scholarly journals Endangered by trade: seizure analysis of the critically endangered Philippine Forest Turtle Siebenrockiella leytensis from 2004–2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  

The Philippine or Palawan Forest Turtle Siebenrockiella leytensis is the only endemic turtle known to occur in the Philippines. It was assessed as Critically Endangered in 2000 and has been considered as one of the world’s top 25 most endangered turtles since 2003. The species is accorded protection nationally by the Wildlife Protection and Conservation Act of 2001 and its international commercial trade is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). However, the publication of its rediscovery in 2004 triggered unrelenting poaching and trafficking for the pet trade nationally and internationally. With the aim of quantifying the extent of poaching and to provide insight on the trade dynamics, we analyzed seizure records from 2004–2018 and conducted physical and online market surveys in 2017–2018. Twenty-three (23) seizure incidents involving 4,723 Philippine Forest Turtles were recorded in the last 15 years. Based on an online survey, we estimated that an additional 1,200 Philippine Forest Turtles were smuggled and illegally sold in China in 2015. The majority of the 74 live individuals exported legally from the Philippines were likely sourced illegally from the wild and declared fraudulently as captive bred by exporters to obtain CITES permits. While habitat loss or degradation is a major threat, the illegal pet trade remains the most important factor threatening the survival of the Philippine Forest Turtles in the wild.

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-228
Author(s):  
Jiří Volf

Eighty-two species or other forms of rare mammals were kept in 19 zoological gardens of the Czech Republic and Slovakia as of 1 January 2016. Two mammal species extinct in the wild (EW category of the IUCN) were bred in the zoos in 2015. Of the kept 29 critically endangered species (CR), 17 bred successfully in 2015, while of the kept 51 endangered species (EN), 25 did. Nine zoos bred more than one third of their kept species belonging to the three categories. The breeding of rare species of perissodactyls and artiodactyls was the most successful in the respective zoos.


The Auk ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-298
Author(s):  
Mark B. Robbins ◽  
Michael J. Braun ◽  
Davis W. Finch

Abstract A heretofore unknown population of the endangered Red Siskin (Carduelis cucullata) was discovered in southwestern Guyana, ∼950 km from populations along the Venezuela coastal cordilleras. Most Venezuelan populations have been greatly reduced by the pet trade during the past 150 years, thus the newly discovered Guyana population represents an opportunity to insure the survival of this highly endangered species in the wild. Breeding of Guyanese siskins coincides with both breeding periods (May to early July and November—December) that have been documented in Venezuela. Breeding behavior, vocalizations, feeding habits, and immature plumages are described.


2019 ◽  
pp. 207-213
Author(s):  
Wayne Edwards

The golden mantella (Mantella aurantiaca) is a critically endangered (CR) frog, endemic to the eastern rainforestsof Madagascar. Although the species is very popular in the pet trade and widely bred in captivity, its specific habitat requirements in the wild are poorly understood. Ten forested sites in the Moramanga district of Madagascar were surveyed for microhabitat and environmental variables, and the presence or absence of golden mantellas in quadrats positioned along transects in the vicinity of breeding sites. Mixed models were used to determine which variables best explained microhabitat use by golden mantellas. Sites where golden mantellas were found tended to have surface temperatures of 20-23 ˚C, UVI units at about 2.9, about 30 % canopy cover, and around 30 % herbaceous cover. Within sites, golden mantellas preferred microhabitats that had 70 % leaf litter coverage and relatively low numbers of tree roots. This information can be used to improve the identification and management of habitats in the wild, as well as to refine captive husbandry needs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 16368-16372
Author(s):  
Cherie Cano-Mangaoang ◽  
Charissa Joy Arroyo Gumban

Platycerium grande (Fee) Kunze is an endemic, Critically Endangered species of fern in the Philippines. The known distribution of this species remains limited at present and its population is threatened by various anthropogenic threats especially for ornamental collection.  In our recent survey, we found high abundance of this species in Central Mindanao, southern Philippines.  It can be distinguished from other species belonging to the genus Platycerium through its frond’s vegetative leaf which is symmetrical with two equally long main lobe.  Based on literatures, the known distribution range extend from Zambaonga, Lanao, and Davao (Mt. Apo); and our recent records extends the known distribution of this species in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat and South Upi, Maguindanao suggesting this species may still be around in other areas within the known range, however, the species may remain narrowly distributed as multiple threats to this species continue to persist.


2021 ◽  
Vol 168 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramón Bonfil ◽  
Paola Palacios-Barreto ◽  
Oscar Uriel Mendoza Vargas ◽  
Melina Ricaño-Soriano ◽  
Píndaro Díaz-Jaimes

Author(s):  
Akshay Tanna ◽  
Daniel Fernando ◽  
Ramajeyam Gobiraj ◽  
Buddhi M. Pathirana ◽  
Sahan Thilakaratna ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 220
Author(s):  
Michele Bertoni Mann ◽  
Janira Prichula ◽  
Ícaro Maia Santos de Castro ◽  
Juliana Mello Severo ◽  
Michelle Abadie ◽  
...  

Melanophryniscus admirabilis (admirable red-belly toad) is a microendemic and critically endangered species found exclusively along 700 m of the Forqueta River, in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. One of the greatest concerns regarding the conservation of this species is the extensive use of pesticides in areas surrounding their natural habitat. In recent years, the adaptation and persistence of animal species in human-impacted environments have been associated with microbiota. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize the oral bacterial community of wild M. admirabilis and to address the question of how this community might contribute to this toad’s adaptation in the anthropogenic environment as well as its general metabolic capabilities. A total of 11 oral samples collected from wild M. admirabilis were characterized and analyzed via high-throughput sequencing. Fragments of the 16S rRNA variable region 4 (V4) were amplified, and sequencing was conducted using an Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM) System with 316 chips. A total of 181,350 sequences were obtained, resulting in 16 phyla, 34 classes, 39 orders, and 77 families. Proteobacteria dominated (53%) the oral microbiota of toads, followed by Firmicutes (18%), Bacteroidetes (17%), and Actinobacteria (5%). No significant differences in microbial community profile from among the samples were reported, which suggests that the low dietary diversity observed in this population may directly influence the bacterial composition. Inferences of microbiome function were performed using PICRUSt2 software. Important pathways (e.g., xenobiotic degradation pathways for pesticides and aromatic phenolic compounds) were detected, which suggests that the bacterial communities may serve important roles in M. admirabilis health and survival in the anthropogenic environment. Overall, our results have important implications for the conservation and management of this microendemic and critically endangered species.


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