Assessment of the International Illicit Wildlife Trade in the Critically Endangered Malagasy Tortoise Species Astrochelys yniphora and Astrochelys radiata

Abstract. Illicit wildlife trade is a main reason for the decline of many species worldwide (Broad et al. 2003, Engler & Parry-Jones 2007, Rosen & Smith 2010). Animals or parts and derivatives of them are traded as food, traditional medicine, skin for the fashion industry, or as pets. Especially for reptiles, the wildlife trade with Asia as a major hub contributes to the population declines of many endangered species (Todd 2011, Nijman & Shepherd 2015).