Trade in non-native, CITES-listed, wildlife in Asia, as exemplified by the trade in freshwater turtles and tortoises (Chelonidae) in Thailand

By V. Nijman, C. Shepherd. 2007

114 citations recorded by the source corpus.

In 1973 the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was called to life as to regulate the international wildlife trade, and to prevent species becoming (economically and biologically) extinct. The trade in freshwater turtles and tortoises in Asia is so huge that it threatens the survival of many species. In 2006 and 2007, during three surveys at Chatuchak market in Bangkok, Thailand, we recorded a signifi cant trade in non-native CITES-listed freshwater turtles and tortoises to be used as pets. We documented a total of 688 individuals of 19 species from different regions of the world, many of which are globally threatened with extinction. Most commonly recorded were three species of tortoise from Madagascar and Africa, i.e. Radiated Tortoise Geochelone radiata, Spurred Tortoise G. sulcata and Leopard Tortoise G. pardalis. Five species were listed on CITES Appendix I, precluding all international trade, and an additional six Appendix II or III-listed species that can be traded albeit regulated, were not registered as being imported into Thailand in the last six year. CITES I-listed species were not more expensive than CITES II or III listed species, nor was there a relationship between retail price and numbers of turtles observed. The large number and availability of illegally sourced animals indicates a blatant disregard for law and authority by traders both from Thailand and from exporting countries. We conclude that the trade in these species, in such signifi cant volumes, is of serious conservation concern, and in order for CITES to be more effective it is imperative that Parties recognize the scale of the international trade in freshwater turtles and tortoises and respond accordingly.

Subfields: Ecology, Global and Planetary Change, Nature and Landscape Conservation

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/f247d52771607f47d24ecd5f2eb218e0aee50561

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Ecology

1. Germán Forero-Medina
2. P. Pritchard
3. S. Platt
4. D. Wilcove
5. U. Fritz
6. Xingli Giam
7. R. Mittermeier
8. V. Nijman

In Global and Planetary Change

1. P. Pritchard
2. S. Platt
3. D. Wilcove
4. U. Fritz
5. Xingli Giam
6. R. Spencer
7. R. Mittermeier
8. A. Bertolero

In Nature and Landscape Conservation

1. S. Platt
2. D. Wilcove
3. Jonathan M. H. Green
4. J. Harris
5. U. Fritz
6. Xingli Giam
7. R. Spencer
8. R. Mittermeier

Citations in the corpus

• Using market data and expert opinion to identify overexploited species in the wild bird trade (2015, background): “The wildlife trade is known to be driving declines of a limited number of species in all major vertebrate groups in Asia, South America, and Africa (Alves et al., 2013; Butchart, 2008; Cowlishaw et al., 2005; Lee et al., 2004; Nijman and Shepherd, 2007; van Balen et al., 2013; Shepherd et al., 2013)”
• Global Conservation Status of Turtles and Tortoises (Order Testudines) (2018, background): “…(e.g., Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and Indonesia) as well as to Europe and the United States (van Dijk et al. 2000; Cheung and Dudgeon 2006; Nijman and Shepherd 2007, 2015; Zhou and Jiang 2008; Gong et al. 2009; TFTSG 2010a, 2010b; Stengel et al. 2011; Turtle Conservation Coalition [TCC]…”
• Over-exploitation and illegal trade of reptiles in Indonesia (2012, background): “…trade in wildlife threatens the conservation of numerous species (Nooren & Claridge, 2001; Shepherd et al., 2004; Grieser-Johns & Thomson, 2005; Nijman & Shepherd, 2007, 2011; Shepherd & Nijman, 2007a), with Indonesia being one of the region’s major exporters of wildlife (Soehartono &…”