(CN) Asian turtles

[Guest guest]

South China Morning Post

Wednesday, January 22, 2003

http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZJ80BIWAD.html

 

Gourmets warned about threat to rare Asian turtles

Kadoorie Farm launches a campaign to save the reptiles from extinction

 

HEIKE PHILLIPS

 

Hong Kong gourmets should think twice about eating turtle soup and

jelly or Asia's wild turtles may go the way of the dinosaur,

conservationists warn.

 

In an effort to avert the demise of Asia's critically endangered

turtles, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Gardens, in the New Territories, has

launched a publicity campaign to alert consumers to the threat of the

reptiles' extinction. ''We want people to think about what they are doing

when they consume turtles. We're talking about a crisis,'' senior fauna

conservation manager Gary Ades said.

 

Dr Ades said the threat was fuelled by an unprecedented demand for

turtle products from increasingly affluent consumers in China and elsewhere

in Asia.

 

''Hong Kong is mainly a transit point [for the illegal trade in wild

turtles], but there are quite a few turtle soup outlets and also pet shops

selling turtles here. It's possible that some come from farms, but if people

aren't sure they shouldn't eat it,'' he said.

 

Dr Ades said it was difficult to tell the difference between wild and

farmed turtles. Consumers should therefore ask the vendor for proof that

turtles or turtle products they sell were obtained through legitimate

channels.

 

''There definitely is consumption [of wild Asian turtle] in Hong Kong

and they have been found in raids on pet shops,'' he said.

 

Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Gardens was given first-hand experience of

the threat facing Asia's turtles when it co-ordinated efforts in December

2001 to save about 10,000 wild turtles that had been seized by Customs. All

but one of the 12 species of turtles from the confiscated shipment believed

to be destined for mainland diners were rare or critically endangered.

 

A rescue operation involving more than 100 local volunteers was

launched to save the turtles.

 

''We haven't seen any major busts since then, except for 100 star

tortoises from India, probably destined for the pet market. But we're

worried there will be another big seizure,'' Dr Ades said. ''We know there

are barges getting through and getting to markets on the mainland.''

 

Conservation group Traffic East Asia said the turtles were mainly

being traded for food, traditional medicine and tonics, as well as for

decorations and pets.

 

The group's programme officer, Samuel Lee, said wild turtles were

already extinct in some parts of China, adding once the populations in

Southeast Asia had been depleted sourcing was likely to shift to the Indian

subcontinent, Africa and the Americas.

 

''We can't just say to the public they have to stop consuming turtles,

but we encourage people to reduce their consumption of turtle jelly and

soup. If they are cold, they should instead put on warmer clothes [than have

turtle soup],'' he said.