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Auer, M., & Raffel, M. (2008). Field research into china’s endemic chelonians – preliminary study in preparation of a major survey on distribution, population dynamics, behaviour and reproduction of the chinese box turtles (cuora aurocapitata, c. mccordi, c. pani, c. yunnanensis, c. zhoui, chinemys nigricans). 
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:22:36 UTC)
Resource type: Report/Documentation
BibTeX citation key: Auer2008
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Categories: General
Keywords: Cuora aurocapitata, Cuora mccordi, Cuora pani, Cuora yunnanensis, Cuora zhoui, Geoemydidae, Habitat - habitat, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Südostasien - South East Asia
Creators: Auer, Raffel, Shellshock
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Abstract     
Abstract The preliminary study of this ShellShock Project upon China’s endemic Chelonians has been successfully finished, with a total of 14 weeks of investigating the distribution and consumption of turtles in China. Much information has been collected upon the former and present distribution as well as the life history of turtles from hardly accessible Chinese literature, scientific collections, scientists, pet keepers and dealers. Except for Cuora zhoui which is supposed to live in Vietnam and Laos, all target species were found to still exist in China. The situation of the turtles in the wild is dramatic – with four of the six focal species of this project being on the brink of extinction. The findings for each target species are summarized in this report as well as pictures of turtles and biotopes are given. Furthermore, outlooks fur further action needed and the respective funding required for these resulting specific studies are indicated. 1. Introduction Turtles are considered as talisman and symbols for longevity in many culture groups. This pleasing appreciation as such unfortunately has turned out to be disastrous in East and Southeast Asia. According to Asian belief, the positive attributes of the animals are transferred to humans if the meat, innards, powdered bones or carapaces are eaten. Therefore, turtles have become traditional components within Chinese medicine and cuisine. Due to the growing economy in the 80ties and especially after the opening of the market and free exchange of the currency, the trade in exotic animals started. The fast growing economy and prosperity in large portions of the Chinese population generated a growing demand for luxury and exotic food. Since China has not been able to meet the demand on its own, turtle populations within whole Southeast Asia have been plundered within the past two decades, affecting about 70 turtle species. Several species have already been eradicated; many more are on the brink of extinction and have not been seen for years in their natural habitats. The Yunnan box turtle (Cuora yunnanensis) had already been considered to be extinct, but some individuals have been reported again recently. The yellow-headed box turtle (Cuora aurocapitata), McCord’s box turtle (Cuora mccordi), Pan’s box turtle (Cuora pani) and Zhou’s box turtle (Cuora zhoui) as well as the red-necked pond turtle (Chinemys nigricans) have been classified as commercially extinct, but after all small numbers of these species are existing in captivity. Some species are only known from few market places where they have been found, thus being given as the “terra typica” in the respective description of the species. If, where and how the species survive in their natural habitats is not known.
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