A star attraction: The illegal trade in Indian Star Tortoises

Abstract

We report on illegal international trade in Indian Star Tortoises (Geochelone elegans), with a particular focus on India and Thailand.Within India, this species has received protection as a Schedule IV list species of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 for over 40 years. This study documents the illegal trade of 55,000 individuals poached from just one 'trade hub' in India. Although domestic demand persists, these individuals appear to have been primarily sourced to satiate international demand for pets in other Asian countries (e.g. Thailand and China). Since 1975, this species has been included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) that regulates all commercial trade. However, an analysis of the CITES trade records relating to Thailand imports (between 2004 and 2013) found large discrepancies indicating potential illegal activity which question the legitimacy of its founding captive stock. Given its role as a major hub of illegal trade activity, both as a consumer and a country of transit, we support calls for Thailand to prohibit private ownership by extending its domestic legislation to also cover non-indigenous tortoise species. In consideration of conservation and animal welfare concerns, we also call for more field research to determine the impacts of illegal trade on wild populations, an updated assessment of its conservation status, increased cooperation between national enforcement agencies, and the implementation of targeted human behaviour change initiatives to help reduce consumer demand for this species.

Information Could Reduce Consumer Demand for Exotic Pets

“…CITES records reveal that 23% of birds and 10% of reptiles legally traded between 2006 and 2010 were wild sourced (Bush et al 2014), as were 64.6% of carnivores and primates traded for commercial and personal purposes from 2006 to 2012, many of which entered the pet trade (Harrington 2015). Animals in the illegal trade are typically poached from the wild (Pires & Moreto 2011) and then distributed through criminal organizations to consumers (Dalberg 2012;Ayling 2013;TRAFFIC 2014;D'Cruze et al 2015). While captive breeding facilities meet some of the global demand for pets, many launder wild-caught individuals into the captive-bred market (Nijman & Shepherd 2009;TRAFFIC 2012).…”

A review of global trends in CITES live wildlife confiscations

“…However, these data have still proved revealing in previous studies of trade in wild animals (e.g. Bush et al 2014;Harrington 2015;D'Cruze and Macdonald 2015).…”

“…In particular, poor reporting compliance has already been identified as an on-going issue of concern associated with the CITES trade database (UNEP CITES 2014;D'Cruze and Macdonald 2015). In light of this fact, and also taking the other various factors outlined above into account, it is unlikely that no international illegal trade activity took place in the 128 (70%) countries party to CITES for which no seizure events were reported (Suppl.…”

“…We focussed our analyses on the following five taxonomic classes of vertebrate provided in the database: Actinopterygii ('bony' fish), Aves (birds), Amphibia (amphibians), Mammalia (mammals) and Reptilia (reptiles). We chose to exclude records of wildlife derivatives from our study as a lack of information on volumes seized is already known to hinder such analyses (UNEP-WCMC 2014;D'Cruze and Macdonald 2015). Seizure data were available in the CITES trade database from 54 different countries, with 30% of the countries party to CITES, in Asia (n = 10; 6%), Africa (n = 5; 3%); Australasia (n = 2; 1%), Europe (n = 25; 14%), North America (n = 2; 1%), and South America (n = 6; 3%) (Suppl.…”

An open door for illegal trade: online sale of Strombocactus disciformis (Cactaceae)

“…The UNEP-WCMC CITES database can be used to determine volumes of legitimate trade reported by CITES Parties and consistency between imports and exports (D'Cruze et al 2015). We can find out which species are the most valuable, wanted and/or available; which may be useful to understand if the production of cultivated plants satisfies the demand for plants in the market.…”