Monitoring Wildlife Trade

A case study using the northern snake-necked turtle

The harvest and incubation of northern long-necked turtle eggs could potentially provide a new local industry for the people of Arnhem Land. It is important that industries based on the use of native wildlife are sustainable and that they do not open avenues for unregulated illicit trade. This project has been established in conjunction with the Australian Federal Police to explore options for using modern molecular techniques to monitor and regulate wildlife trade.

Over the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in commercial turtle trading worldwide. Owing to their late onset of maturity, high juvenile mortality and longevity, turtle populations have been severely impacted by these increased harvesting pressures. The number of critically endangered freshwater turtles worldwide has more than doubled in the last four years.

Harvest Photo Australian freshwater turtles are highly sought after for the pet shop trade and meat consumption. They are also an important food source for many indigenous communities. With the shift of many of these communities from a subsistence to a trade economy, interest in commercial turtle trading is growing.

The Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation is establishing commercial trade of the northern snake-necked turtle, Chelodina rugosa, as an important enterprise drawing upon the traditional values, knowledge and skills of the peoples of Maningrida, Arnhem Land.

This project, in collaboration with the Australian Federal Police will develop DNA fingerprinting methods to monitor this trade. The population structure and the mating system of C. rugosa will also be investigated to aid in captive breeding programs and sustainable harvesting practices. The molecular technologies developed for this model species may be useful to monitor trading and illegal poaching in a wide range of species.

For further information, contact

Erica Alacs, PhD Scholar,
Institute for Applied Ecology,
University of Canberra, ACT 2601
Phone (02) 62015786 Email "surname"@aerg.canberra.edu.au or download our Research Flyer.

		Professor Arthur Georges Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra, ACT 2601, AUSTRALIA Telephone: + 61 2 6201 5786 Facsimile: +61 2 6201 5305 Email: "surname"@aerg.canberra.edu.au
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