TOO RARE TO WEAR: ADDRESSING THE TORTOISESHELL TRADE THROUGH RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY, AND OUTREACH

HAWKSBILLS ARE AMONG THE MOST ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES, LISTED AS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BY THE IUCN WITH AN ESTIMATED 15,000 ADULT FEMALES REMAINING AS OF THE MOST RECENT ASSESSMENT.

ONE OF THE TOP THREATS TO THEIR SURVIVAL IS THE CONTINUED ILLEGAL TRADE IN TORTOISESHELL PRODUCTS WHICH STILL EXISTS IN DOZENS OF COUNTRIES.

TWO MAIN IMPEDIMENTS TO STOPPING THIS TRADE ARE A LACK OF ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LAWS AND LACK OF AWARENESS AMONG CONSUMERS.

IN MANY HOTSPOTS, THIS TRADE IS A LOW PRIORITY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OR A TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO IDENTIFY THESE PRODUCTS IS LACKING.

TOURISTS, PRIMARY CONSUMERS OF THESE PRODUCTS IN MANY PLACES, ARE OFTEN UNAWARE THAT THEY ARE PURCHASING AN ILLEGAL WILDLIFE PRODUCT.

SEE TURTLES, THROUGH OUR TOO RARE TO WEAR CAMPAIGN, ADDRESSES THIS THREAT BY STUDYING THE EXTENT OF THIS TRADE AND PROVIDING TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR TRAVELERS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, TOUR OPERATORS, AND CONSERVATIONISTS TO IDENTIFY TORTOISESHELL AND STOP THE ILLEGAL TRADE.

OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, TOO RARE TO WEAR PROPOSES TO LEAD A GLOBAL CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THIS TRADE TO GATHER THE MOST CURRENT DATA ON THE TRADE BY UPDATING OUR GLOBAL TORTOISESHELL REPORT AND CREATE ONGOING MONITORING IN KEY SPOTS UPGRADE OUR INNOVATIVE SEE SHELL MACHINE LEARNING APP TO MAKE IT AN INDISPENSABLE TOOL FOR