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.
Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park
Turtle species include leatherback, green and hawksbill. Pythons and Malayan pit vipers are also present. Leatherback sea turtles swim seasonally to lay eggs on Thai Mueang Beach in the park. Thailand was once a sanctuary for leatherback turtles. Monitoring between 2003–2013 at Thai Mueang Beach found turtles laid 2,678 eggs there and 1,574, or 58.7 percent survived. The species is disappearing. Irresponsible trawler fishing is one of the factors to blame. Property development on the beach has kept the turtles away. Another factor is the traditional belief that consuming turtle eggs boost one's sexual prowess. There have been reports of villagers selling leatherback eggs for up to 150 baht each.