STATUS, TRADE DYNAMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN BOX TURTLE IN INDONESIA S SABINE SCHOPPE A TR A TRAFFIC SOUTHEAST ASIA REPORT 1 Published by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia © 2009 TRAFFIC Southeast Asia All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyrighted and may be reproduced with permission. Any reproduction in full or in part of this publication must credit TRAFFIC Southeast Asia as the copyright owner. The views of the authors expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the TRAFFIC Network, WWF or IUCN. The designations of geographical entities in this publication, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of TRAFFIC or its supporting organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The TRAFFIC symbol copyright and Registered Trademark ownership is held by WWF. TRAFFIC is a joint programme of WWF and IUCN. Layout by Noorainie Awang Anak, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Suggested citation: Sabine Schoppe (2009). Status, trade dynamics and management of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle in Indonesia TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia ISBN 9789833393213 Cover: Southeast Asian Box Turtle Cuora amboinensis Photograph credit: Chris R. Shepherd/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia STATUS,TRADE DYNAMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN BOX TURTLE IN INDONESIA Sabine Schoppe Sabine Schoppe/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Sabine Schoppe/TRAFFIC Southeast Shell and skeleton of museum specimen of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle at the Zoological Museum in Cibinong, Java Status, trade dynamics and management of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle Cuora amboinensis in Indonesia CONTENTS Acknowledgements iii Glossary and acronyms iv Executive summary viii Introduction 1 Methodology 5 Biology and ecology of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle 5 Conservation status 5 Laws and regulations for the conservation of freshwater turtles in Indonesia 5 Quantity and quality of trade of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle 6 Past trade levels 6 Trade surveys 6 Alternative production systems 8 Population studies and abundance 8 Population survey 8 Harvest survey 12 Harvest impact surveys 15 Results and discussion 16 Habitat 16 Role in the ecosystem 18 Morphology 18 Growth and reproduction 21 Conservation status of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle 22 Laws and regulations for the conservation of freshwater turtles in Indonesia 22 The quota system 23 Purpose of export 27 Permits and procedures 28 Quantity and quality of trade of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle 34 Past trade levels 34 Current trade levels 39 Alternative production systems 62 Abundance of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle in the wild 66 Population survey 66 Harvest survey 68 Harvest impact 71 Conclusions 74 Recommendations 76 References 80 Status, trade dynamics and management of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle Cuora amboinensis in Indonesia ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Most and foremost the researcher would like to acknowledge the donor agencies such as the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the US State Department who financed this study as part of the projects “The Use of Science in CITES Decision Making” and “Putting Science into CITES - Enhanced Scientific Rigour in Wildlife Trade Management Decision Making”. She also would like to thank her local counterparts, research assistants, guides and translators, especially Ir. Mumpuni and Awal Riyanto of LIPI, Nuryani Widagti and Dian Oktaviani of IPB/UI, and Nenny, Harry, Hari, Daud, Agus, and Emy. Thanks also to all government and non-government organizations, the academe and private persons who in one or another way contributed to this report, especially to Pak Sancoyo Atmosoekarto, and Pak Ruben Silitonga of LIPI; Pak Adi Susmianto, Head PHKA-KKH, Samedi and Ibu Faustina Hardjanti of PHKA- KKH; Pak Djati Witjaksono Hadi, Head BKSDA Sumut I and his staff; Pak Luhut, Head BKSDA Sumut II and his staff; Pak Sugiman, Head of Fish Quarantine in Medan; Ir. Abdul Wahid, Head of Fish Quarantine Bajarmasin; Dr. Ir. Mas Tri Djok Sunarno, Head of Fish Quarantine Palembang; WWF Indonesia, Conservation International Indonesia, Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, Leiser International Foundation, Cikananga Animal Rescue Centre, and Ibu Mirza and Ibu Ani of IPB. Thank you to all traders, most especially to George Saputra, Chairman of IRATA. Thanks also the staff of TNRAW, especially to Puto Sutarya, park ranger in Aopa. Thanks to Olaf Neussner of INVENT, Philippines for assisting in the early map design. Thanks to Peter Paul van Dijk, Edward O. Moll and many other members of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group who shared information. Thanks also to friends and colleagues at TRAFFIC SEA for their valuable inputs, reviews, assistance in layout and map design most especially to Chris Shepherd, James Compton, Azrina Abdullah, Mark Auliya, Julia Ng, Sandrine Pantel, and Noorainie Anak. The researcher would like to express her particular thanks to all peer reviewers, especially Peter-Paul van Dijk of Conservation International, Kate Sanders of University of Adelaide, Australia, and Steve Broad and Julie Gray of TRAFFIC International. Status, trade dynamics and management of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle Cuora amboinensis in Indonesia iii GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS Adult – The life history stage that comprises sexually mature individuals that express external sexual dimorphism. Anon. – Anonymous. ANOVA– Acronym for the statistical analysis called ‘Analysis of Variance’, whereas variance is the square of standard deviation. Article IV – Under the Convention text of CITES (see below) concerning the regulation of trade in specimens of species included in Appendix II. The export of any specimen of a species included in Appendix II shall require the prior grant and presentation of an export permit. An export permit shall only be granted when the following conditions have been met: (a) a Scientific Authority of the State of export has advised that such export will not be detrimental to the survival of that species; (b) a Management Authority of the State of export is satisfied that the specimen was not obtained in contravention of the laws of that State for the protection of fauna and flora; and (c) a Management Authority of the State of export is satisfied that any living specimen will be so prepared and shipped as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment. Assurance population – Here referring to those populations of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle that are protected and that live under conditions that provide nutrition, mates and an environment that allows population growth. Barat – Bahasa Indonesia meaning “west”. BKSDA – Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam, the provincial offices of the PHKA (see below). By-catch – Here referring to species or specimens caught in a catch intended to target another species, as well as reproductively-immature juveniles of the target species. By-pack – Here referring to adding specimens of a non-target species to a shipment of a target species if there is still available space. Category I – One of three categories for species under Review of Significant Trade. A Category I species is considered a species of urgent concern and shall include species for which the available information indicates that the provisions of Article IV, paragraph 2 (a), 3 or 6 (a), are not being implemented. CITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Commensal – Here referring to turtle species that are commensals of man, meaning turtles that inhabit anthropogenically disturbed habitats. Consumption trade – Here trade in the Southeast Asian Box Turtle for food. Direktorat Jenderal – Indonesian term for Directorate General. DKP – Departemen Kelautan Dan Perikanan, the Indonesian Department of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. Export quota – Annual limit on the number or quantity of specimens of a particular species that may be exported from the country concerned within a 12-month period. F1 – First-generation offspring, the progeny produced in a controlled environment from parents at least one of which was conceived in or taken from the wild. F2 – Second-generation offspring, the progeny produced in a controlled environment from parents that were both also produced in a controlled environment. Femorals – Second to the last plates on the turtle plastron. Hatchling – A life history stage. Here for the Southeast Asian Box Turtle defined as the stage from hatching until the egg tooth is lost, which is usually 10-19 days after hatching. IATA – International Air Transport Association, which has created standards for the transport of live animals by air. Status, trade dynamics and management of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle Cuora amboinensis in Indonesia iv ID – Indonesia Ikan – Bahasa Indonesia meaning “fish”. Ind. – Individual. Indonesian Box Turtle – English name of the subspecies C. amboinensis couro that occurs on Java and Sumatra. Here the term Indonesian Box Turtle will be used if the statement is only valid for the subspecies C. amboinensis couro. Introduction from the sea – Transportation into a State of specimens of any species which were taken in the marine environment not under the jurisdiction of any State. IPB – Bogor Agricultural University. IRATA – Indonesian Reptile and Amphibian Trade Association. Members of this