The Turtles We’re Fighting to Protect
Southern Vietnamese box turtle
Cuora picturata
Endemic to a small region in south-central Vietnam, Cuora picturata is one of the world’s most visually stunning and biologically unique turtles. With its intricately patterned shell and brightly colored head, it is highly sought after in the illegal wildlife trade—both for collectors and for use in traditional medicine.
Status: Critically Endangered
Big-Headed Turtle
Platysternon megacephalum
With its disproportionately large head and long armored tail, this ancient-looking turtle is one of Vietnam’s most distinctive reptiles. It prefers cool, fast-flowing mountain streams—habitats increasingly threatened by development and illegal collection. Though rarely seen, its presence signals the health of the forest’s waterways.
Status: Endangered
Four-eyed turtle
Sacalia quadriocellata
With four bright ‘eye spots’ on the back of its head, Sacalia quadriocellata has one of the most distinctive faces in the turtle world. These markings are thought to confuse predators—but they haven’t protected this species from the threats of illegal trade and habitat destruction.
Status: Endangered
Indochinese Keeled Box Turtle
Cuora mouhotii obsti
This rugged-looking forest turtle is named for the three sharp ridges—or keels—that run down its high-domed shell. Though less colorful than some of its relatives, Cuora mouhotii obsti is no less threatened. It is frequently caught in snares or collected for the illegal pet and food trade. Like many terrestrial turtles, it reproduces slowly, making population recovery especially difficult once numbers decline.
Status: Endangered
A Forest Silenced by Snares
🪤 12 Million Snares Across Indochina
Conservationists estimate that more than 12 million wire snares have been set across the forests of Indochina. These simple but deadly traps indiscriminately catch any animal that passes—including endangered turtles, pangolins, civets, and primates.
🌲 Empty Forest Syndrome
Even in places where the forest canopy appears lush and intact, the ground below can be eerily silent. Decades of unsustainable hunting and trapping have emptied these ecosystems of the wildlife that once kept them alive. This phenomenon—known as empty forest syndrome—represents a quiet crisis in biodiversity loss.
🐢 Wildlife Trade Pressures and Turtle-Specific Targeting
Vietnam’s turtles are under extreme pressure from the illegal wildlife trade, which targets them for food, traditional medicine, and the exotic pet market. Species with beautiful markings or unusual features—like the Four-eyed Turtle or Cuora picturata—are especially vulnerable.
Cuora mouhotii caught by trap in Vietnam, photo : Thong Pham Van CTNC
How CTNC Is Leading Turtle Conservation in Vietnam
Our field partner – The Center for Technology and Nature Conservation (CTNC) is leading urgent efforts to protect Vietnam’s endangered turtles, including the critically endangered Cuora picturata. Their actions include:
Site protection and snare removal Monitoring and tackling wildlife trade, in collaboration with local authorities in Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa Awareness-raising in local communities Radio tracking for Cuora picturata (we have some funding for this, but still lack the staffing to carry it out fully) SMART training and support for forest officers in Khanh Hoa Province, where most of the Cuora picturata populations remain
“When we found this injured Cuora picturata in a confiscated snare line, she had little chance left. But with quick intervention, she was released back into her habitat. Not all are so lucky.”
