Nearly 200 countries on Friday voted for tougher trade rules to protect dozens of species of turtles, in a day that saw the US and China joining forces for the first time ever, at an international wildlife summit in Thailand.
Millions of turtles are targeted by obsessive western collectors, seekers of tonics for long life and as food for diners across Asia.
Turtles have already been all but wiped out in the wild in east Asia, driven by the food and traditional medicine markets. Demand has grown at the same fast pace as economies have grown, especially in China, bringing millions more consumers into the market.
The new rules discussed at the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species in Bangkok have come just in time for many species, said Dr Sandra Altherr, a biologist at German wildlife group, Pro Wildlife. “Many of the turtles discussed today will be on sale tomorrow, at the world’s biggest reptile fair in Germany, and fetching prices up to €10,000,” she said. “Their life strategy is to live for a long time, so their reproduction is slow and they just can’t stand this exploitation.”
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