Monday 14 January 2008

The survey found that more than half the freshwater turtle and tortoise species sold by pet dealers in Jakarta markets are endangered and nearly all are obtained illegally. Dealers told the survey team that the protected status of the freshwater turtles and tortoises was a selling point, and they were able to ask higher prices for them as a result.

"The open trade in protected species indicates a lack of enforcement effort and blatant disregard for the law," said Chris R Shepherd, Senior Programme Officer of TRAFFIC South-east Asia and leading author of the new report - An overview of the regulation of the freshwater turtle and tortoise pet trade in Jakarta, Indonesia.

TRAFFIC investigators undertook surveys of pet markets in Jakarta and found 48 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises for sale, the vast majority of them illegally obtained.

Enforcing national regulations and the wildlife trade regulations outlined under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is a challenging task. Individuals involved in wildlife crime are often well organised, but dealers admitted to TRAFFIC that freshwater turtles and tortoises are smuggled in and out of Indonesia with ease.

"TRAFFIC encourages the government of Indonesia to ensure combating wildlife crime is given high priority, and that every effort is made to clamp down on the criminals involved in it," said Shepherd.

He added that people buying illegally sourced animals should also be made fully aware they are contributing to the demise of wild populations.

Large numbers of freshwater turtles and tortoises are taken from the wild in Indonesia, but no scientific research is being carried out to determine the impact on wild populations.

The report recommends that the Indonesian authorities should reduce or stop the trade in freshwater turtles and tortoises until there are sufficient controls in place.