Report to TRAFFIC SEA
Cuc Phuong Conservation Project
Douglas B. Hendrie
June 1, 2000

About the observation reports below:

This report is derived from accumulated observations during the period indicated above. The purpose for documenting such trade observations is to provide the conservation community, in addition to wildlife protection authorities, with further insight about the patterns and mechanics of the trade in Vietnam, particularly in relation to Chelonians.

This report is produced in English and Vietnamese by the Cuc Phuong Conservation Project and may be reproduced and distributed as deemed appropriate.

Ninh Binh Forest Protection Department Seizure March 14, 2000
Observers: Peter Paul van Dijk, Le Trong Dat, Douglas Hendrie

During the morning of March 15, the Ninh Binh Forest Protection Department (FPD) notified the project of a trade seizure involving 350 kg of turtles, as well as snakes, ducks, and tokay geckos. The animals had been confiscated from a public bus traveling from Kien Giang to Hanoi that was stopped at 0200 hrs by rangers on Highway One after rangers received information from an informant. Based on information from a man accompanying the shipment, rangers learned that the wildlife was destined for the border crossing at Mong Cai. The shipment included the following wildlife:

Remarks:
The Malayemys subtrijuga were being shipped in burlap 100 kg rice bags, as were the pythons. Shipments of Malayemys subtrijuga tend to be one-species shipments and have not in the past included mixtures of other turtle species. The location of the province of origin, at the southern-most tip of Vietnam, is within the natural range of this species, though it is possible that these animals were shipped over from Cambodia.

The wildlife was being shipped under a permit issued by the Kien Giang FPD and was confiscated because the shipment exceeded the weight authorized under the permit. The shipment was accompanied by man, though the trader was reportedly a woman in Kien Giang.

The seizure of 350 kg of Malayemys subtrijuga presented a new problem for the Turtle Conservation and Ecology Project (TCEP) in that this species is traditionally difficult to maintain in captivity for any length of time, and the volume of turtles confiscated would have exceeded the TCEP’s holding capacity for aquatic species. Subsequently, the confiscation highlighted the urgent needs to develop a contingency plan that would permit the project to ship southern species back to potential translocation sites within their natural range, following quarantine and rehabilitation. New regulations that will be issued from the national government in the next 30 days are also likely to increase the numbers of turtles confiscated by authorities.

The shipment of Malayemys were returned to traders based on the permit they held from Kien Giang FPD, though the trader was fined for exceeding the weight restrictions authorized under the permit.

Ninh Binh Seizure (March 15, 2000)
Observers: Le Trong Dat, Vu Thi Quyen, Douglas Hendrie

Alert rangers from the Ninh Binh Forest Protection Department seized a second shipment of wildlife being transported north on Highway One only the day after confiscating 350 kg of Malayemys subtrijuga, pythons, and other wildlife. The second shipment was on a truck from Soc Trang Province in the south of Vietnam. The shipment was apparently destined directly for the Chinese border, according to FPD rangers. The cargo was comprised of 100 kg of turtles representing eight species, and 682.5 kg of snakes (three species). The specific species breakdown included:

Remarks:
The trader carried with him a permit issued by the Soc Trang Provincial FPD for the shipment which prevented Ninh Binh authorities from exercising their right to confiscate the shipment except in excess of the gross weight permitted on the trade permit. Subsequently, most of the animals were released back to the trader.

Trader: Mr. Tran Van Nghia
(registration 72M5247)

Ninh Binh Seizure (March 23, 2000)

Rangers on highway No. 1 stopped a minibus traveling from Ha Tinh Province to Hanoi, and confiscated six turtles from a man who reportedly intended to sell them in Hanoi. The man, described as a farmer or "small-time" trader from Huong Son District, possibly of Lao origin, was carrying the turtles in school bags, ordinarily used by students to carry books. The man was fined 200,000 VND ($14.28 USD) and released, and the turtles were confiscated and turned over to the Cuc Phuong Turtle Conservation and Ecology Project.

Remarks:
Unlike other shipments that have been confiscated, only a few animals were present, and the driver of the vehicle had no economic connection to the trader. Although the trader claimed that the animals came from Lao PDR, it is likely that these turtles were of local origin, based on the small quantities in his possession (Vietnamese traders in Lao are unlikely to ship small quantities over the border and transport these all the way to Hanoi). The established trade network is believed to involve larger shipments that are sent directly to China or collected at staging areas along Highway No. One (such as Vinh), before shipping them to Hanoi and the Chinese border. The trader appeared to fit more into the mold of a small-time dealer buying a few turtles off local hunters (possibly cross-border hunters) and seeking higher earnings from traders in Hanoi rather than selling the turtles to regional middlemen.

Ninh Binh Forest Protection Department Seizure
Date: May 28, 2000
Observers: Nguyen The Cuong and Hoang Van Nguyen

Ninh Binh rangers stopped a public bus on Highway One in Tam Diep, Ninh Binh Province, carrying a cargo of reptiles and birds. The bus originated in Ca Mau Province in the south of Vietnam and was destined for the Mong Cai border crossing with China in Quang Ninh Province. The confiscated wildlife included (as identified by FPD rangers):

** Project staff members Hoang Van Nguyen and Nguyen The Cuong inspected the turtle cargo verifying the identification by rangers, but did not inspect all of the bags holding Malayemys subtrijuga.

Remarks:
Trader information: Nguyen Thi Nho, DOB 1950, Ward 3, Commune 7, Cau Mau town, Cau Mau province.

Also observed were four pigmy lorises, two macaques, an eagle, the usual compliment of tokay geckos, several Burmese pythons, and four Tam Dao salamanders.

Remarks:
Malayemys subtrijuga were reportedly from the North according to the shopkeeper, which is incorrect based on their native southern range. They sold for 30,000 VND each ($2.14 USD) and are purchased as pets, for medicines, and by Buddhist monks for release, according to the shopkeeper.

There were no Trachemys scripta present in the aquarium shops, as have presently been observed in the stores. The shopkeeper claimed that a new shipment would be delivered on Friday, the middle of the lunar month when traders allegedly deliver to the market each month.

The lorises were selling for 80,000 VND each ($5.71 USD) and were inside one of the stalls out of sight. Likewise, the macaques were also in the rear of a second stall, and had apparently been special ordered. The shopkeeper said that they are purchased to make glue. Very few mammals have been observed at Dong Xuan since February of 1999, when the Hanoi Forest Protection Branch cracked down on mammal dealers at the market.

Remarks:
This was the second observation of Mauremys mutica in the market since 1998 when market surveys began. The shopkeeper was asking a remarkable 300,000 VND for the Cuora galbinifrons. Prices for this species amongst other traders has always hovered around 40,000 VND/kg. When told that I had observed this species for sale elsewhere for 40,000 VND, the quick-thinking merchant suggested I buy as many as I could, and that she would buy the turtles from me! The Mauremys mutica was selling for 40,000 VND.

During a return trip from Ninh Binh city, a stop was made at a local shop that advertised softshell turtles for sale on a sign out front. The woman who ran the shop also sold water snakes (Enhydris sp.), frogs, snails, eels, and other fish reportedly collected locally.

Only two softshell turtles were observed at the shop (Pelodiscus sinensis), including an adult female and a second sub-adult male; the softshells were selling for 270,000 VND/kg ($19.28 USD). The woman said that softshells were regularly available at her shop and could be purchased at any time. Peter Paul van Dijk suggested that the Pelodiscus sinensis we observed appeared to be a local variety, unlike others he had observed from commercial farms.

Hanoi’s Dong Xuan Market (March 13, 2000)

Turtle Species	Quantity	Price *	Notes
Pyxidea mouhotii	2		Adults
Cuora galbinifrons	1		Sub-adult

Hanoi’s Dong Xuan Market (March 25, 2000)

Turtle Species	Quantity	Price *	Notes
Manouria impressa	1		Sub-adult
Sacalia quadriocellata	1		Adult female
Cyclemys pulchristriata	1		Juvenile
Malayemys subtrijuga	10		Juvenile
Trachemys scripta elegans	11		Yearlings

Hanoi’s Dong Xuan Market (April 22, 2000)

Turtle Species	Quantity	Price *	Notes
Pyxidea mouhotii	1		Juvenile
Sacalia quadriocellata	2		Adult and sub-adult
Cyclemys tcheponensis	1		Adult female
Ocadia sinensis	1		Juvenile
Geoemyda spengleri	2		Adults

Hanoi’s Dong Xuan Market (May 5, 2000)

Turtle Species	Quantity	Price *	Notes
Pyxidea mouhotii	3		Juvenile
Sacalia quadriocellata	2		Adults
Cyclemys tcheponensis	1		Juvenile
Manouria impressa	1		Juvenile
Trachemys scripta elegans	17		Yearling

Hanoi’s Dong Xuan Market (May 17, 2000)

Turtle Species	Quantity	Price *	Notes
Pyxidea mouhotii	6		Juveniles
Sacalia quadriocellata	3		Adult males
Cyclemys tchepoensis	1		Juveniles
Geoemyda spengleri	2	30,000 VND ea.	Adult male and female
Cuora galbinifrons	5	150,000 VND ea.	1 adult + 4 juveniles
Manouria impressa	1	40,000 VND	Juvenile
Trachemys scripta elegans	1		Yearling

Ben Chuong Duong Street Market, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)
Date: May 30, 2000
Participants: Peter Paul van Dijk, Le Trong Dat, Douglas Hendrie
Street dealers along the sidewalk in front of the An Duong Vuong statue had a variety of wildlife for sale at 0830 hrs. Observations included:

Ben Chuong Duong Street Shops, HCMC
Date: May 30, 2000
Participants: Peter Paul van Dijk, Le Trong Dat, Douglas Hendrie
Observations from several shops further down Ben Chuong Duong street included the following:

Trader in shop #2 (gibbon and macaques): Hung, 52 Ben Chuong Duong St., District 1
Telephone: 8211718 Mobile: 090737656

Remarks:
In addition to the eight adult Indotestudo elongata and 80 Malayemys subtrijuga, a single Mauremys annamensis was observed in the market, this species being endemic to the Hue and Da Nang region of Vietnam. Its presence in HCMC indicates that at least some of the trade network may run south from other regions in Vietnam. Alternatively, the natural range of Mauremys annamensis is not fully known, and may extend considerably further south than the Da Nang.

Note: The business card for the woman at shop 2 advertised that she “specialized in selling and buying all kinds of animals. Especially: Poisonous snakes, snake wine.” The card also advertises that the shop is “Full of precious gall. ” The card was in Vietnamese, English, and Chinese.

Duong St. Bird Market, HCMC
Date: May 30, 2000
Participants: Peter Paul van Dijk, Le Trong Dat, Douglas Hendrie
Observations at a pet market (including mainly birds, as well as imported dogs) located across the street from 903 Duong 3/2 in District 11:

Note: One of the bird shops (approximately 10 in total) had a number of eagles for sale including 2 crested serpent eagles, and a third unknown eagle species.

Remarks:
Unlike Hanoi’s Dong Xuan Market, the turtles sold in various shops and along the streets of HCMC included adults of many species, in considerably greater numbers. Several factors may contribute to the differences between consumption in HCM and other regions of the country, where turtles appear to be sold mainly into the trade with China, or used for non-consumptive purposes (e.g., pets and Buddhist release).

1. Regional tastes may differ between the extreme south and other areas further north within the country.
2. The ethnic Chinese population of HCM (estimated at 300,000) may account for higher rates of local consumption.
3. The higher standard of living in HCM and the surrounding area may provide people with greater opportunity.

In all likelihood, a combination of factors are involved leading to differences in consumption and uses. If economic factors play an important role, than Vietnam is likely to see an increase in domestic consumption of wildlife, including turtles, as the economy develops and the standard of living increases.

Opportunistic Survey: Cat Tien National Park (Dong Nai Province)
Dates: May 24 – May 29
Participants: Peter Paul van Dijk, TRAFFIC SEA Program Officer, Le Trong Dat, staff biologist, Cuc Phuong National Park, Douglas Hendrie, manager, CPCP

Four days searching for turtles at Cat Tien National Park failed to result in any new field records for the park. Two of the days were spent camped out at the ranger station overlooking Bao Sao wetland, a relatively large undisturbed wetland within the northeast section of the park’s interior, fed by a series of streams flowing from primary forest at the western end of the wetland. Despite the presence of suitable habitat, and reports by rangers of previous sightings, no turtles were discovered during day and night ventures by canoe along the wetland’s perimeter and other likely areas, as well as during investigation of two wetland extensions east of Bau Sao. While the results do not suggest the absence of aquatic turtles in the wetland, they may provide some indication that turtles are not exactly "thriving" in the wetland. There is only one recent confirmed field record (1999) for a turtle at Cat Tien, a Siebenrockiella crassicollis discovered along the road near park headquarters just north of the Dong Nai River (forms the southern boundary of the park). Locals reported a softshell species often found in the river (probably Amyda cartilaginea), and rangers at Bau Rau Muong reported that "five" hard-shelled turtle species were found in the recently converted wetland, now serving as a fish farm. However, despite strenuous efforts and multitudes of leeches, no turtles or evidence of turtles were found during the survey.

Potential habitat for terrestrial species (probably Cuora galbinifrons) was not investigated.

In summary, the limited nature of our investigation failed to provide additional and confirmed field records for the park, though our efforts might provide some indication as to the relative lack of abundance of aquatic and semi-aquatic species in the park’s wetlands. At the same time, activity of resident species may have been limited during this particular season, resulting in less visibility.

One Pillar Pagoda, HCMC
Date: May 29, 2000
Participants: Peter Paul van Dijk, Le Trong Dat, Douglas Hendrie

Following our brief survey period at Cat Tien, we took advantage of the opportunity to visit the One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot) in Ho Chi Minh City. The pagoda is known from previous accounts as one of the last (or last) remaining Buddhist shrine in HCM where turtles are maintained in a temple pond. The pagoda, located north of the city, had a large central pool with several small concrete basking platforms. The most abundant species maintained in the turtle pond was Trachemys scripta elegans, a non-native species. At least 20–30 large adults were observed in the pool or basking on platforms. The only species native to Vietnam that were observed were four Malayemys subtrijuga, including several large adults, and a single sub-adult Cyclemys tcheponensis/pulchristriata. Absent were the traditional "temple" turtles (Hieremys annandalii and Heosemys grandis). The presence of large adult Trachemys was a first for Vietnam (for the author), whereas hatchlings and yearlings, said to be imported from Thailand, are only just showing up in Hanoi’s pet market.

Douglas Hendrie
Cuc Phuong Conservation Project
Ninh Binh Province
Vietnam
dhendrie@fpt.vn

Download a PDF version of this report. Download a MS Word 6.0 version of this report. See also: "Trade Action Report, Ninh Binh Seizure" (July 1999) “Report to TRAFFIC Vietnam: Compiled Notes on the Wildlife Trade in Vietnam” (October 1999) “Report to TRAFFIC Vietnam: Compiled Notes on the Wildlife Trade in Vietnam” (November–December 1999) Return to: The Cuc Phuong Conservation Project — Vietnam The Asian Turtle Crisis