Pet trade in Egypt

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• Pet trade in Egypt

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The interest in keeping exotic animals as pets
is growing rapidlyA large international market
has developed for these animals This illegal
trade, poses an obvious threat to the survival of
species in the wildAnimals suffer during capture
and transport
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MEDITERRANEAN TORTOISE SPECIES

• The five species in the genus Tesudo
• ? Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758 (Greek Tortoise,
  Spur-Thighed Tortoise)
• ? Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789 (Hermans
  Tortoise)
• ? Testudo horsfieldii Gray, 1844 (Russian
  Tortoise, Horsfields Tortoise)
• ? Testudo marginata Schoepff, 1792 (Marginated
  Tortoise)
• ? Testudo kleinmanni Lortet, 1883 (Egyptian
  Tortoise)

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?
Alternative name ? Description ? Habitat ?
Diet ? Life cycle

The Egyptian Tortoise ( Testudo kleinmanni)
(L) 4 YEAR-OLD FEMALE (C) 5 YEAR-OLD MALE (R) 6
MONTH OLD HATCHLINGS
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? From Libya to
Israel? It is near-endemic in Egypt (Libyan
range is poorly known)? Limited to very small
habitats further disruption could cause
extinction
The normal distribution of the Egyptian Tortoise
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Egyptian Tortoises are very appreciated in the
International pet tradeTortoises in Egypt can
be divided into three groups

• ? Egyptian species for Export
• ? Egyptian species for Local Markets
• ? Exotic species Imported into Egypt

Boxes of live tortoises await international
shipment.
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? Threats Direct Indirect ? It is
vulnerable to two major threats ? Pet trade ?
Habitat destruction including Land
reclamation Grazing ? The species could be
considered "technically extinct" in Egypt, since
very few individuals are remaining scattered.


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• Tortoise distribution process inside Egypt

Consumption markets
Local hunters harvest the tortoises from the wild
Pet Markets
Local collectors
Tortoise pet traders in Egypt
Middle men
International pet markets
Egypt pet markets
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Traditional beliefs about tortoises vary
considerably from one locality to another ? The
Egyptian Tortoise and the Bedouin ? The Egyptian
Tortoise and tourists
Tortoiseshell on sale to tourists
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The current status of the Egyptian Tortoise

• ? Critically endangered
• ? Conservation status Cites appendix I
• ? Egyptian law bans the sale, purchase and
  transporting of the species without permits
• ? Penalties for violation
• ? But how far are these laws implemented?

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Conservation actions

• Efforts at its conservation are being taken to
  ensure a sustainable future for the Egyptian
  Tortoise in the wild in its natural habitats by
• Stop illegal collection and trade in the Egyptian
  Tortoise
• Inform and educate the public
• Survey the Libyan range of the Egyptian Tortoise
• Give national priority to the conservation of the
  Egyptian Tortoise
• Promoting networking and cooperation between the
  different bodies working for and concerned about
  the continued survival of the species
• Building capacity in all aspects of tortoise care
• Adopt ex-situ conservation measures
• Target Protected Areas as a focal point for
  in-situ conservation (Zaranik Omayed)
• Rediscovery of wild Egyptian tortoises in North
  Sinai, at which time was thought to be extinct
• Setting-up sustainable captive breeding programs
  (It is extremely difficult to breed, captive
  breeding has been exceptionally infrequent.)

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Protected areas can play important role in
protecting the habitats of the Egyptian Tortoise.
Two protected areas fall within the natural
range of the Egyptian tortoise El Omayed and
Zaranik.
? A tortoise breeding center has been established
in Omayed Protected Area. ? A tortoise reserve
has been recently established in Zaranik
Protected Area
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• Wild animals should not be pets
• The Egyptian Tortoise has become an endangered
  species due to illegal sales and purchase and
  environment destruction
• Despite its name, it is almost extinct in Egypt.
• It is hoped that the commercial exploitation of
  this species will soon cease or it and many other
  endangered animals and plants will disappear for
  ever
• Enjoy our featured Egyptian Sahloof
• clay animation.