Going, going, gone?

60 conservation groups tie up to protect S-E Asia's animals, many of which are fast disappearing

The Roti Island snake-necked turtle is one of the most desired turtles in international pet trade. It is endemic to Roti, a small island in eastern Indonesia, where poaching and habitat loss - especially due to wetland conversion to rice fields - hav
Pangolins are one of the world’s most trafficked mammals due to high demand for its meat and scales, primarily in China and Vietnam. The meat is consumed as a luxury dish and its scales are used in traditional medicine. The Sunda pangolin is the most widely distributed species in South-east Asia, found in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The Singapore population is currently not targeted by poachers – its major threat is road traffic. PHOTO: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
The Roti Island snake-necked turtle is one of the most desired turtles in international pet trade. It is endemic to Roti, a small island in eastern Indonesia, where poaching and habitat loss - especially due to wetland conversion to rice fields - hav
The helmeted hornbill is the only hornbill species with a solid casque, which is highly prized, particularly in China, for carved jewellery and ornaments. One of the largest hornbill species in Asia, this species inhabits rainforests in Myanmar, southern Thailand, the Malay peninsula, Brunei, Borneo and Sumatra.
PHOTO: CHENG HENG YEE
Pangolins are one of the world's most trafficked mammals due to high demand for its meat and scales, primarily in China and Vietnam. The meat is consumed as a luxury dish and its scales are used in traditional medicine. The Sunda pangolin is the most
The Roti Island snake-necked turtle is one of the most desired turtles in international pet trade. It is endemic to Roti, a small island in eastern Indonesia, where poaching and habitat loss – especially due to wetland conversion to rice fields – have caused the rapid decline of the species. No wild sightings has been recorded since 2009. PHOTO: WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
The Roti Island snake-necked turtle is one of the most desired turtles in international pet trade. It is endemic to Roti, a small island in eastern Indonesia, where poaching and habitat loss - especially due to wetland conversion to rice fields - hav
The straw-headed bulbul is a species of songbird in the bulbul family. Songbirdkeeping as a pastime is firmly entrenched in local culture and tradition in South-east Asia. The region has one of the highest demands and volumes in domestic and international bird trade. PHOTO: WRS/ DAVID TAN
Audrey Tan
Science and Environment Correspondent
Updated
Mar 01, 2018, 05:00 AM
Published
Mar 01, 2018, 05:00 AM
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South-east Asia is home to some of the richest biodiversities in the world. The region's rainforests, seas and swamps teem with life - some already known to man, others just waiting to be discovered.

But it is also where some animals are fast becoming extinct, due to rapid population growth and weak governance of protected areas.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 01, 2018, with the headline Going, going, gone?. Subscribe

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