Turtle Pet Trade
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Turtle Pet Trade
Turtles are ancient, peaceful animals, that have been on the earth before dinosaurs, surviving over 220 millions on earth. Now, they are the most endangered out of all the vertebrae groups. Each year, many species of turtles go extinct, and pet trade plays a huge role in the recent population decreases. All different kinds of turtles are sold, including sea turtles. Sea turtles are the most endangered and rare. They are taken from the ocean, where they are sold for high prices. Around 67% of turtle species are endangered. Sadly, pet/ domestic turtles cannot survive after being released, leading them to live their lives forever contained within a glass tank. Besides being a huge part of pet trade, turtles are also carriers of salmonella, on their skin and shell, which can cause serious infections in humans. When transported, the turtles are often smuggled through cramped spaces, along with hundreds of other turtles, all with their shells taped.
Indian Star Tortoise
A turtle regularly part of pet trade, is the Indian star tortoise (which is technically a tortoise…). They are one of the most beautiful species of turtles, they’re harmless, and they won’t transmit salmonella, making them one of the most common species part of pet trade. Originally, they were pretty common, and not considered a concern for conservationists. Now, the illegal tortoise trade has skyrocketed. Back in 2004, about 10,000 to 20,000 tortoises were taken from their range of habitat, to be sold. But in 2016, 55,000 tortoises were taken from just one village in India. Not only that, but the booming trade in Indian star tortoises also likely contributed to the decline in even rarer species—the radiated tortoise and the ploughshare tortoise, of which there are less than 200 adults left in the wild.