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title NIBR Published “Identification Guide to Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles”
writer Administration Services Division
Date 2022.02.03 Hit 205

NIBR Published “Identification Guide to Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles” 


The new book, “Identification Guide to Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles” was published by 

NIBR to support companies and stakeholders that export and import tortoise-related products 

when they identify and determine whether or not the concerned products are on the scope of 

CITES*. The book has been distributed to Korea Customs Service and other relevant institutions since 13 January 2022. 


*CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention  


The book is a Korean translated version of “Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles: Parts, Products, 

and Derivatives in Trade” originally published by the CITES secretariat last year. It covers 

product types, identification, and illegal trade cases in terms of endangered tortoises under CITES.   

 

As of last year, there were 348 turtles reported globally, of which 182 were endangered and 

listed in CITES such as African spurred tortoise (Geochelone sulcate) and fly river turtle (Carettochelys insculpta). 


According to the book, the number of live tortoises and turtles confiscated by customs offices 

has reached 303,774 globally over the last 15 years.  


During the same period, there have been 78,818 illegal trades in tortoise and turtle-related products reported 

from local to global, meaning that the endangered turtle species are still threatened with extinction.


Shells, bones, cartilage, meat, eggs, and leather of the tortoise and turtle have been broadly used to produce 

different types of commercial products such as traditional medicines, ornaments, boots, bags, food, etc. 

The Korean translated version of the book is available in PDF form at the NIBR’s website (www.nibr.go.kr). 


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