Strict laws fail to deter illegal trade of China’s largest and most endangered freshwater turtle

By

Hu, Shijia
Lee, Tien Ming
Shi, Haitao

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022-4-21

Original Publication

Nature conservation

Volume

48

Pages

95--97

Subjects

extinction , Pelochelys cantorii , Poaching , Protected areas , social media

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2012-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.48.84287

 

Abstract

In May 2021, a number of people were arrested for the illegal poaching and trade of one of the most endangered freshwater turtle species in China. The large female Pelochelys cantorii individual was poached from a strict protected area, sold, and was publicly advertised on social media despite being a Class I protected species (no trade allowed) for over 30 years and in a country with one of the strictest penalties for IWT worldwide. We discuss and call for more conservation efforts to prevent the illegal poaching and trade of this threatened species. We argue that unless China meets the urgent conservation needs of this iconic species, the impending extinction of this species cannot be reversed.