Asian Leaf Turtles

[justmeandmytortoise]

Sorry to ask ... but the turtles sold for food - what is the attraction of eating them? I cannot see any reason to choose them in a restaurant and wonder why so many are eaten. Are they cheap food? Do they use them for soup or a main meal and do they really feel they taste superior?

[egyptiandan64]

They are both C.oldhamii

Oh I know how that can get people into trouble describing new species.

Danny

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by egyptiandan64

They are both C.oldhamii

Oh I know how that can get people into trouble describing new species.

Danny

Thanks Danny, I will post pic's of the other three, of which at least one I believe is a different species. Where do you think C oldhami may have originally come from?- Geographic location of this type species is of interest to me.

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by justmeandmytortoise

Sorry to ask ... but the turtles sold for food - what is the attraction of eating them? I cannot see any reason to choose them in a restaurant and wonder why so many are eaten. Are they cheap food? Do they use them for soup or a main meal and do they really feel they taste superior?

Fresh Water Turtle, and Tortoise flesh has for a very long period featured in the diet of South West China in particular. How it is prepared and served in dishes is not a strong point with me. Perhaps a Chinese national might input on this subject and tell us what parts are used, and maybe why it is particularly favoured. From what I am told, it is not because of it being a cheap source of protein. Indeed some of the most highly prized species, fetch today astronomical prices in the Chinese Market. For instance, I was told that Cuora mccordii recently was offered in China at the equivalent of £17,000.00 for one specimen. Clearly, the new rich of China have become very discerning, and hard currency is driving the market, which of course includes the rather indiscriminate import of wild collected specimens from all over the world!
This answer, and perhaps your own questions on this subject might be better moved to the earlier thread on the Tesco part in the Asian Turtle food trade?

[egyptiandan64]

They are from northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, southern Myanmar and northern Cambodia.

Danny

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by egyptiandan64

They are from northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, southern Myanmar and northern Cambodia.

Danny

Thanks,
That's what I thought. However, these Turtles were imported originally as very young animals from Jakarta in Indonesia. Which just goes to show how convoluted the Asian Turtle trade has become over the last decade or so!

[Beverley]

They are very beautiful and very lucky to have you as an owner
They look so much nicer where they are rather than on a plate.

[Geomyda]

This is one of my other Asian Leaf Turtles;Cyclemys spp. Which sub species is it?

[ziggy's owner]

oh wow, never knew there was so many diff sorts of turtles

[Geomyda]