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Rediscovery of this protected has stimulated international demand from hobbyists and collectors. Just months after the rediscovery was published, the Forest was available on the international pet markets of Europe, Japan and the USA (Diesmos et al., E 7KHVSHFLHVLVUHVWULFWHGWR¿YHPXQLFLSDOLWLHVLQ Palawan, hence collection sites are limited. The species has never been bred in captivity and all individuals in trade are therefore illegal. Despite these facts, the laws are weakly implemented, if at all, and trade in the species FRQWLQXHVWRÀRXULVK$OOVSHFLHVQRWHGE\WKHDXWKRUVWR be offered for sale in the , China, Europe and the USA were declared as captive-bred, except those in

EMERSON SY China.

THE PALAWAN FOREST TURTLE LEGISLATION UNDER THREAT FROM INTERNATIONAL TRADE The Palawan Forest Turtle is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered f the six species of freshwater turtle native to the 6SHFLHVRI:LOG)DXQDDQG)ORUD &,7(6 DQGLVSURWHFWHG Philippines, only the , in the Philippines under the Republic Act 9147, known as or Palawan Forest Turtle the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act leytensis, is endemic to the country, found only (or the Wildlife Act 7KLVODZSURKLELWVLQWHUQDWLRQDODQG on the Palawan group of islands (Diesmos et domestic trade of wild-caught individuals of this species Oal    /LVWHG DV &ULWLFDOO\ (QGDQJHUHG DQG DPRQJ DQGYLRODWLRQVFDQOHDGWR¿QHVHTXLYDOHQWWR86'± the world’s 25 most endangered and freshwater DQGRUXSWRIRXU\HDUV¶LPSULVRQPHQWFROOHFWLRQ WXUWOHV 7XUWOH &RQVHUYDWLRQ &RDOLWLRQ   WKH VSHFLHV permits are limited to research and trade is limited to is facing an extremely high risk of in the wild FDSWLYHEUHG LQGLYLGXDOV LQWHUQDWLRQDOO\ SRVVHVVLRQ LV in the immediate future due to a population reduction of exceptionally allowed for those who registered with the at least 80%, projected or suspected to be met within the authorities by 7 March 2005. next 10 years or three generations, based on current levels of exploitation. The extent of occurrence is estimated to HOBBYIST TRADE be less than 100 km2, with a continuing decline, observed, inferred or projected, in area, extent and/or quality of Although there is some domestic consumption of KDELWDW ,8&1  Palawan Forest for food, the greatest threat The species is fully protected in the Philippines. As to the species is the demand for live specimens from well as being one of the world’s rarest species of freshwater international collectors and hobbyists, as is the case turtle, the Palawan Forest Turtle is also one of the least for many rare and endemic turtles (Turtle Conservation known (Diesmos et al.,DE'LHVPRVet al., &RDOLWLRQ  +RUQH et al  'LHVPRV et al., 6FKRSSHet al 8QWLOUHFHQWO\KHUSHWRORJLVWV   EHOLHYHGWKDWWKHVSHFLHVGHVFULEHGE\7D\ORU  IURP There have been a few convictions for illegal trade two specimens as leytensis from Leyte, might in this species but penalties have been negligible: for ZHOOEHH[WLQFW2QO\ZKHQ7LPPHUPDQDQG$XWK   example, on 8 February 2012, a Chinese national caught reported on a specimen from Palawan ZKLFKWKH\LGHQWL¿HG arriving in Hong Kong from the Philippines with 60 as a Palawan Forest Turtle, did the search for the species in his luggage, including 20 Palawan Forest resume. It took a decade before its existence in Palawan Turtles, and, again, on 14 June 2012, with a further 43 ZDV FRQ¿UPHG DQG GRFXPHQWHG WKURXJK YDULRXV VWXGLHV 3DODZDQ)RUHVW7XUWOHVZDV¿QHG+.' 86'  (Diesmos et alDE)LGHQFL*DYLQRDQG IRUWKH¿UVWLQFLGHQWDQGVHQWHQFHGWRVL[ZHHNVLQJDRO 6FKRSSH  /RSH] DQG 6FKRSSH  :LGPDQQ et for the second. Under Hong Kong legislation, he could al 'LHVPRVet al D GHVFULEHWKHUHGLVFRYHU\ have been sentenced to a maximum penalty of HKD5 and provide evidence of the species being endemic to the PLOOLRQ 86' DQGWZR\HDUV¶LPSULVRQPHQW Palawan faunal region. Morphological and molecular  .DGRRULH)DUPDQG%RWDQLF*DUGHQ .)%* LQ+RQJ phylogenetic studies subsequently demonstrated that Kong assisted the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation leytensis is the sister lineage to the Siebenrockiella Department with the temporary holding and care of the (Diesmos et al  reptiles until they could be returned to the Philippines RQ$SULODQG$XJXVWUHVSHFWLYHO\²WKH¿UVW ever repatriation of wildlife back to the Philippines. The cost of repatriation was borne largely by the Philippines Government. The surviving specimens were cared for by Above: Palawan Forest Turtles for sale in a pet market in . WKH.DWDOD)RXQGDWLRQ,QFRUSRUDWHG .), ²D3DODZDQ

TRAFFIC Bulletin9RO1R   N E W S based NGO—for quarantine and eventual release. KFI spearheads research and conservation efforts for this species in-situ and holds the only ex-situ assurance colony of the Palawan Forest Turtle. The WXUWOHVXQGHUZHQWTXDUDQWLQHDQGKHDOWKFKHFNVDQGWKH¿UVWJURXS was released back into the wild in June 2012 after they had been given a clean bill of health and in accordance with IUCN guidelines IRU WKH SODFHPHQW RI FRQ¿VFDWHG DQLPDOV DQG UHLQWURGXFWLRQV ,8&1 7KHVHFRQGJURXSUHPDLQVXQGHUWKHFDUH RI.),ZKLOHGHFLVLRQVRQWKHLU¿QDOGHVWLQDWLRQDUHGHFLGHG.), is also lobbying for the protection of the turtles’ remaining forest habitat in Palawan through large-scale information education campaigns and the establishment of protected areas for the species. In a third case during 2012, Regional Maritime Police recovered 27 Palawan Forest Turtles from a bag that had been abandoned on Liminangkong Pier, north-west Palawan. The bag also contained four Asian Leaf Turtles dentata and 13 Estuarine Crocodiles Crocodylus porosus. The had reportedly been destined for Manila, and ultimately for the international market. DIVERLIE ACOSTA, KATALA FOUNDATION INC. The animals are in the temporary care of the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and their condition is regularly monitored by KFI.  %DVHG RQ FRQ¿VFDWLRQ DQG VHL]XUHV GDWD IRU ± the Palawan Forest Turtle is ranked sixth among the 10 most- FRPPRQO\ FRQ¿VFDWHG VSHFLHV LQ WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV 6FKRSSH DQG $FRVWDE 'DWDRQPRUWDOLW\GXULQJWUDGHDUHQRWDYDLODEOH but it is known that the species is prone to stress and needs clean and FRROZDWHUVIRULWVVXUYLYDO 6FKRSSH )DWDOLWLHVDPRQJWKH WKUHHFRQ¿VFDWLRQVUDQJHGIURP±IRUWKHLQWHUQDWLRQDO FRQ¿VFDWLRQVDQGIRUWKRVHFRQ¿VFDWHGZKLOHVWLOOLQ3DODZDQ 6FKRSSHXQSXEOLVKHGGDWD  KFI works with the Philippines CITES Authorities and WKH 3DODZDQ &RXQFLO IRU 6XVWDLQDEOH 'HYHORSPHQW 3&6'  WR conserve the species. Since 2007, KFI is addressing the threats and knowledge gaps with a number of in-situ projects and the maintenance of an assurance colony aimed at conservation EUHHGLQJ 6FKRSSHDQG)HUQDQGR6FKRSSH6FKRSSH

DQG $FRVWD E 6FKRSSH DQG 'LD]    ,QVLWX SURMHFWV EMERSON SY include information education campaigns, training on species LGHQWL¿FDWLRQDQGODZHQIRUFHPHQWVWXGLHVRQSRSXODWLRQVL]HVLWH ¿GHOLW\DQGKRPHUDQJHUROHLQWKHHFRV\VWHPWKUHDWVGLVWULEXWLRQ and habitat requirements (Acosta et al  6FKRSSH  6FKRSSHDQG$FRVWDDDE6FKRSSHet al., 6FKRSSHDQG,EDQH]6FKRSSHDQG-RVH 

RECOMMENDATIONS

As demand for the Palawan Forest Turtle and attempts to smuggle it out of the country increase, so too must monitoring and DIVERLIE ACOSTA, KATALA FOUNDATION INC. FOUNDATION DIVERLIE KATALA ACOSTA, enforcement efforts. Successful convictions and strong penalties must go hand-in-hand with increased enforcement efforts, in CONFISCATION OF to serve as deterrents. Protection for the Palawan Forest Turtle PALAWAN FOREST TURTLES, needs to improve and an analysis undertaken to assess whether LIMINANGKONG, PALAWAN, the species meets the criteria for transfer from CITES Appendix PHILIPPINES II to Appendix I (Horne et al 0RUHLPSRUWDQWO\SHQDOWLHV (TOP AND BOTTOM) for individuals found keeping, smuggling or trading this species LOOHJDOO\ PXVW EH LQFUHDVHG VLJQL¿FDQWO\ LI WKH\ DUH WR VHUYH DV MANILA PET MARKET, 2012 deterrents and ultimately reduce the trade. Research to identify (CENTRE) collection sites and trade routes as well as a trade forensic study are urgently needed.

10 TRAFFIC Bulletin9RO1R  N E W S

REFERENCES Forest Turtle Siebenrockiella leytensis 7D\ORU   LQ Palawan. Chelonian Conservation and Biology   ± Acosta, D., Jose, E., Esuma, R., Cervancia, M. and L.S., Castro 6FKRSSH 6   +XVEDQGU\ JXLGHOLQHV IRU WKH 3KLOLSSLQH  (FRORJLFDOVWXGLHVWRSURPRWHFRQVHUYDWLRQRIWKH Forest Turtle, Siebenrockiella leytensis 7D\ORU Turtle endemic Philippine Forest Turtle in Palawan, Philippines. Survival Alliance Pp.86–89. Preliminary Final Report, Katala Foundation Inc., 6FKRSSH6DQG$FRVWD' D 7&)Siebenrockiella Philippine Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program, Puerto leytensis over time—are populations stable? Technical Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, 5 pp. DQG ¿QDQFLDO LQWHULP UHSRUW WR 7&) .DWDOD )RXQGDWLRQ $VLDQ 7XUWOH 7UDGH :RUNLQJ *URXS   Siebenrockiella Incorporated, Philippine Freshwater Turtle Conservation leytensis. In: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version Program, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, 20 pp. 2012.1. www.iucnredlist.org. Viewed on 30 September 2012. 6FKRSSH6DQG$FRVWD' E +XVEDQGU\RISiebenrockiella Diesmos, A.C., Gee, G.V.A., Diesmos, M.L., Brown, R.M., leytensis 7D\ORU LQLWVRQO\UDQJHFRXQWU\DVVXUDQFH :LGPDQQ3-DQG'LPDOLERW-& D 5HGLVFRYHU\RI colony. Final Report to TSA/TCF. Katala Foundation Inc., the Philippine Forest Turtle, Heosemys leytensis &KHORQLD Philippine Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program, Puerto %DWDJXULGDH  IURP 3DODZDQ ,VODQG 3KLOLSSLQHV Asiatic Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, 16 pp. Herpetological Research 10:22–27. 6FKRSSH6DQG$FRVWD' D 7&)Siebenrockiella Diesmos, A.C., Sison, R.V., Pedregosa, M.dG. and Cenisa, Ma. leytensis over time—are populations stable? Technical -& E 7KH&RQVHUYDWLRQ6WDWXVRIHeosemys leytensis DQG ¿QDQFLDO LQWHULP UHSRUW WR 7&) .DWDOD )RXQGDWLRQ Taylor, 1920. A project report, Manila, Philippines, 31 pp. Incorporated, Philippine Freshwater Turtle Conservation Diesmos, A.C., Parham, J.F., Stuart, B.L., and Brown, Program, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, 21 pp. 50   7KH SK\ORJHQHWLF SRVLWLRQ RI WKH UHFHQWO\ 6FKRSSH 6 DQG $FRVWD ' E  %$&2&2±&RQVHUYDWLRQ rediscovered Philippine forest turtle (Bataguridae: of the Philippine Forest Turtle S. leytensis in Palawan. Final Heosemys leytensis  Proceedings of the California report. Katala Foundation Inc., Philippine Freshwater Turtle Academy of Sciences   ± Conservation Program Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 75 pp. 'LHVPRV$&%URZQ50$OFDOD$&DQG6LVRQ59   6FKRSSH 6 DQG$FRVWD '  7&) Siebenrockiella Status and distribution of non-marine turtles of the Philippines. leytensis over time—are populations stable? Technical and Chelonian Conservation and Biology  ± ¿QDQFLDOLQWHULPUHSRUW0D\.DWDOD)RXQGDWLRQ,QF Diesmos, A.C., Buskirk, J.R., Schoppe, S., Diesmos, M.L.L., Philippine Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program, Puerto 6\(<DQG%URZQ50  Siebenrockiella leytensis Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, 22 pp. 7D\ORU ²3DODZDQ)RUHVW7XUWOH3KLOLSSLQH)RUHVW7XU- 6FKRSSH 6 DQG 'LD] 6   3KLOLSSLQH )RUHVW 7XUWOH tle. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Pritchard, P.C.H., van Dijk, P.P., Sau- assurance colony: Improved husbandry and facilities provide mure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., Iverson, J.B., and Mittermeier, optimism for the future of this challenging species. Turtle 5$ (GV &RQVHUYDWLRQ%LRORJ\RI)UHVKZDWHU7XUWOHVDQG Survival Alliance 89–91. Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC 6FKRSSH6DQG)HUQDQGR1  $UDQJHFRXQWU\FRORQ\IRU and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research the Philippine Forest Turtle. Turtle Survival Alliance 96–97. Monographs No. 5, Pp.066.1–066.9, doi:10.3854/crm.5.066. 6FKRSSH 6 DQG ,EDQH] '   ,QVLWX FRQVHUYDWLRQ RI WKH leytensis.v1.2012. http://www.iucn -tftsg.org/cbftt/. Philippine Forest Turtle Siebenrockiella leytensis through )LGHQFL3  'LVFRYHU\RIDZLOGSRSXODWLRQRIWKHFULWLFDOO\ information education. Final report. Katala Foundation Inc., endangered Philippine Forest Turtle Heosemys leytensis, in Philippine Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program, Puerto Palawan, Philippines. Turtle and Tortoise Newsletter 8:2–3. Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, 73 pp. *DYLQR &0 DQG 6FKRSSH 6   )LUVW LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ WKH 6FKRSSH6DQG-RVH(  +RPHUDQJHDQGVHDVRQDOLW\RI trade of freshwater turtles in Palawan. Agham Mindanaw, the Palawan-endemic critically endangered Philippine Forest Ateneo de Davao. Journal of Science and Technology 2:53–60. Turtle Siebenrockiella leytensis 7D\ORU   ,QWHULP +RUQH%'3RROH&0DQG:DOGH$'  &RQVHUYDWLRQ Report and Proposal for Extension. Katala Foundation Inc., of Asian tortoises and freshwater turtles: setting priorities Philippine Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program, Puerto for the next ten years. Recommendations and conclusions Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, 12 pp. from the workshop in Singapore, 21–24 February 2011. 7D\ORU (+   3KLOLSSLQH WXUWOHV Philippine Journal of http://www.cites.org/common/com/ac/26/SG-Tortoise-&- Science  ± Freshwater-Turtle-Workshop-Report.pdf 7XUWOH &RQVHUYDWLRQ &RDOLWLRQ   Turtles in Trouble: the ,8&1   *XLGHOLQHV IRU 5HLQWURGXFWLRQ 3UHSDUHG E\ World’s 25+ Most Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater the IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group. IUCN, Turtles–2011. Lunenburg, MA: IUCN/SSS Tortoise and Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK, 10 pp. Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Turtle Conservation Fund. ,8&1   *XLGHOLQHV IRU WKH SODFHPHQW RI FRQ¿VFDWHG Turtle Survival Alliance, , Chelonian animals. Prepared by the IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Research Foundation, Conservation International, Wildlife Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and ERWDA, &RQVHUYDWLRQ6RFLHW\DQG6DQ'LHJR=RR*OREDOSS Abu Dhabi, UAE, 24 pp. 7LPPHUPDQ::DQG'/$XWK  *HRJUDSKLFGLVWULEXWLRQ ,8&1   IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version Heosemys leytensis. Herpetological Review 19:21. 2012.1. www.iucnredlist.org. Viewed on 30 September 2012. Widmann, P., Lachenmaier, K., Widmann, I.L., Schoppe, S., /RSH]0)0DQG6FKRSSH6  0RUSKRPHWU\RIIRXUVSHFLHV Dumalag, R.M., Matillano, J.D., Villafuerte, S.D.F., Diaz, of non-marine turtles from Palawan, Philippines with special + DQG &HUYDQFLD 0   :LUEHOWLHUJHPHLQVFKDIWHQ reference to sexual dimorphism. Agham Mindanaw 2:41–51. LQ 5RWVWHL‰NDNDGX+DELWDWHQ LQ 1RUG3DODZDQ =*$3 6FKRSSH 6   7&)± Siebenrockiella leytensis 0LWWHLOXQJHQ  ± over time—are populations stable? Final report. Katala Foundation Inc., Philippine Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, 13 pp. 6FKRSSH60DWLOODQR-&HUYDQFLD0DQG$FRVWD'   Sabine Schoppe, Katala Foundation Conservation needs of the critically endangered Philippine Chris R. Shepherd, Deputy Director, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia

TRAFFIC Bulletin9RO1R