Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles

Abstract

Interpretation and implementation of the Convention Species trade and conservation issues TORTOISES AND FRESHWATER TURTLES 1. This document has been prepared by the Secretariat. 2. At its 11th meeting (CoP11, Gigiri, 2000), the Conference of the Parties adopted Resolution Conf. 11.9 on the Conservation of and trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles, and amended it at its 12th and 13th meetings (CoP12, Santiago, 2002; CoP13, Bangkok, 2004). 3. In paragraph m) of Resolution Conf. 11.9 (Rev. CoP13), the Conference of the Parties urges range States of tortoises and freshwater turtles that authorize trade in these species to include in their periodic reporting under Article VIII, paragraph 7 (b), of the Convention information on progress in implementing this Resolution. 4. At its 14th meeting (CoP14, The Hague, 2007), the Conference of the Parties adopted the following Decisions: Directed to Parties 14.126 Parties should liaise with the World Customs Organization to promote the establishment and use of specific headings within the standard tariff classifications of the Harmonized System for tortoises and freshwater turtles and for products thereof. Directed to the Secretariat 14.127 The Secretariat shall submit a written summary of the information on the implementation of Resolution Conf. 11.9 (Rev. CoP13) that is contained in biennial reports from Parties for consideration at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP15). 14.128 The Secretariat shall, subject to external funding, contract the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission to undertake a study which would assist in the implementation of Resolution Conf. 11.9 (Rev. CoP13). Directed to the Animals Committee 14.129 The Animals Committee shall review the study and make recommendations at CoP15. Regarding Decision 14.126 5. The Conference of the Parties has previously called for WCO to create specific headings for certain CITES-listed taxa in the standard tariff classifications of the Harmonized System. Those requests that were channelled through the CITES Secretariat have not been implemented to date. This might be because WCO normally deals with the Customs authorities of its member countries on these matters, and not with CITES authorities. The Secretariat reported at CoP14 (see document CoP14 Doc. 57) that the process for CoP15 Doc. 49-p. 2 creating new codes within the standard tariff classifications of the Harmonized System takes about seven years from the time of proposal to its coming into effect. Regarding Decision 14.127 6. For reasons of efficiency, the Secretariat incorporated the report, mentioned in Decision 14.127 within the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Secretariat and the IUCN Species Survival Commission, Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (IUCN-TFTSG) mentioned in Decision 14.128. Under the terms of reference of the MoU for this work, the Secretariat requested IUCN-TFTSG to examine and analyse details from biennial reports on progress in the implementation...

Hematologic and Biochemical Reference Intervals of a Single Population of Captive Burmese Roofed Turtles (Batagur trivittata)

“…In reptiles, the proportion of WBC is species-specific (Sykes and Klaphake, 2015; Heatley and Russell, 2019b; Innis and Knotek, 2020). In chelonians, lymphocytes are often the WBC with the largest proportion, comprising up to 80% of the WBC population (Heatley and Russell, 2019b; Innis and Knotek, 2020). In our study, lymphocytes were the most abundant leucocytes, with 42.20%, followed by the heterophils.…”

“…Another effect of struggling associated with blood sampling and muscle injury is the increase of CK and AST plasma activities (Innis and Knotek, 2020). In our study, despite gentle restraint and a quick procedure, CK and AST exhibited a relative variation of 4.1 and 1.7-fold, respectively, between the lowest and highest values.…”

“…Prolonged periods of anorexia can cause drastic changes in blood analytes (Heatley and Russell, 2019a). Vitellogenesis and egg formation lead to increases in blood calcium, phosphorus, and cholesterol concentrations in female chelonians (Heatley and Russell, 2019a; Innis and Knotek, 2020). In our study, calcium concentration was higher in females compared to males.…”

Determinants of Legacy Persistent Organic Pollutant Levels in the European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the Camargue Wetland, France

“…Plasma is a good matrix to determine individual burdens of POPs because blood sampling is minimally invasive and because circulating levels of POPs in blood are significantly correlated to concentrations of POPs stored in fat (Keller et al 2004; Dabrowska et al 2006) and in liver, kidney, and muscle tissues (Van de Merwe et al 2010). We collected blood samples (2 mL, always <1% of the turtle body mass) from the dorsal coccygeal vein (Keller et al 2004; Innis and Knotek 2020) with a Terumo® syringe preimpregnated with heparin to prevent blood clotting during collection and equipped with a 25G needle. We then centrifuged the samples to separate the plasma from the red blood cells.…”

Influence of Season, Environment, and Sex on Selected Blood Parameters of Geoffroy's Side-Necked Turtles, Phrynops Geoffroanus (Schweigger, 1812)

“…50 In chelonians, the availability of clinicopathologic data for healthy specimens is increasing, but in freshwater turtles, such as Phrynops geoffroanus, data about the various conditions that influence hematologic parameters are scarce. 27 Phrynops geoffroanus (Chelidae) is a chelonian known as "Geoffroy's side-necked turtle," it has wide geographic distribution in South America (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Paraguay, Uruguay, and far northeast of Argentina), and it is found in the most diverse environments in Brazil, with influence from the Cerrado, Amazon rainforest, and Caatinga, with different degrees of anthropization. 18,34 Highdensity populations of this species may occur, inhabiting polluted urban environments due to the abundance of resources from organic waste From the Federal Institute of Mato Grosso -IFMT Cuiabá-Bela Vista Campus, Avenida Ver.…”