TURTLES
Turtles are harvested from their natural environment in large numbers. The greatest demand for these reptiles is in the Asian countries.
Therefore, the Asian species are in greatest danger of extinction. There is especially a large demand for turtles in China. Its population had long ago been decimated, even though more than 10 million specimens of various species are still surprisingly being imported each year.
Turtles are used mainly for consumption and for the purposes of traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as, to a lesser degree, for the needs of the pet market. For consumption, the larger specimens are especially valued, which implies that adult specimens are sought.
Since turtles are long-lived, late maturing animals, and their reproductive rate is very low, often with a low survival rate of the hatchlings, and the removal of adult specimens from the population is extremely dangerous and may lead to their extinction.
All species of tortoises, sea turtles and many other species of turtles are listed on the CITES appendices. The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) does not come under CITES , because of the fact that it is an invasive species and has been included in Appendix B to Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 and is not allowed to be imported into EU territory.