Turtle Trade Journal
Large numbers of snail-eating turtles (Malayemys subtrijuga)
are still common in the trade. A seizure in March included 350 kg of this species from southern Vietnam or Cambodia.
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During the period of February 1 to May 31, Ninh Binh authorities seized four separate shipments of wildlife that included turtles. On March 14, trade activity appeared to pick up following a three month lull, with a seizure of 350 kg of Malayan snail-eating turtles (Malayemys subtrijuga) and a ton of snakes: 800 kg of Burmese pythons (Python molurus) and 200 kg of water snakes (Enhydris bocourti). A second shipment confiscated the following day included 83 turtles of eight species (107.4 kg), including Indotestudo elongata, Manouria impressa, Cyclemys pulchristriata / atripons, Heosemys grandis, Hieremys annandalii, Malayemys subtrijuga, Siebenrockiella crassicollis, and Cuora amboinensis.
Ninh Binh rangers inspect elongated tortoises (Indotestudo elongata) during a recent trade seizure. |
Two subsequent enforcement actions resulted in apprehending a small-time trader from the Ha Tinh region, and another large shipment from the south, consisting of Malayan snail-eating turtles, Tokay geckos, and birds. Several other trade enforcement actions by Ninh Binh FPD (that did not involve turtles in the shipment) resulted in the confiscation of two golden cats, and several Asiatic black bears. Meanwhile in Hanoi, Forest Protection Branch rangers seized a single shipment of 280 Malayan snail-eating turtles during the first five months of the year.
One of the difficulties facing provincial rangers in the north of Vietnam is that traders often possess permits for their wildlife cargo issued by provincial FPD units in the south of Vietnam (province of origin). Active enforcement units have little choice but to honor valid permits and return wildlife to the traders, unless the trader has violated other restrictions on the permit such as exceeding the gross weight authorized or if the shipment includes species not listed on the permit. The province of origin listed for some observed shipments suggests that many of the turtles and other wildlife shipped from the extreme south of Vietnam may have been smuggled in from Cambodia.
The TCEP is working with provincial rangers to address the critical threat to Vietnam’s turtles through training, partnership on specific conservation-focused efforts, and improving enforcement and monitoring of the wildlife trade. Many difficulties face wildlife protection authorities as they seek to tighten their grip on the illegal trade. One major need in the coming year will be to bring southern-based provincial units up to speed with their northern counterparts, and bring a halt to the issuance of permits by southern units that hasten the drain on the country’s wildlife resources.
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WILDLIFE TRADE
OBSERVATION REPORTS
Bi-monthly wildlife trade reports, prepared by the Project for TRAFFIC South-East Asia can be viewed or downloaded from the Reports section of this Web site. To receive printed copies of current or past reports, please contact dhendrie@fpt.vn.
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New Wildlife Identification Guide for Rangers
A new resource for wildlife protection authorities produced by TRAFFIC Vietnam (Vietnamese) includes color photos or illustrations, a description, and information about the ecology and range of Vietnam’s most heavily traded wildlife, including birds, reptiles and amphibians, and mammals. The resource is intended for use by rangers within protected areas and parks, as well as provincial authorities and border guards to help them identify animals within the trade in order to improve enforcement and monitoring of trade volumes. Contact TRAFFIC Vietnam: Mr. Man at 822-0640.
Visit to Cat Tien
Yields No Turtles
A visit to Cat Tien National Park (Dong Nai Province) during late May failed to result in finding any turtles at Bao Sao, the park’s largest undisturbed wetland. Searches were carried out during the day and evening hours by Peter Paul van Dijk, Doug Hendrie, and project biologist Le Trong Dat, and covered many areas that appeared to be “prime habitat” for turtles. Likely occupants would have included Hieremys annandalii, Malayemys subtrijuga, and Siebenrockiella crassicollis (already recorded for the park). Despite the existence of apparent ideal habitat, no turtles were found. However, lack of findings could be a matter of timing. Local rangers report that turtles still exist in the wetland, but it was clear from our efforts that turtle populations are not thriving in what would appear to be a well-protected and suitable wetland.
The visit was not without some success in other areas though. Unlike regions in the north of Vietnam, observations of mammals — sambar deer, gaur, binturong, wild pigs, and several civets — were frequent during brief forays within the park.
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