Vietnamese Pond Turtle
CR

Vietnamese Pond Turtle

Mauremys annamensis

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_pond_turtle

Overview

The Vietnamese pond turtle or Annam leaf turtle is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae.

The Annam pond turtle faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for food markets and traditional medicine trade throughout Vietnam and southern China. Habitat degradation from agricultural expansion and urban development has fragmented remaining wetland areas, while pollution from pesticides and industrial runoff contaminates the freshwater systems this species depends upon. Climate change-induced alterations to seasonal flooding patterns further threaten the specific hydrological conditions required for successful reproduction.

Threat summary

Habitat

Mauremys annamensis inhabits shallow freshwater environments including ponds, marshes, rice paddies, and slow-moving streams across Vietnam and southern China. The species requires areas with soft substrates for foraging and adjacent terrestrial zones with suitable nesting sites during the breeding season.

Wetlands (inland)· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationAwareness & communicationsLegislationPolicies and regulationsCompliance and enforcement

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Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Vietnamese Pond Turtle classified as Critically Endangered?
Vietnamese Pond 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 Annam pond turtle faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for food markets and traditional medicine trade throughout Vietnam and southern China. Habitat degradation from agricultural expansion and urban development has fragmented remaining wetland areas, while pollution from pesticides and industrial runoff contaminates the freshwater systems this species depends upon. Climate change-induced alterations to seasonal flooding patterns further threaten the specific hydrological conditions required for successful reproduction.
Where does Vietnamese Pond Turtle live?
Vietnamese Pond Turtle occurs in China, Hong Kong SAR China, Malaysia, 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 Vietnamese Pond Turtle?
The main threats to Vietnamese Pond Turtle are 1.1, 2.1, 5.1, and 5.1.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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