Status and Threats

The loss and degradation of lowland forests poses a threat to their population. The damage of lowland forests is the cause of conversion of swamps to rice fields, timber poaching, mining, quarrying, charcoal making and slash-and-burn farming practices (IUCN, n.d.).

The illegal trade of these turtles is definitely one of the greatest causes for their declining population. There is a large demand for these rare turtles from collectors and hobbyists around the world. The species can easily die in captivity as they are prone to stress (Schoppe, n.d.).

Despite the Philippine Forest Turtle being able to lay around 6 eggs a year, more often than not most of their eggs fail to hatch. Even under human controlled conditions, young turtles fail to survive (Kidadl, 2021). Further pressure is applied to their population from the predators that hunt them in the wild such as Eagles (Reptile Handbook, n.d.).