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Protected on paper, hunted in wetlands: exploitation and trade of freshwater turtles (Melanochelys trijuga coronata and Lissemys punctata punctata) in Punnamada, Kerala, India [ 363-373 ]

K. Krishnakumar, Rajeev Raghavan and Benno Pereira

Abstract
Soft shell turtles are among the most threatened groups of freshwater animals that are in need of urgent conservation attention. In Kerala (South India), two species of freshwater turtles, the Indian black turtle or Indian pond terrapin, Melanochelys trijuga coronata (Schweigger, 1812) and the Indian Flap-shelled turtle Lissemys punctata punctata (Lacépède, 1788) are exploited from Vembanad lake and associated wetlands in Punnamada to meet the demand from local restaurants and toddy shops. Eight hundred and forty three individuals belonging to the two species (499 pond terrapins and 344 flap-shelled turtle) were observed during a field survey conducted in 2007 at Punnamada. Despite being listed at the highest level in the Indian wildlife protection act, very little law enforcement takes place and turtles are exploited and traded regularly. Collection and trade have also become an important component of the local livelihoods in Punnamada, with the involvement of around five full-time and 25 part-time collectors. Details of the collection, marketing, economics and management of the freshwater turtles in Punnamada are discussed.


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    English: Soft shell turtles are among the most threatened groups of freshwater animals that require immediate conservation attention. In Kerala (South India), two species of freshwater turtles, the Indian black turtle or Indian pond terrapin, and the Indian Flap-shelled turtle are exploited from Vembanad Lake and associated wetlands in Punnamada to meet the demand from local restaurants and toddy shops. Eight hundred and forty three individuals belonging to the two species (499 pond terrapins and 344 flap-shelled turtle) were observed during a field survey conducted in 2007 at Punnamada. Turtles in the study region are caught mainly by local fishers, who get them from the lower reaches of Vembanad Lake – a wetland of international importance and adjoining paddy fields using a variety of gear including encircling nets, gill nets, and hand nets as well as by hook and line. These are then sold to the main turtle dealer in the region, who holds them for a week in ferro-cement rings, and subsequently supplies them to toddy shops and restaurants in the area by transporting them in gunny sacks. Local people believe that consumption of turtle meat was effective in controlling arthritis and curing various ano-rectal disorders, and hence provide the much needed consumer base. Despite being listed at the highest level in the Indian wildlife protection act, very little law enforcement takes place and turtles are exploited and traded regularly in this region. Collection and trade have also become an important component of the local livelihoods in Punnamada, with the involvement of around five full-time and 25 part-time collectors. There is thus, an urgent need for the initiation of awareness programs aimed at local fishers, turtle collectors, and restaurant owners to sensitize them on relevant wildlife laws as well as on the biological and socio-economic impacts of turtle exploitation and trade.

    Español: Protegidas en papel y cazadas en los humedales: explotación y tráfico de tortugas dulceacuícolas en Punnamada, Kerala, India. Las Tortugas dulceacuícolas son uno de los vertebrados mas amenazados en el planeta y su conservación requiere atención inmediata. En Kerala, al sur de la India, existen dos especies de tortugas dulceacuícolas, localmente conocidas como “Indian black turtle” o “Indian pond terrapin” y “Indian Flap-shelled turtle”. Las poblaciones de ambas son explotadas en el lago Vembanad y en los humedales alrededor de este en la región de Punnamada con la meta de abastecer a restaurantes locales y tiendas de abasto. Durante un reconocimiento en el lago llevado a cabo en dicha localidad en el 2007, pudimos detectar el trafico de 843 tortugas, de las cuales 499 eran de la especie “Indian pond terrapin” y 344 de la especie “Indian Flap-shelled turtle”. Las tortugas son atrapadas por pescadores con el uso de redes de arrastre y anzuelos. Esta son vendidas a un intermediario quien las retiene por una semana y eventualmente las vende a los restaurantes y tiendas de abasto. La genta local piensa que el consumo de carne de tortuga es efectivo en el control de la artritis y que cura varios desordenes del sistema digestivo y rectal, por lo que el recurso tiene una fuerte demanda. A pesar de que la legislación de la India enmarca la protección de las tortugas, la implementación de dicha legislación a nivel local es prácticamente inexistente, por lo que la explotación y trafico de tortugas es común en la región, siendo estos una actividad económica importante entre sus pobladores. En este contexto y con la meta de sostener la economía de subsistencia local y al mismo tiempo asegurar la protección de las poblaciones de las dos especies de tortugas afectadas, es importante considerar la concientización de la población de pescadores, involucrar a las comunidades locales en programas de conservación y formular el desarrollo de proyectos de cría y cultivo de tortugas en condiciones cautivas o semicautivas.
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   Tropical Conservation Science is an open-access e-journal that publishes research relating to conservation of tropical forests and other tropical ecosystems.

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