Marrakesh: a centre for tortoise trade

Despite legal protections, the open trade of spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) persists in Marrakesh's historic medina. A recent reassessment found 820 tortoises for sale across 17 shops during surveys in 2013-2014, with 63% measuring around 4-10 cm—equivalent to ages of 2-8 years—and only 4% being larger individuals. Prices ranged from USD $1.00 for 4 cm tortoises to USD $7.50 for 13 cm ones, increasing linearly with size. The trade remains largely unregulated, defying Morocco's protected species legislation enacted in 2013 but not yet enforced. This study highlights the ongoing illegal wildlife trade in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, emphasizing the need for stricter enforcement to curb this practice.

Bergin, D., Gray, M., & Nijman, V. (2015). Marrakesh: a centre for tortoise trade. Oryx, 49(2), 205. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605315000058