Madagascar's Tortoises Crawling Toward Extinction

Snakes Incorporated

Madagascar's Tortoises Crawling Toward Extinction

(Feb. 7, 2008) — Madagascar's turtles and tortoises, which rank among the most endangered reptiles on earth, will continue to crawl steadily toward extinction unless major conservation measure are enacted, according to a recent assessment by the Wildlife Conservation Society and other groups.

A radiated tortoise at Cap Saint Marie -- a protected area on the southernmost tip of Madagascar.

The groups, which met for four days in Madagascar's capital city Antananarivo, said there is still hope to save these ancient animals, but time is running out as their habitat continues to shrink and illegal hunting worsens. Five of the nine assessed species have been downgraded to critically endangered, with one variety -- the ploughshare tortoise -- now numbering only a few hundred individuals. The other critically endangered species include the radiated tortoise, flat-tailed tortoise, spider tortoise and Madagascar big-headed turtle, all of which are found nowhere else on earth.

"Madagascar's ancient tortoises and turtles are marching toward extinction unless an all-out effort is made to protect these living national treasures," said Dr. James Deutsch, director for the Wildlife Conservation Society's Africa programs. "The good news is that there's still time to save Madagascar's tortoises and turtles from extinction, and we know how to tackle the issues."

The workshop participants concluded that illegal trade continues to be the largest single threat for several of critically endangered species. Ploughshare, spider and flat-tailed tortoises, along with juvenile radiated tortoises, are particularly coveted by collectors and traded as pets on the international black market. Meanwhile, adult radiated tortoises are sold for food in regional markets in Tuléar and Fort-Dauphin.

In order to combat these illegal activities, the workshop participants recommended the creation of a "tortoise brigade" to monitor and control illegal trade. Confiscated tortoises could be repatriated to areas where populations had been decimated by illegal trade, and with subsequent enforcement eco-tourism opportunities could follow.

Moreso, the participants recognized that Madagascar's traditions that once protected tortoises needed to be revitalized. Therefore, working with local people was identified as an essential component of any future conservation effort. The groups went onto say that more survey work was needed to identify unprotected tortoise populations, as well as increased captive breeding and reintroduction efforts.

The Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates field projects throughout the island nation, will open Madagascar! on June 19th -- a new exhibit at its Bronx Zoo headquarters that showcases the country's amazing biodiversity including radiated and spider tortoises.

Thursday, February 7

Tortoise Brigade Will Fight Illegal Pet Trade

Many of the tortoises and turtles of Madagascar are critically endangered and a tortoise brigade is needed to stop the black market trade in pets and food.

Five of nine endangered turtles and tortoises on Madagascar have been downgraded to "critically" endangered, following a meeting of conservation groups who met recently in the island nation's capital, Antananarivo. The groups proposed forming a "turtle brigade" to crack down on the main factor threatening turtles and tortoises: illegal trade.

Several species are traded illegally on the black market to provide turtles as pets internationally. (For their sake, don't choose turtles for pets, but if you do, take care to buy only a legal species.) There is still hope to save the species, but habitat loss and hunting are also helping to drive the species toward extinction.

There are only a few hundred remaining ploughshare tortoises. The other critically endangered species include the radiated tortoise, the flat-tailed tortoise, the spider tortoise and the Madagascar big-headed turtle.

Madagascar's ancient tortoises and turtles are marching toward extinction unless an all-out effort is made to protect these living national treasures, said Dr. James Deutsch, director for the Wildlife Conservation Society's Africa programs. The good news is that theres still time to save Madagascar's tortoises and turtles from extinction, and we know how to tackle the issues.

Like many other wildlife, these species are found on Madagascar and nowhere else. When Madagascar drifted away from Africa some 165 million years ago, wildlife on the island spun off on its own unique evolutionary path, producing the world's only lemurs, as well as dozens of amphibian and bird species found nowhere else on earth. That unique wildlife, which was only discovered by humans 2,000 years ago, has prompted many to refer to the island as an Eden-like remnant of the natural world as it was before human contact.

Ploughshare, spider and flat-tailed tortoises, along with juvenile radiated tortoises, are particularly coveted by collectors and traded as pets on the international black market. Meanwhile, adult radiated tortoises are sold for food in regional markets.

The groups envision a "tortoise brigade" that would monitor and control illegal trade. Confiscated tortoises could be "repatriated" to areas where populations had been decimated by illegal trade, and with subsequent enforcement, eco-tourism opportunities could follow. The brigades would also educate local people about their own traditions, which include more sustainable relationship to turtles.

The turtle pet and food trade is not only a problem in Madagascar. It is a leading cause of turtle and tortoise declines worldwide.

Radiated tortoises like these live in the dry southern part of Madagascar, where they feed on plants. Like many other species of turtles and tortoises, they live long and grow big – up to 16 inches across and 35 pounds. But they reproduce late in life, making them particularly susceptible to threats that kill mature breeders, or young before they reach breeding age.

Spider tortoises are one of the critically endangered turtles and tortoises of Madagascar. Like the ploughshare, flat-tailed and juvenile radiated tortoises, spider tortoises are coveted by collectors and traded as pets on the international black market.

Local people in Madagascar hunt and eat turtles and tortoises, but many are also sold on international markets illegally. In China, a single radiated tortoise can fetch $50, due in part to purported aphrodisiac properties. When caught, radiated tortoises scream high-pitched cries that would scare off natural predators, but don't deter poachers.

Conservationists say there is still hope for the endangered turtles and tortoises of Madagascar, but not without swift action to crack down on illegal pet and food trade, stop habitat loss, and bolster wild populations with those born in zoos.

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tilly790 · Posting Python Number of posts: 1300 Registration date: 2007-12-27

we certainly do