The Intersection of Legal and Illegal Supply Chains: A Case Study of the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Pet Trade in Canada

Illegal trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles is an ongoing threat to wild populations. Taking an interdisciplinary approach that draws on perspectives from conservation, criminology, and supply chain management, we describe the Canadian tortoise and freshwater-turtle supply chain and examine the intersection between legal and illegal trade. Leveraging data gathered through federal wildlife enforcement records as well as interviews with vendors, we characterize the actors involved in trade, the species traded, and pathways for legal and illegal trade in Canada. Given current laws, regulations, and information resources, we find that non-native turtles successfully trafficked into Canada are, for the most part, indistinguishable from legally sourced specimens. This reality, coupled with a small captive-bred population, creates the potential for illegal supply chains to provide these turtles for willing purchasers. To reduce the possibility of illegally sourced animals being laundered through legitimate trade, it will be useful to explore and research ways to engage industry, educate pet buyers, and enhance policy to mitigate these realities.