Population Status of Asian box turtles

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Asian box turtles (Cuora spp.)

Asian box turtles have a very low reproduction rate which makes this genus highly sensitive for over-exploitation.
Some of these species are only known from food markets with no data concerning their habitat or population size.

Species Countries of Origin Biological Data Extent of Trade Population Trends

Cuora amboinensis (1802)
Malaysian box turtle Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Eastern India, Cambodia, Singapour 1 to 5 eggs/nest, several nests per year; incubation period about 76 days High level of exploitation for national and international trade (food, TCM, souvenirs) Declining populations (Lehr, 1997; Thirakhupt & van Dijk, 1997)
Red data book of Vietnam (1992): "vulnerable"
IUCN (1996): "near threatened"

Cuora aurocapitata (1988) Golden-headed box turtle China (Anhui), found in Namling County, Yixian, Guande, Jingxian Low reproduction rate in captivity (3 to 6 eggs, once a year) One of the most requested and most expensive species in the Chinese food markets (up to 900 US $ / animal) Populations rapidly decreasing (Meier, 1998)
Red data book of China (1998): "critically endangered"
IUCN (1996): "data deficient"

Cuora flavomargi-nata (1863) Chinese box turtle China (Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Jiangsu, Hunan, Szechnan, Shanghai, Taiwan), Japanese Riu Kiu Islands Low reproduction rate in captivity (1 to 4 eggs/nest, once a year) High level of exploitation in China and Hong Kong, offered in decreasing numbers Populations obviously declining Red data book of China (1998): "endangered" IUCN: "vulnerable"

Cuora galbinifrons (1939) Flowerback box turtle Vietnam, China (Guangxi and Hainan), Southeast Laos Low reproduction rate in captivity (2 eggs/nest, once a year) High level of exploitation for national and international trade; Offered in decreasing numbers Declining populations (Lehr, 1996) Red data book of Vietnam (1992): "vulnerable" Red data book of China (1998): "endangered" IUCN (1996): "near threatened"

Cuora mccordi (1988) Mc Cord´s box turtle Only discovered on Chinese markets (Guangxi), no data on natural habitat no data Offered in Chinese markets (up to now only about 100 animals have been observed) Rapidly declining populations (Behler, 1997; Meier, 1998); Red Data Book of China (1998) and IUCN (1996): "data deficient"

Cuora trifasciata (1825) Three-striped box turtle China (Guangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan), Northern Vietnam, maybe also in Laos and Cambodia Low reproduction rate (2 to 6 eggs/nest), once a year Most expensive and requested turtle in the Chinese markets (up to 3,000 US $/ animals) Rapidly declining populations; (Pritchard, 1997) Red data book of China (1998): "critically endangered" Red data book of Vietnam (1992): "vulnerable" IUCN (1996): "endangered"

Cuora yunnanensis (1906) Yunnan box turtle Only known from a few specimen in museums No data No hints for trade, maybe already extinct Red data book of China (1998): "maybe already extinct" IUCN (1996): "data deficient"

Cuora zhoui (1990) Zhou´s box turtle Only discovered on markets in China (Yunnan, Guangxi) Low reproduction rate in captivity (up to 5 eggs/nest, once a year) One of the most requested and expensive species in the Chinese markets (up to 800 US $) Rapidly declining populations (Behler, 1997; Meier, 1998); Red Data Book of China (1998) and IUCN (1996): "data deficient"

June 1999

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Species	Countries of Origin	Biological Data	Extent of Trade	Population Trends
Cuora amboinensis (1802) Malaysian box turtle	Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Eastern India, Cambodia, Singapour	1 to 5 eggs/nest, several nests per year; incubation period about 76 days	High level of exploitation for national and international trade (food, TCM, souvenirs)	Declining populations (Lehr, 1997; Thirakhupt & van Dijk, 1997) Red data book of Vietnam (1992): "vulnerable" IUCN (1996): "near threatened"
*Cuora aurocapitata* (1988) Golden-headed box turtle	China (Anhui), found in Namling County, Yixian, Guande, Jingxian	Low reproduction rate in captivity (3 to 6 eggs, once a year)	One of the most requested and most expensive species in the Chinese food markets (up to 900 US $ / animal)	Populations rapidly decreasing (Meier, 1998) Red data book of China (1998): "critically endangered" IUCN (1996): "data deficient"
*Cuora flavomargi-nata* (1863) Chinese box turtle	China (Anhui, Fujian, Henan, Jiangsu, Hunan, Szechnan, Shanghai, Taiwan), Japanese Riu Kiu Islands	Low reproduction rate in captivity (1 to 4 eggs/nest, once a year)	High level of exploitation in China and Hong Kong, offered in decreasing numbers	Populations obviously declining Red data book of China (1998): "endangered" IUCN: "vulnerable"
*Cuora galbinifrons* (1939) Flowerback box turtle	Vietnam, China (Guangxi and Hainan), Southeast Laos	Low reproduction rate in captivity (2 eggs/nest, once a year)	High level of exploitation for national and international trade; Offered in decreasing numbers	Declining populations (Lehr, 1996) Red data book of Vietnam (1992): "vulnerable" Red data book of China (1998): "endangered" IUCN (1996): "near threatened"
*Cuora mccordi* (1988) Mc Cord´s box turtle	Only discovered on Chinese markets (Guangxi), no data on natural habitat	no data	Offered in Chinese markets (up to now only about 100 animals have been observed)	Rapidly declining populations (Behler, 1997; Meier, 1998); Red Data Book of China (1998) and IUCN (1996): "data deficient"
*Cuora trifasciata* (1825) Three-striped box turtle	China (Guangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan), Northern Vietnam, maybe also in Laos and Cambodia	Low reproduction rate (2 to 6 eggs/nest), once a year	Most expensive and requested turtle in the Chinese markets (up to 3,000 US $/ animals)	Rapidly declining populations; (Pritchard, 1997) Red data book of China (1998): "critically endangered" Red data book of Vietnam (1992): "vulnerable" IUCN (1996): "endangered"
*Cuora yunnanensis* (1906) Yunnan box turtle	Only known from a few specimen in museums	No data	No hints for trade, maybe already extinct	Red data book of China (1998): "maybe already extinct" IUCN (1996): "data deficient"
*Cuora zhoui* (1990) Zhou´s box turtle	Only discovered on markets in China (Yunnan, Guangxi)	Low reproduction rate in captivity (up to 5 eggs/nest, once a year)	One of the most requested and expensive species in the Chinese markets (up to 800 US $)	Rapidly declining populations (Behler, 1997; Meier, 1998); Red Data Book of China (1998) and IUCN (1996): "data deficient"