbons I was fortunate to grow up in rural northern California, in the 1960’s and 70’s, where my family gave me an appreciation and love for the natural world. I spent my childhood exploring the family’s 250-acre ranch, hiking in the hills, trout fishing in crystal clear streams, and searching for native wildlife. I had a particular fascination with reptiles and amphibians and kept a record of every species I encountered long before I knew about “Life Lists”. Pond turtles, Western newts, California King snakes, Red-sided Garter snakes, Pacific Giant salaman- ders, and Yellow- and Red-legged frogs were all common in our streams and ponds. California was a paradise in those halcyon days and little did I know that so many of the common species of my child- hood would soon be rare or entirely gone in just a few decades. Looking back, I realize how all these creatures were taken for granted. Today, when I return to my family ranch, there are no Yellow- and Red-legged frogs, no newts, Pond turtles, or King snakes, and the most common species of all, the beautiful California Red-sided Garter snake, has disappeared completely. Sadly, what happened in Sonoma is a microcosm of what has hap- pened to species around the globe. On my sixth birthday, I received a Mediterranean tortoise named Ajax. My love affair with Ajax led to a Eric with the recently named Goode’s Thornscrub Tor- toise (Gopherus evgoodei) during a biodiversity inventory postage stamp collection of turtles and tortoises that I kept in my bedroom until college: Indian Star tor- of the preserve that was created to protect the species toises, Red-footed tortoises, Burmese Black Mountain tortoises, Leopard tortoises, Texas tortoises, North and its tropical deciduous forest habitat near the town of American Wood turtles, Box turtles, Spotted turtles, Amazon Yellow-spotted Side-neck turtles, Indian Alamos in Sonora, Mexico.