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This species is listed as endangered by the 2000 IUCN Redlist
and is protected from trade under Appendix II of CITES. It faces
extinction in the wild in the near future due to exploitation
for the food and traditional Chinese medicine industries. Turtle
species in Asia are being harvested at an alarming rate and reproduce
very slowly. Wild populations cannot sustain this type of pressure
for long. The Minnesota Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariumss Chelonian Advisory Group. This group works
with many other zoos and private breeders to exchange information,
expand captive populations, develop successful breeding programs,
and promote conservation of turtles. The studbook for this species
is managed here at the Minnesota Zoo by Karla Anderson, Tropics
Zookeeper, along with a captive breeding program in order to preserve
options for the potential recovery of wild populations.
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