REUTERS (S Africa) 08 February 08 Illegal pet trade threatens Malagasy tortoises
Port Louis: Madagascar's turtles and tortoises are crawling towards extinction, threatened by the illegal pet trade and a local taste for tortoise, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said.
Evolving in splendid isolation since it broke away from the rest of Africa around 160 million years ago and became the world's fourth largest island, Madagascar has a unique but sometimes threatened biodiversity.
"Five of the nine assessed species (of turtles and tortoise) have been downgraded to critically endangered, with one variety -- the ploughshare tortoise -- now numbering only a few hundred individuals," a WCS statement issued on Thursday said.
The illegal trade in tortoises and turtles is still the largest single threat for several of the species, the statement said.
"Ploughshare, spider and flat-tailed tortoises, along with juvenile radiated tortoises, are particularly coveted by collectors," it said. "Meanwhile adult radiated tortoises are sold for food in regional markets," it added.
Illegal pet trade threatens Malagasy tortoises
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ZAF Press: Pet trade threatens Torts
Replies (2)
I very much doubt the pet trade is impacting their tortoise population (With exception of the theft of their captive program tortoise). What has happened is it was considered (And still is) bad luck to eat tortoise. Now there are lots of tourists visiting the country and the locals are selling Tortoise meat to them (Read they are eating their tortoises out of existence).
The fact of the matter is there are not that many animals taken from the wild for the pet trade – Just have to look at the pet Tortoise holding statistic – also most people keep “captive bread” Tortoises.
Is it a convalooted world or what? People there are dirt poor but the tortoises are worth 6-$7000 in the USA.Whats wrong with this picture? I dont think you can smuggle them(torts.) to the Us as easy now after 911.Ive been to conservation talks that stated so many are being taken by the tribes that arnt tabooed about eating them that QUOTE "we must raise the fines for taking them" oh yea! that will work on the poorest people in the world.QUOTAS! with money for the folkes!We'll make more.They can buy a Popeyes Chicken Store,and say "it tast like turtle."
