International protectors of endangered species TRAFFIC have recently put out a report surrounding the continued trade in endangered and protected species of turtle and tortoise, after witnessing first hand through investigative research in the market places of Jakarta.
Not only have they discovered the persistence in the illegal trade of native species of freshwater turtle and tortoise, but the team have discovered the growing number of non-native species now becoming readily available in these common trade centres. Begging to question how are the local sellers getting their hands on such rare and exotic species?
The study, carried out by extensive surveying of numerous markets across the Indonesian capital, and the surrounding areas, shows a rise in species diversity on sale to 49 different species in 2010, as opposed to the 47 species recorded in a similar survey in 2004. With a total of 139 individuals, of seven species listed in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) for sale in the latest findings, this is a significant increase on the previous study which reported only 113 individuals over six Appendix I species.
Endangered species at risk of the illegal poaching, and pet trade, that were reported in the study include the Black Spotted Pond Turtle, Egyptian Tortoise, Indian Peacock Softshell Turtle, Indian Softshell Turtle, Ploughshare Tortoise, Radiated Tortoise and Spider Tortoise. Also discovered for trade were native species such as the Pig-Nose Turtle, New Guinea Snapping Turtle and the Malaysian Giant Turtle, all of which are protected under Indonesian law.
The Indonesian Government are continuing to raise efforts to clamp down on these illegal trade centres, and especially put more attention and focus on the penalising of traders in endangered and protected species, but with the evidence at hand, and the growing rise in focus on the more exotic and endangered species, it is certainly clear that a lot more is required to be done to make this go away.
You can read the full report online (link provided below) and also find out more about what traffic does, and how they combat the illegal trade in rare and endangered species by checking out their website below.
"The wildlife markets and expos in Jakarta need to be carefully monitored, and anyone found selling illegal species must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. These markets have been selling illegal wildlife for decades, and it is time the authorities show this will not be tolerated any longer!"
- Chris R. Shepherd, Deputy Regional Director, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia.
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