ILLEGAL TORTOISESHELL HARVEST OF HAWKSBILL TURTLES (Eretmochelys imbricata) IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: EVIDENCE FROM BATURUA REEF, SEMPORNA, SABAH, MALAYSIA

Abstract

The illegal harvesting of hawksbill turtles for their shell has led to a drastic decline in the population of this critically endangered species over the past century. Despite efforts to protect them through legal frameworks and policies, the illegal trade of their shells continues to pose a significant threat to the species. While there is existing knowledge on tortoiseshell harvesting, there is limited evidence on how tortoiseshell harvesting is carried out. This study seeks to provide evidence of the ongoing illegal harvesting of hawksbill turtles for the wildlife trade in Southeast Asia. Additionally, we report the first-ever observations of carved-out carapaces from hawksbill turtles in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia. Although we have only encountered two harvested adult female hawksbill turtles in 2018 and 2019 and conducted interviews with coastal communities between 2014 and 2019, our report provides crucial evidence that the illegal exploitation of hawksbill turtles in Southeast Asia is ongoing. The recent discovery of complete tortoiseshell scutes washed ashore on Pom Pom Island in 2021, further confirms this alarming trend. Given the critical status of hawksbill turtles, urgent measures, such as strict surveillance and enforcement, are needed to prevent their further decline.