Despite such legal protection, this study highlights issues of illegal trade in specimens of Japanese
endemic reptile species found for sale in pet shops and markets in Hong Kong and mainland China, as
well as Chinese-language online trade websites. Through a survey of markets and shops, four of five
focal species—Ryukyu Black-breasted Leaf Turtle Geoemyda jaopnica, Ryukyu Yellow-margined
Box Turtle Cuora flavomarginata evelynae, Kishinoue’s Giant Skink Plestiodon kishinouyei and
Kiroiwa’s Ground Gecko Goniurosaurus kuroiwae—were found mainly in Hong Kong, as well as
potentially in Guangzhou. The two freshwater turtle taxa and Kuroiwa’s Ground Gecko were also
found for sale on Chinese-language websites. Some of the animals on sale were found to be
accompanied by declarations stating that they were wild-caught, and this was therefore in direct
violation of Japanese domestic regulations.