Turtle
In February 2011, the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group published a report about the top 25 species of turtles most likely to become extinct, with a further 40 species at very high risk of becoming extinct. This list excludes sea turtles, however, both the leatherback and the Kemp's ridley would make the top 25 list. The report is due to be updated in four years time allowing to follow the evolution of the list. Between 48 and 54% of all 328 of their species considered threatened, turtles and tortoises are at a much higher risk of extinction than many other vertebrates. Of the 263 species of freshwater and terrestrial turtles, 117 species are considered Threatened, 73 are either Endangered or Critically Endangered and 1 is Extinct. Of the 58 species belonging to the family Testudinidae, 33 species are Threatened, 18 are either Endangered or Critically Endangered, 1 is Extinct in the wild and 7 species are Extinct. 71% of all tortoise species are either gone or almost gone. Asian species are the most endangered, closely followed by the five endemic species from Madagascar. Turtles face many threats, including habitat destruction, harvesting for consumption, and the pet trade. The high extinction risk for Asian species is primarily due to the long-term unsustainable exploitation of turtles and tortoises for consumption and traditional Chinese medicine, and to a lesser extent for the international pet trade.
Natural history of Trinidad and Tobago
Terrapins, tortoises and marine turtles make their homes on and around these islands. The giant leatherback sea turtle ("Dermochelys coriacea"), the hawksbill turtle ("Eretmochelys imbricata"), the loggerhead turtle ("Caretta caretta"), the olive ridley turtle ("Lepidochelys olivacea") and the green sea turtle ("Chelonia mydas") are marine species that either nest on the islands' beaches or frequent their coastal waters. The land dwelling yellow-footed tortoise ("Geochelone denticulata") or Morrocoy as it is locally known is threatened by high levels of poaching in Trinidad. The odd mata-mata turtle ("Chelus fimbriata") is known as a waif (and is possibly a rare inhabitant) of the Nariva Swamp and other southern and eastern coastal river systems in Trinidad. The wood-turtle locally known as the Galap ("Rhinoclemmys punctularia") is found in and near rivers, streams and swamps in Trinidad, and has appeared on occasion as a waif on Tobago.