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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 10:41 pm
Time: 10:41 pm
Results for black spotted turtle
1 results foundAuthor: Leupen, Boyd T.C. Title: Black Spotted Turtle Trade in Asia II: A Seizure Analysis (2014-2016) Summary: The Black Spotted Turtle Geoclemys hamiltonii, native to South Asia, is a heavily trafficked chelonian, despite the presence of national laws prohibiting local trade in the species throughout its range and despite its listing in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1975, prohibiting all commercial international trade. A 2014 TRAFFIC study found that Black Spotted Turtle trade numbers had significantly increased between 2013 and 2014, with more than 1960 turtles seized in a total of 22 recorded incidents. This sudden escalation of the trade was a cause for concern and called for improved regulations and continued monitoring efforts. To understand the development of the Black Spotted Turtle trade since then, the current study was conducted, analysing seizures for the two-year period between April 2014 and March 2016. During this period, 53 Black Spotted Turtle seizures, involving a total of 10 321 specimens, have reportedly taken place. This constitutes more than two times the total number of seizures and more than five times the total number of specimens found in the 2014 study. Both the annual number of Black Spotted Turtle seizures and the annual number of specimens seized have approximately tripled between 2013 and 2015. Nevertheless, such efforts appear to vary among the different countries involved in the international Black Spotted Turtle trade chain. Black Spotted Turtle seizures were found to have taken place in 24 different locations in seven countries/territories, all of which are on the Asian continent. The highest number of seizures (n=20/38%) occurred in India, accounting for a total of 3001 (29%) specimens. These seizures occurred across the country, but appeared to be particularly abundant in the southern and eastern regions, with Chennai, a large city situated outside India's Black Spotted Turtle range, functioning as one of the country's most important collection and distribution hubs. A comparatively high number of seizures (n=12/23%) was also found to have occurred in Hong Kong SAR, accounting for a total of 1775 (17%) specimens. The Black Spotted Turtle trade is largely driven by East Asian demand. Shifting trends in China and Hong Kong SAR now indicate the species is desired as pets, where previously it was mainly sought after for its meat. These shifting trends are partly confirmed by the fact that all recorded seizures involved shipments of live animals (although in some cases large numbers of turtles were found to have died in transport). Black Spotted Turtles are primarily sourced in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and subsequently transported to East Asia, often through Southeast Asian transit hubs, particularly Thailand and Malaysia. The scale of the Black Spotted Turtle trade in Southeast Asian countries appears to be modest, but it is likely that at least part of the shipments seized there are destined for local markets. Almost half of all seizure records involved air transportation using commercial flights (n=25/47%). During the research period, at least 55 suspects were apprehended by local authorities in 55% (n=29) of the recorded seizure incidents, mostly in India (32 suspects). Conviction rates appear to be low throughout the region, with 20% of arrests reportedly resulting in a confirmed conviction. Details: Selangor, Malaysia: TRAFFIC. Southeast Asia Regional Office, 2018. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 20, 2018 at: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27916134/1527420095177/Black-Spotted-Turtle-Asia-II.pdf?token=hmbp%2F8%2B%2BQMIB49r1IA3tajjLp1E%3D Year: 2018 Country: Asia URL: http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/157301/27916134/1527420095177/Black-Spotted-Turtle-Asia-II.pdf?token=hmbp%2F8%2B%2BQMIB49r1IA3tajjLp1E%3D Shelf Number: 150615 Keywords: Black Spotted TurtleIllegal Wildlife TradeTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife CrimeWildlife SmugglingWildlife Trafficking |