Endangered Burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynota) wild population in Myanmar reaches 15,000
“They had a narrow escape. As prices for star tortoises were high, many people, including children, tried to capture them. But, selling them is illegal. That’s why sellers get very low prices. Children dropped out of school to hunt for tortoises, causing lower education rates and social status in poor communities. According to the figures, up to 250 tonnes of tortoises were sent to China a year,” said Daw Kalyar Platt.
ALSO: sulcata tortoise missing in Oklahoma City, and turtle stabbed to death while culprits remain at large in Bella Vista, AR. Details below.
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Did You Know…
The burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynota) is found in forests and forest edges in the dry zone of central Myanmar. It is classified as Critically Endangered.
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Photo from Phyo Wai Kyaw/The Myanmar Times.