Indochinese box turtle (Cuora galbinifrons)

Species information

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Threats

Freshwater turtles in South East Asia face a number of threats, principally habitat alteration and human exploitation. Forests are being cleared and watercourses altered in the process of cultivating the land for human use, which is often achieved at the detriment of the turtles' natural habitat (6). Another major threat to the survival of this species comes from the pet trade; between 1989 and 94 almost 33,000 specimens of the genus Corus (Asian box turtles) were imported into the United States (6). An additional threat may come from the increasing demand for turtles for food and medicines, especially in China (6).

Conservation

More information is urgently needed on the distribution and behaviour of this shy box turtle. The Indochinese box turtle is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (3) but trade remains one of the key features of its decline. More data on distribution of this species is vital if a comprehensive conservation plan is to be established.