News & Events

Illicit Trade in Indian Flapshell Turtles Amounts to Crisis for TSA-India

Our TSA-India program is in crisis management mode, and for one sole reason: wildlife trafficking. Nearly 9,000 turtles representing 7 species have been intercepted from wildlife traffickers in the last two months by the law enforcement authorities of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, India. One species in particular is taking the brunt of this illicit trade: the peculiar-looking Indian Flapshell (Lissemys punctata). Of the nearly 9,000 turtles rescued, approximately 95%, or 8,031, of these have been Flapshells—destined for the meat and medicinal markets of East Asia.

An aquatic generalist, Flapshells can live in most freshwater bodies including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and marshes, but they mostly prefer smaller wetlands and marshes. Their relative abundance, dense meaty bodies, and widespread range from Pakistan to Myanmar, make them easy targets for poachers. A turtle who travels almost as freely on land as it does in water, its movements from habitat to habitat as it follows the seasonal fluctuation of water, coupled with its ability to literally entomb itself in mud wallows during droughts, make it easy pickings. According to Dr. Shailendra Singh, Director of the TSA-India program, “These turtles are generally caught with un-baited hooks, meant to ensnare them, as the waters of large rivers and reservoirs recede during the summer months, and then again in late August and September when the turtles move through a variety of habitat complexes including shallow marshes and wetlands. They even bury themselves in wet agricultural paddies. When in the shallow water complexes and paddies, the poachers will use an iron rod to probe the mud until they find a turtle and then capture it by hand.”

On account of the relative ease with which the turtle is captured, coupled with a rising demand for turtle meat in eastern India, as well as foreign destinations such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia, Singh estimates that as many as 70,000 Flapshells were poached for international shipment from India in 2018 alone. This is despite the fact that trade of Indian Flapshells is regulated by Appendix II of CITES. In this critical atmosphere, law enforcement officials and our TSA-India program technicians are treading water just trying to keep up. Since 29 October 2018, there have been 20 seizures of turtles in north-central and eastern India. Of those, 17 have been in the state of Uttar Pradesh; the headquarters of TSA-India, where our program presence is the strongest. With 85% of the confiscations we’ve dealt with occurring in this state, an unfathomable number of turtles are most likely being smuggled out of the country from the other Indian states.

According to Singh, the uptick in seizures during the winter months is attributed to numerous factors. “Winter festivals throughout the country provide a distracting environment for law enforcement, allowing more shipments to go undetected. Furthermore, the cooler temperatures slow the metabolic rate of the animals, meaning they move about less, require less oxygen, and can go longer periods of time without food or water.” Additionally, says Singh, “If turtles die in transit, putrefaction is suppressed, so there is a lower chance of authorities being tipped off by a pungent smell.” Despite this, law enforcement officers, aided by the TSA, have been able to intercept nearly 10% of the estimated annual harvest of Flapshell turtles. While seemingly low, this number is on par, or greater than that of law enforcement agencies in other countries where turtle trafficking is a problem.

Confiscation numbers this winter have ranged from 80 to 1,583 animals per event. The length of time necessary to amass a large enough quantity of turtles for shipment depends on a variety of factors such as local population density, hydrological conditions, and man-power. It could take anywhere from a couple days to a couple months to collect a large quantity for export. Once captured by poachers, it’s nearly impossible to know exactly how long each turtle or group of turtles has gone without proper care and living conditions prior to their seizure. However, based on the early summer and early autumn harvest seasons, one can likely guess that any given consignment of turtles has been held in poor conditions anywhere from 2 to 6 months. On top of that, the turtles, typically packed into burlap sacks or mesh bags, are estimated to endure further inhumane transport for 1-2 weeks before being intercepted by authorities and released from their woven bindings. By the time our TSA staff responds to seizures to provide triage, the turtles are under a state of great physiological and psychological stress and trauma, are often afflicted by shell and skin damage, and in some cases, have even contracted illnesses. Many have already died by this point, and that number undoubtedly grows as time progresses. “I would say approximately 20% die in the first week following their seizure, while we suspect another 30% may perish after their release due to long-term physiological stressors and illnesses acquired during their harvest and shipment,” says Singh.

Upon confiscation in Uttar Pradesh, the turtles are rapidly provided medical triage by the Uttar Pradesh Forest and Wildlife Department and the TSA, and then transferred to the Kukrail Gharial and Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Lucknow for primary care by the TSA. In West Bengal, turtles confiscated by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau of India (WCCB) and local authorities, are taken to the Wildlife Animal Transit facility in Saltlake, near Kolkata. The objective of the TSA and our partners is to release the turtles back into protected wetlands in the wild, as quickly as possible, following the procurement of the appropriate release papers sanctioned by the court of law under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Following veterinary evaluations, turtles are placed into holding facilities to recuperate or isolated for treatment. Treatment length and vigor is determined on a case-by-case basis. According to Singh, “We try to keep the turtles at the rehabilitation center for 1-2 weeks before releasing them. It’s a challenging task to keep that many wild turtles for a long period in captivity. Turtles that are seriously injured or needing long-term medical treatment are held back for a longer period of time to complete their recovery before being released.”

The numerous confiscations and thousands of animals placed under our care this winter has put excessive pressure on TSA-India’s personnel, facilities, and monetary resources. As of this writing, the Kukrail Gharial and Turtle Rehabilitation Center is at maximum carrying capacity for confiscated Flapshells, and we don’t foresee the trade in these turtles letting up anytime in the near future. Despite the pressures placed on our program and the crowded conditions of our rehabilitation facilities, the TSA-India staff and volunteers will continue to ensure that each turtle is attended to and given a fighting chance for survival. To support the TSA’s efforts for turtles rescued from the illicit black market trade in India, we recommend contributing to our campaign specifically designated to helping the turtles of India affected by the illegal wildlife trade.