Testudo trade in Turkey

Abstract

The export trade of tortoises of the genus Testudo from Turkey between 1976 and 2004 is reviewed using compiled import data from the CITES (the Convention International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) data base. A total of 468,006 live animals was exported from Turkey to nine countries. The source of the exported tortoises was largely unknown (95%). Of those from known sources, most of them (66%) were specimens taken from the wild, 8% were captive bred animals, 22% were unknown and 4% were seized by the importing country. The authors' personal observations during an ongoing project (2002-2005) on Testudo have been included.