AR-News: (AU) Turtles under threat: zoologists

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

By Yasmine Yahya
April 4, 2004

SOUTH-EAST Asia is home to the most diverse range of turtles and tortoises in 
the world, but half of the species are critically endangered, regional 
zoologists working to protect them said.

Fifteen million turtles and tortoises disappear from around the region each 
year, falling victim to a lucrative trade fuelled by the high demand for their 
use as pets and for human consumption, they warned. 
"There are 90 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises in the region and 
the majority of them are in dire straits," Singapore Zoological Gardens senior 
assistant curator Francis Lim said last week.




full story:

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9186733%255E1702,00.html 
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