Why are turtles and their eggs harvested for food and medicine?

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Illustrations of ten representative chelonians, including spiny softshell turtle, Galapagos giant tortoise, green turtle, alligator snapping turtle, Blanding's turtle, common map turtle, eastern box turtle, eastern painted turtle, spotted turtle, and eastern mud turtle, each labeled with its common and scientific name. A scale bar at the bottom shows size comparison. — turtle Turtles (order Testudines).

Turtles and their eggs have long been harvested globally for meat and as a source of food. In addition to their use as a food staple, turtles are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine. Certain species, such as the golden coin turtle, are particularly sought after for traditional celebrations and medicinal purposes, sometimes commanding extremely high prices.

It is important to recognize that this commercial demand has led to severe ecological consequences. The overharvesting of adults and the collection of eggs from nesting sites have driven many local populations to decline and have pushed entire species toward extinction. Ethical stewardship of wildlife is essential, as the current scale of exploitation—ranging from the historical elimination of giant tortoises to the modern depletion of sea turtle populations—fundamentally threatens global biodiversity and the survival of these reptiles.1