The Malaysian Box Turtle is in danger due to over exploitation, despite a government ban on its export since 2005. Since the ban, export of turtles for the pet trade to Japan, Europe and the United States has ceased. But there are widespread evidence of illegal exports to Honk Kong, China, and to a less extend, Singapore. Exotic meats from wildlife are often sought by China, and parts of the turtles are used in traditional medicine (amongst its uses are as aphrodisiacs).
There are no commercial breeding of the turtle in Malaysia because it is not commercially viable. To meet demand, turtles are taken from the wild at an unsustainable rate. An estimated 22,000 turtles are illegally export out per year from Malaysia, the majority of them beng adult box turtle – distinguished by three yellow stripes on the head and a dark olive carapace. A typical adult is 8 inches long. Unless this issue is addressed, they will disappear from the wild.
The Malaysian Box Turtle has a slow reproductive cycle, producing only a limited number of eggs in its 30 to 35 years lifespan. The Asian Box Turtle, including a wide range of box turtles are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2000.
Traffic, a joint program of IUCN and World Wide Fund for Nature calls for better regional cooperation in controlling wildlife trade, in particularly at the borders of countries. The Deputy Director of Wildlife and National Parks Malaysia said it is difficult to stamp out illegal trade in wildlife and endangered species. Even if convicted, the perpetrator often gets away with a fine.
My personal opinion is that I do not know the mentality of the people who may have contributed to the extinction of a species. I do not see how we can accept it as a fact of life and survival of the fittest. If we have the means, we should contribute to the survival of the species.
Conservation News sourced from Daily Express Sabah.
SON LAS RAZONES ¡POR LAS QUE YO NO PIENSO COMPRAR UN MONEDERO SOLO PARA GUARDAR EL LABIAL!
ADIOS OCEANO PACIFICO!!!!!
VIVA LAS GUAYABAS!!!! y los pepinos!!!
tenemos que salvar a las tortugas para tener mas biodiversidad en el mundo y tener mas opurtonidades de que las personas futaras puedan conocer a esa especie que ha durado años desde la era prehistorica y devemos de detenreel trafico de tortugas!!!
Ayudenos!!! porfavor
we must save the turtles to have but biodiversity in the world and to have but opurtonidades which the people futaras can know that species that has lasted years from the prehistoric era and we must of detenreel traffic of turtles!
help us!!! pleas
i have 5 adult malayan box turtles around my house compound.
they are well and thriving.Recently discovered a baby turtle walking around and now a turtle is seen dug into a pile of dried leaves for the past two days probably laying eggs.If i let them “free” they will most likely be killed and eaten by the most destructive of humanoid species the CHINESE.