Tortoise and Turtle Conservation: 10 of the World's most Endangered Turtles and Tortoises

It is so important to recognize that turtles and tortoises are long-lived animals, and therefore mature much like human beings (and in some cases they mature much more slowly than humans). When it takes an animal 15 year or more to be able to reproduce the loss of mature adults can be extremely devastating to populations - and that is often what leads to the decline of turtles and tortoises. They are often harvested for their meat, meaning that the largest individuals are usually targeted for poaching and meat trade which can reduced reproduction tremendously. Collection of animals for pet trade is also devastating, but not necessarily to the degree that poaching or death of adult individuals can be. I encourage everyone to show compassion to these creatures - especially with the frequency in which they cross roads. Stopping to move a turtle or tortoise from a roadway can have huge positive impacts on populations. 

I wanted to take the time to highlight some of my favorite animals in need: turtles and tortoises. After my friend's took a  trip to the Turtle Conservancy last year, the brought me back a 2018 publication of the most endangered turtles and tortoises  of the world that was distributed by the Turtle Conservancy. It is that publication which I am basing this blog list off of. The species listed are not North American, but it could only be a matter of time until some of the turtles and tortoises of North America begin to make an appearance on lists like this one. 

Yangtze Giant Softshell turtle, image retrieved from Edge of Existence

Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei)
This is the world's rarest turtle, and, after the death of the last known female earlier this year, there are only three known individuals left in captivity. They are native to China, where they are likely extirpated, and Vietnam. The largest threats to these turtles is trade for meat, trade for pets, and pollution/habitat destruction.
More info:
http://www.edgeofexistence.org/species/yangtze-giant-softshell-turtle/

Ploughshare Tortoise (​Astrochelys yniphora)
​This tortoise is native to Madagascar, where less than 1,000 individuals still remain in the wild today. It is predicted that this species will go extinct in the next 40 to 50 years due to pressure from illegal collection and habitat destruction.
More info:
http://www.edgeofexistence.org/species/ploughshare-tortoise/

Ploughshare Tortoise, image retrieved from Edge of Existence

Cuora yunnanensis © Zhou Ting, William P. McCord & Torsten Blanck

Yunnan Box Turtle (Cuora yunnanensis)
This species of turtle is believed to originae in China and has been suspected of going extinct since the early 20th century. However, in the early 2000s a male and female from this species was found in the pet trade, and in 2008 a small population of this turtle was confirmed in the wild. they are under threat from poaching for the pet trade, pollution, and destruction of habitat.
More info:
​https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/5957/97360350

Northern River Terrapin (Batagur baska)
This turtle has faced sever decline since the 19th century. They have declined by almost 90% in the past 75 years alone. the cause of this decline is exlpoitation of the eggs and adults for meat and habitat destruction.
More info:
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/97358453/2788691

Batagur baska © Peter Praschag

Batagur trivittata © Rick Hudson

Myanmar Roofed Turtle (Batagur trivittata)
Native to Myanmar, the last assessment of this species turned up no individuals in the wild. The river where they were known to live was dammed in 2004, and no individuals have been reported since. They have declined by 99% over the past 70-90 years, and are threatened by the collection of eggs, juveniles, and adults for various reasons.
​
More info:
​https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/10952/499836

Zhou's Box Turtle (Cuora pallidicephala)
This box turtle, also known as the "black turtle" or "black cox turtle" has only ever been recorded in Chinese markets and trade, never in the wild. The only information known about the historic presence of this species is through anecdotes. Collection threatens this species, however there are some breeding programs in place for them.
More info:
 1) https://www.iucn.org/content/searching-elusive-zhous-box-turtle
2) http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Cuora&species=zhoui

Image copy right to Ting Zhou, retrieved from The Reptile Database

Cuora mccordi © Mark Klerks

Mccord's Box Turtle (Cuora mccordi)
Once again, this turtle is native to China. The last recorded individual was seen in 1996, and most of the information on this species is lacking. It was first discovered in 1988 in a market being sold for meat.
More info:
​https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/5961/97359510#assessment-information

Geometric Tortoise (Psammobates geometricus)
This tortoise only grows to a maximum size of 5 to 6 inches in carapace length. They are native to south Africa and have a population of less than 1,000 individuals. Their biggest threat is habitat loss from urbanization and agriculture.
More info:
https://www.turtleconservancy.org/programs/geometric-tortoise 

Psammobates geometricus © Atherton de Villiers

Golden headed box turtle, image retrieved from Turtle survival

Golden Headed Box Turtle (Cuora aurocapitata)
This turtle species was recently split in to two subspecies, making it even more critically endangered than initially thought. They are highly exploited for trade of meat and pet trade. This species is heavily data deficient, meaning information on them is very scarce.
More info:
http://turtlesurvival.nonprofitsoapbox.com/blog/1-blog/531-species-spotlight-vol-15#.XXFL6yhKjcs

Dahl's Toad-Headed Turtle (Mesoclemmys dahli)
This turtle is native to Columbia and lives terrestrially and in freshwater. A research article published in 2017 stated that this species is threatened by high levels of inbreeding due to a fragmented population. The habitat they thrive in is heavily polluted and degraded, which has led to fragmentation of an already small population. This fragmentation is the root cause of the inbreeding that threatens this species.
More info:
http://www.edgeofexistence.org/species/dahls-toad-headed-turtle/

Image retrieved from: https://mariovargasr.wixsite.com/biorecgen/single-post/2017/10/23/NEWS-Genetic-evidence-of-fragmented-populations-and-inbreeding-in-the-Colombian-endemic-Dahl%E2%80%99s-toad-headed-turtle; Gallego-García, N., Vargas-Ramírez, M., Forero-Medina, G., Caballero S. 2017. Genetic evidence of fragmented populations and inbreeding in the Colombian endemic Dahl’s toad-headed turtle (Mesoclemmys dahli). Conservation Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-017-1021-z.

For More information on these tortoises and turtles please see the link below for the 2018 publication of "Turtles in trouble" put out by the Turtle Conservancy:

https://www.turtleconservancy.org/turtles-in-trouble
​

​About the Author: Jenna is a graduate student at the University of Florida. Currently she is studying Wildlife Ecology and Conservation while working in south Florida to manage invasive animals. Jenna primarily works with the Argentine Black and White Tegu and other invasive lizards

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