Historical & Cultural practice may be the route of this current problem, but the practise in 2009 is blatently NOT SUSTAINABLE. To quote one of the most eminent scientists in the world on this subject Professor Shi Haiteo:
"Asia has a high diversity of turtle species, but this unique fauna is facing a perilous and uncertain future. The Chinese turtle trade is the primary threat to endangered turtle populations throughout Asia, primarily because of the long tradition of consuming turtles in China. This demand is fuelled by deeply held cultural beliefs and threatens all of Asia’s turtles. In China, turtles are a sought after delicacy because of the widespread popular belief, inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), that turtle meat and shell possess special nutritional or curative properties.
The large-scale consumption of turtle products results, in part, from false claims about the nutritional value of turtles. Combating a faith-based misconception with science is an uphill endeavour. Practitioners of TCM do not attempt to test the veracity of their claims. As a result, almost all of their recommendations lack an empirical and rational foundation. Nevertheless, turtle jelly, made from the ground-up shells of endangered species, has become popular in Hong Kong and several chain stores specializing in this expensive “health food” have opened in the past decade. Our study shows that, where nutritional composition and content are concerned, the human consumption of turtles could and should be completely substituted by other, often cheaper domestic sources and mineral supplements. All of these are widely available in China nowadays, particularly to those able to afford consuming turtles.
This demand has fuelled a highly profitable captive breeding industry that contributes to the ongoing extirpation of China’s wild turtle populations and is used to sanitise this damaging trade.
Almost every species is traded; only a very few Asian turtle species have not been reported in trade. These species are exceptionally rare and in some cases probably extinct. There are approximately 30 indigenous turtle species in China of which three are already presumed extinct. Once extremely common and widespread species, such as Mauremys reevesii and Pelodiscus sinensis are now also very difficult to find in the field, while Cuora trifasciata is critically endangered. However, they still face intense and targeted harvesting pressure.
All of China’s turtle and tortoise species are endangered as a result of human consumption. Turtle consumption in China is unsustainable with or without farming – and has led to the depletion of wild turtle populations across Asia and beyond. "
His views are echoed by ALL of the worlds leading Turtle experts.
It really is time for this cultural practice to be properly regulated, and widespread obuse of CITES rules signed up to by the Chinese government to be enforced.
|