Global Voices Online

Angola: Endangered species caught and sold

Monday, August 18th, 2008 @ 20:07 UTC

by Paula Góes

Countries:: Angola
Topics:: Cyber-Activism, Environment
Languages:: Portuguese

MESUMAJIKUKA [pt] publishes a picture of someone caught red handed by the camera with a young sea turtle, caught on the coast Angola, in a car which was seen at Deolinda Rodrigues Road last August 14, 2008. According to the post, the Angolan guy also said that this was the second animal he caught at the request of some Chinese people with vehicle number plate GNR-B039, LD 50-88-AL and based in Viana.

3 comments

Betania Ferreira

Hello,

I would like to inform that the turtle that you refer as a sea turtle is in fact a terrapin, from the Genus Cycloderma. This turtles live in rivers, lakes and lagoons and they could have till 60 cm of carapace.
They could be similar to sea turtle, but if you consult websites about sea turtles you will confirm that they are quite different.
This terrapins have a lower risk of extinction, they are considered by the IUCN Red List as near threatened. But off course that a big depletion of this terrapins might also affect this populations.

Regards,

Betânia Ferreira

Research and Conservation Assistant
Sea Turtle Project of Angola
Wildlife Conservation Society

# 2008-10-11 at 8:31 am

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Betania Ferreira

I would like correct something.
The turtle mention before is a Nile Soft Shell, Trionyx triunguis. Its size and stated area of ocurrence rules out any flap shell turtle. Nile softshells get to 1,20 m.
Betania

# 2008-10-12 at 13:18 pm

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Betania Ferreira

I would like correct something.
The turtle mention before is a Nile Soft Shell, Trionyx triunguis. Its size and stated area of ocurrence rules out any flap shell turtle. Nile softshells get to 1,20 m.
This specie is not listed in IUCN list which means its not endangered of extinction.
Betania

# 2008-10-12 at 13:45 pm

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