Western Indian Ocean tortoises and turtles face conservation crisis |04 February 2008

The meeting was organised by the government of Madagascar, the  IUCN Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group and Conservation International, to address the crisis facing these animals.

A centre-point of the meeting was the launch of a pocket identification guide to 'Turtles and Tortoises of Madagascar and Adjacent Indian Ocean Islands', a joint publication by Conservation International, the IUCN specialist group, international and Malagasy organisations and Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles.

This guide illustrates the 18 living species of freshwater turtle and tortoise in the region and highlights the importance of the turtles of the region, with Madagascar having 5 endemic species and Seychelles 4, both exceptionally high levels of endemism.

The meeting evaluated the status of the tortoises and freshwater turtles of Madagascar, concluding that all 5 endemic species are Critically Endangered.  These animals are in crisis on Madagascar due to over-exploitation; some species are threatened by local consumption for food but many are under threat from international trade.  It is predicted that without effective action these species will be extinct within the next 50 years.  The meeting has prepared an action plan for their conservation and $300,000 have already been pledged to implement this action plan.  It is hoped that this will make a substantial impact and prevent their imminent extinction.
 
Contributed by Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles