CR

Indochinese Box Turtle

Cuora galbinifrons

Declining

Overview

The Indochinese box turtle, Vietnamese box turtle, or flowerback box turtle is a species of Asian box turtles from China, northern and central Vietnam, Laos, and possibly northeastern Cambodia. It is found in high altitude woodland where it tends to hide in the undergrowth. There is considerable confusion as to the taxonomy of this species with several subspecies being recognised by some authorities.

and not by others. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as "critically endangered".

The Indochinese box turtle faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for the traditional medicine trade and food markets across Southeast Asia. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and logging has fragmented remaining forest populations, while the species' slow reproductive rate makes recovery extremely difficult once populations are depleted. Cross-border trafficking continues despite legal protections, with specimens commanding high prices in Chinese markets.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits primary and secondary tropical forests, preferring areas near streams and water sources in mountainous regions. It occurs in both lowland and hill forests up to 1,200 meters elevation across Vietnam, Laos, and southern China.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsLegislationPolicies and regulationsCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Indochinese Box Turtle classified as Critically Endangered?
Indochinese Box Turtle is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Indochinese box turtle faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for the traditional medicine trade and food markets across Southeast Asia. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and logging has fragmented remaining forest populations, while the species' slow reproductive rate makes recovery extremely difficult once populations are depleted. Cross-border trafficking continues despite legal protections, with specimens commanding high prices in Chinese markets.
Where does Indochinese Box Turtle live?
Indochinese Box Turtle occurs in China, Laos, and Vietnam. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Indochinese Box Turtle?
The main threats to Indochinese Box Turtle are 5.1, 5.1.1, 5.3, and 5.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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