from the president’s desk the region. This unique , the with additional staff, and soon we will Rick Hudson sole member of an entire of hire a full-time Management , is disappearing rapidly due to Coordinator to oversee the captive Taking the good with the bad... and a unified re- side of our program This position its all part of the business. sponse is urgently needed. We believe underscores the importance we placeon the TSA can lead this effort. theon captive brink management and the roleCuora The good news is (of course) it plays in ensuring the survival of tempered with the bad. In , species. The upcoming iving on the front lines of the government is advancing plans workshop is another example of this conservation certainly has its ups to channelize the Setiu River in commitment. and downs — from experiencing the Terrenganu, connecting it with the The 2010 annual TSA symposium excitement and surprise that comes South Sea to allow fishermen in Orlando promises to be our best Lwith the all too infrequent good quicker access. This decisionBatagur would affinis yet!! New Conference Program Chairs news, to the lows that accompany the prove devastating to populationsB. borneoensis of Andrew Walde and Beth Walton have everyday tragic news that we have both River ( ) done an exceptional job organizing this grown so accustomed to. But, you learn Batagurand Painted Terrapins ( ) year’s program and we have a packed to take the bad with the good and if in what is arguably the most important agenda that includes special sessions twothere steps is one forward, maxim one that step always back. holds site in all of Southeast . on Madagascar and Chinese chelonians, true in the conservation business its... In ,B. baska we learned that a pair to be followed by strategic planning of long-term captive Northern River sessions for both. With generous donor So first, someRafetus of the good news. Terrapins ( ) that we had support for both of these sessions, Today, June 17, 2010, we received planned to acquire for breeding had we will be able to bring in key players word that the female at Suzhou been killed and eaten. The female from those countries and engage them Zoo in China laid her first of weighed 27 kg! Like the Yangtze Giant in a strategic planning process. Thesense the season: 63 . We are optimistic Softshell Turtle, this species faces ofTSA community symposium is becoming increas- again this year, due to an improved diet imminent unless urgent ingly important in providing that and hopefully better calcium stores. In conservation action is taken, and is that is so crucial to what , despite intensive gold min- considered the second most endan- we do. People in developing countries ing activity around the primary nesting gered turtle in Asia. In Madagascar, we need to know where to turn for help, beach, we have recovered 115 new saw firsthand evidence of a massive and given the challenges before us this hatchlings of the Burmese Roof Turtle new trade in Radiated meat, opportunity to share experiences and for the captive program — a record one that is clearly unsustainable resources helps restore our optimism number and an unexpected surprise. and that threatens the existence of and fuel our passion. And, despite our In Belize, ThomasDermatemys Rainwater’s river this once widespread and abundant myriad backgrounds, what binds us is surveys, though revealing dismal news species. our shared commitment to protecting on the status of , have So, how does the TSA expect to turtles and . Whether you mobilized the local conservation NGO deal with all these emerging threats are on the front lines working to save community to action, and we predict while at the same time continuing to species where they live or maintaining that this will have a catalytic affect in fund our core programs, like and captive assurance colonies, please Myanmar? I believe the answer lies in know how much we appreciate your our new Board of Directors, a dedi- dedication to turtle conservation and cated, resourceful, and caring group the TSA of individuals that usually manages to Finally the TSA magazine has a new rise to the occasion. This group is not look and feel this year thanks to Louie shy about meeting difficult challenges, Porras and Eagle Mountain Publishing, and is fast becoming a globally recog- LC. Louie has years of experience in nized force for turtle conservation. In the publishing business and has been February of 2010, the TSA Board, in a pleasure to work with, absorbing just its second year of existence, ap- much of the editorial work that I did proved a ramped up budget that nearly previously. With Heather Lowe out on doubled the spending of 2009. Growing leave with a new baby, he has been a expectations can only be achieved godsend. Saludos, Louie!! Table of Contents

Turtle Survival Alliance Board of Directors President Vice President Rick Hudson, Secretary Dwight Lawson, Ph.D.,Treasurer Chuck Landrey, Executive Director Walter Sedgwick, Scott Davis, Ph.D., Bill Holmstrom John Iverson, Ph.D. Patricia Koval Lonnie McCaskill John Mitchell FEATURES RANGE COUNTRY UPDATES Russ Mittermeier Colin Poole Hugh Quinn, Ph.D. Anders Rhodin, M.D. Frank Slavens AdvisoryF. William CommitteeZeigler From the President’s Desk 2 Myanmar 42

Gary Ades Partners 3 Bangladesh 47 Bernard Devaux Tomas Diagne Cover Story 5 India 50 Arthur Georges Doug Hendrie Board of Directors 11 Madagascar 63 Brian Horne Gerald Kuchling Member Spotlights 12 71 Jackie Litzgus Peter Praschag Members Make the Difference 13 China 75 Maurice Rodrigues Peter Paul van Dijk Animal Management 15 Malaysia 77 Dick Vogt ProgramHenk Zwartepoorte Coordinator Significant Breedings 17 79 TSA Partner News 22 Belize 81 AugustHeather 2010Lowe tsa newsletter ©2010 tsa TSA Europe 30 85 TSA Africa 38 88 EXCLUSIVES, NEWS, AND

Layout, Design, and Editorial Contractor: ANNOUNCEMENTS

7705 Wyatt Earp Avenue Eagle Mountain, UT 84005-4382 ww.eaglemountainpublishing.com Chelonian Natural History 92 Louis W. Porras, Editorial Consultant Donor Recognition 95 Megan Davies, Layout and Design Behler Award 96 [email protected]

ABOUT THE COVER:

During his first full day in the field on a March 2010 visit to southern Madagascar, Brian Horne made a radiata gruesome discovery. In a trash dump outside the coastal village of Faux Cap, he found the remains of over 200 Radiated Tortoises ( ) that had been slaughtered recently for food. The cover image vividly captures a broken carapace half buried in the wind-swept dunes, a grim harbinger of the carnage that the team would uncover over the following 10 days. For the past 15 years, the number of Radiated Tortoises harvested for food and export has steadily increased, but recent trends are particularly disturbing because they reflect a massive expansion in this trade. Wild populations of these tortoises, especially those close to urban centers, have been decimated and poachers are closing in on protected areas. Formerly numbering in the millions, the now faces a situation similar to that of the American Bison. See story on p. 5. ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER:

Brian D. Horne, Ph.D. currently serves in a dual position, coordinating the development and implementation of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s overall turtle conservation strategy as well as directing the Red-crowned Roof Turtle program in India for the San Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research. PArtners

Partnerships are Key to the TSAs success

zero turtle

and rescue facilities, animal manage- artnershipWhen the alliance. TSA was founded in 2001, our promise of . we described our new organization as a The challenge of protecting turtle and ment, marketing and public relations, p Today that holds tortoise species today is far too great field research, logistical and technical truer than ever, and the collaborations for just a handful of organizations. We support, salaried positions, and a host listed below represent the realization must be strategic in our development of of other resources. Significantly, some of our original vision. These partner- partnerships in to be most effec- of these partnerships have been with ships are what sustain us, support us, tive, and to marshal the right resources us since the early days, when the TSA provide us access to working with for- at the right place and time. was “born,” and all are an integral part eign governments, and ultimately ena- These myriad organizations provide of our success. On behalf of the Board ble us to grow and exert the impact that a range of services to our collective mis- of Directors of the TSA, we salute we do on turtle conservation; they are sion, including guidance, networking, this remarkable group of dedicated the core network that allows us to fulfill strategic planning, funding, turtle care partners.

2 TSA AUGUST 2010 Cover Story — Madagascar

Troubled Times for Radiated Tortoises

Rick Hudson1 and Brian Horne, Ph.D.2

orrowing a quote from the

B brian horne late John Behler, these are indeed “troubled times for turtles.”Astrochelys This rings radiata especially true for Madagascar’s Radiated Tortoise, , widely considered one of the world’s A. mostradiata strikingly beautiful tortoises. One of four endemic tortoises, occupies a narrow band of xeric spiny forest along the island’s southwestern coast. Traditionally avoided by indigenous tribes, these tortoises are now routinely harvested for food (Leuteritz, 2005). When John and RH first visited southern Madagascar nearly 20 years ago, Radiated Tortoises were abundant and one could hardly fathom why they were ever classified

as an . We Not long ago, images such as this were common, with Radiated Tortoises on the road as far as drove to the coastal fishing village the eye could see. of Beheloka, and at approximately 4:00 PM it was...in John’s words, “like someone threw the switch.” Radiated a. arachnoides Tortoises suddenly began to emerge in numbers and it felt like we were Spider Tortoises, in this area during the late 1990s, stopping the vehicle every 50 yards in the coastal dunes around the for human consumption, followed to photograph another tortoise. As village.Euphorbia We encountered both species some years later by the mass we gazed down the long, straight, side by side, hunkered under the collection of Spider Tortoises for the red dirt road, we could see tortoise same bush. This day was international pet trade. Today, only after tortoise in the distance. Upon truly one of those special moments a few scattered individuals of the arriving in Beheloka several hours in life that one never forgets. can be found around later and shortly before dusk, we But those halcyon days are long Beheloka, mere remnants of a once again found Radiated Tortoises in gone, with populations of Radiated thriving population. Unfortunately, abundance, as well as numerous Tortoises having been decimated this scenario is now AUGUST being 2010 played TSA 3 brian borne brian borne rick hudson

A dump in Faux Cap was littered with the Bonnie Raphael (WCS) trains a Malagasy The garbage dump in Beloha contained remains of over 200 Radiated Tortoises. veterinary student, Tsanta Rakotonana, in numerous freshly-killed Radiated Tortoises. tortoise health assessment techniques. Markets here openly sold tortoise meat.

throughout southern Madagascar, from the illegal wildlife trade. On this scale of and the rate and the Radiated Tortoise, once a the second day of our trip, one of us of decline in this species, which is commonly seen denizen of the spiny (BH) stumbled upon a disturbing unlike anything witnessed in modern forest landscape, has disappeared site at a garbage dump in the town of times, functional extinction of from vast tracts of its former range. Faux Cap. The area was littered with natural populations in 20 years is not Formerly considered one of the Radiated Tortoise shells (minimally an unlikely scenario. world’s most abundant tortoises, estimated at 200 adults and sub- Tortoise extinctions are not new with populations conservatively adults) from that were to islands, and certainly not islands estimated at 12 million (Leuteritz, recently slaughtered for food, a grim in the Indian Ocean. According to the 2005), the Radiated Tortoise is now harbinger of the carnage that we were Fritz and Havas (2007) checklist, at ranked as by to discover over the next two weeks. least 10 species of gigantic tortoises the IUCN Red List and unless drastic We also discovered that poaching have been driven to extinction by protective measures are taken, had heavily impacted populations the actions of humans. Those in extinction in the wild within the next of the tortoise in areas that just a Madagascar were the first to go, as Extinction20 years is aWithin distinct 20 possibility. Years few years ago supported scores of two species were lost approximately individuals; we found only a handful 750 to 1,050 years ago, shortly after of juveniles in these areas, and humans arrived. Five species disap- After a visit to Madagascar encountered adults only in close peared in the 1700s, from Reunion, in March of 2010, we predicted proximity to protected lands. We Mauritius, and Rodrigues, and in extinction for the Radiated Tortoise likened this rate of to what more recent times three more became

in the wild within the next two the Americanth Bison faced during extinct in the Galapagos Islands. decades, a projection supported in the early 19 century when it was To date, the work of Sue O’Brien a widely distributed press release nearly hunted to extinction, after and colleagues (2003) has provided by the Wildlife Conservation Society numbering in the 10s of millions the most scholarly review of the (WCS). The purpose of our joint (Dary, 1974). Although a limited level current level of overexploitation TSA/WCS expedition was to conduct of subsistence hunting of Radiated of the Radiated Tortoise. These health assessments on both wild Tortoises has existed for decades, authors presented some startling and captive Radiated Tortoises, in generally for holiday celebrations in conclusions, though not all were preparation for an upcoming release the city of Tulear, the current rate totally unexpected. They estimated 4of TSAanimals AUGUST that 2010had been confiscated of poaching is unsustainable. With that the annual harvest of Radiated brian horne

Above The team collects samples and data at the Village des Tortues in Ifaty, as part of a pre-release health screening protocol for Radiated Tortoises.

Right: A Radiated Tortoise with prickly-pear ( sp.) in the background. Although the tortoises feed on the cactus fruit, this introduced plant has disrupted the ecology of the region. rick hudson

Tortoises exceeded 50,000 animals (4) The current harvest is at least 25 almost certainly render recovery of per year, an amount they considered times greater than a predicted unassisted populations of Radiated unsustainable based on the following sustainable harvest, and the Tortoises impossible salient points: authors point out that a juvenile- The paradoxical question remains biased harvest would be much as to how the Radiated Tortoise has (1) The geographic range of the more sustainable. managed to sustain such remarkable Radiated Tortoise has contracted population numbers prior to by 20% over the last 25 Unfortunately, the Radiated these modern times, when other years; tortoise abundance has Tortoise is being impacted by species have long since undergone significantly declined close to indiscriminate collection at two catastrophic population declines centers of high demand; and critical stages of its life history, as (e.g., the African Spur-thighedfady commercial harvesters are both juveniles and adults are being Tortoise and the Burmese Star traveling increasingly far to find taken. Aside from the slaughter of Tortoise). The answer is . The sufficient densities of tortoises. adults for food, we received reports dominant tribe in southwestern of thousands of small Radiated Madagascar, the Mahafaly, do not (2) Tortoise density was three Tortoises leaving the Antananarivo eat tortoisesfady. and hold on to a long- times lower and the size of airport on direct flights to Bangkok, held belief that harming them adult tortoises was smaller in , from where they are is taboo, or Unfortunately, harvested populations, compared distributed to markets in Asia, these local customs that protected to an unharvested population. most notably China, , tortoises for centuries are being , Malaysia, , and the lost to the rapid westernizationfady of (3) Based on several important life- former Soviet Union. Recent work traditional societies. In addition, this history characteristics, including by TRAFFIC indicates that Radiated particular tradition of is not differential survival rates Tortoises are being smuggled into being respected by outside tribes, between adults and juveniles and at an alarming especially those in the highlands the female reproductive output, rate, through Thailand, and that of central Madagascar. Members at the current harvest rate their they are now the most commonly of other tribes are now coming models predicted extinction for observed chelonian in the trade to the area specifically to collect a population of 10,000 tortoises (Nijman and Shepherd, 2007). This tortoises for sale in major cities, and within 2–15 years. “one-two harvesting punch” will to meet the demand AUGUST for bushmeat 2010 TSA 5 brian borne rick hudson

Left: A Radiated Tortoise with telltale evidence of feeding on Opuntia fruit. Center: Cap St. Marie, the windswept southern tip of Madagascar, supports a robust population of Radiated Tortoises. Right: All age classes of Radiated Tortoises can be found at Cap St Marie, a small protected area that supports one of the highest densities of tortoises in the world.

fueled by large-scale international • Several years of extreme drought of protected areas. Following mining operations in southern have led to diminished rice and the burning and clearing of Madagascar. For instance, tortoise agricultural production, and forests for agriculture (slash and populations have been extirpated poverty, leading people to collect burn), invasiveOpuntia plant species are in areas surrounding large urban the tortoises for cash so they can outcompetingAgave native species, centers in the south (Tulear and Ft purchase rice and corn. particularly sp. (prickly Dauphin). Even more disturbing, pear) and sp. (sisal) that recent evidence indicates that • An arcane law dictating that now dominate the landscape. The poachers are searching for tortoises wildlife laws must be enforced problem is exacerbated by an in distant and remote areas that are from afar (Antananarivo, or a overabundanceOpuntia of Zebu Cattle that often extremely difficult to reach, as regional office), and thus local sustain themselves almost entirely evidenced by poaching camps officials have no legal capacity to on , which facilitates the discovered with the remains of apprehend poachers. Enforcement plant’s dispersal through the hundreds of tortoises (C. Castellano, action is often several days away, spread of its numerous seeds pers. comm.). Local informants are which makes the system easy to in the dung. Large numbers of also reporting that trucks loaded circumvent. goats also share the , and with Radiated Tortoises and/or charcoal production consumes dried tortoise meat have been • Severe habitat degradation of the any large trees left standing after recently spotted on their way to the xeric spiny forest, now regarded as burning. Fortunately, in this highly Antananarivo. Furthermore, in towns the most endangered forest disturbed and man-altered habitat, such as Beloha and Tsiombe, fresh in Madagascar (< 2% remains), the Radiated Tortoise is still able tortoise meat is being sold openly and one of the most important to “make a living” and survive. The without the fear of prosecution. This for conserving endemic plants. tortoise, however, cannot survive dire situation is exacerbated by the Few intact examples remain, the current threat of wholesale 6following TSA AUGUST factors: 2010 primarily in a limited number collection for the food market. guards to protect the reserve and Ministry of the Environment and rick hudson no means of making daily patrols to Forests (MEF). With only two deter poaching, this near pristine protected areas that support robust site remains highly vulnerable. populations of Radiated Tortoises, The guards lack motorcycles or all- we must find ways to empower terrain vehicles; rather, they might and strengthen them to meet this occasionally hitch a ride in an ox- challenge. Given the importance cart. The only real protection comes of the CSM as a major “source” from the fact that the park is isolated population, might the concept and difficult to reach. This protection of an Adopt-a-Park relationship is fleeting, however, as once the prove effective, as it has elsewhere? population of tortoises outside the Could the TSA gear up support park is diminished the poachers will to more effectively manage this eventually make their way into the critical population, given that high park. This situation was confirmed dollar items such as vehicles are so through conversations with the CSM desperately needed? Perhaps more staff, who admit that they are aware importantly, do we really have a of the looming crisis but are poorly choice? If we can not draw a “line prepared to deal with the impending in the sand” around the protected threat. We heard similar stories from areas, we will almost certainly loose the staff at Lac Tsimanampetsotsa, this species in the wild. Madagascar’s newest National Park, A second but equally important where poaching has already heavily solution involves the development impacted tortoise populations of community-based protection largely due to the park’s close programs, whereby local villagers proximity to the city of Tulear. assist the MNP staff in patroling and Here, we observed primarily adult monitoring tortoise populations individuals and speculated that within and around the protected • The recent collapse of the collectors had already extracted the areas. In order to encourage such central government and juveniles for shipment to Asia. cooperation, we need to find ways political instability. In short, the Given the urgent nature of the for improving the lifestyles of the government is effectively non- present crisis, what can we do local people as an incentive to operational, international tourism to help? How can we engender support protective measures. We is at a modern low, and any and all support for protecting tortoises in found an enthusiastic group of locals natural resources are apparently the face of such grinding poverty? in the village of Antsakoamasy, for sale in marginal efforts to The solutions will not be easy, located on the outskirts of the Park, keep the government “running” because of the number of people who are already doing a good job of by funding the payroll of federal and domestic livestock trying to protecting the tortoises. We engaged employees. eek out an existence in this harsh, them to find out why, and what desert environment. Moreover, this they hoped to gain, by protecting Perhaps the most troubling trend situation can only become worse the tortoises and challenging the is that poachers are now entering as Madagascar contains one of the poachers. We learned that they protected areas (Special Reserves, fastest-growing populations in the need a water catchment basin National Parks, World Heritage world, with the majority of people (estimated at ca. $12,000 US), so Sites) to collect tortoises. One of Vitalunder Protectedthe age of 12. Areas they no longer have to purchase the largest remaining populations water; some villagers told us that is in the Cap Ste. Marie (CSM) 2 they spend up to ¾ of their annual Special Reserve, a small (17 km ) We believe that at least one income on drinking water. Something protected area with one of the solution begins with the Madagascar this simple, therefore, could prove highest densities of tortoises in the National Parks (MNP; formerly transformational in their lives and world (once estimated from2 1,905 ANGAP), a private association likely forge a lasting relationship with to 2,105 individuals/km ; Leuteritz, that manages the protected areas conservation groups trying to save 2005). But, with only a handful of network and operates under the the tortoises. If you AUGUST put the 2010 $12,000 TSA 7 rick hudson rick hudson Left: Most people in Madagascar are under the age of 12. Right: Villagers at Antsakoamasy examine brochures and a copy of TSA Magazine. Located just outside the Cap St. Marie Special Reserve, this village could become a model for providing community-based protection for Radiated Tortoises.

amount into perspective, the sale Radiated Tortoise then the question not survive unless we can encourage of surplus offspring from Radiated becomes, “at the end of the day, what community support for their Tortoise captive breeding programs have we really achieved in southern protection, and we are challenged in the alone could Madagascar?” We believe thisIf we species loose to find innovative solutions that Keystoneeasily generate Species this sum in a year. themust tortoise, become then our everything barometer else for will will benefit the local villages. With notsuccess be far in behind. this ecosystem. local support, we should be able to strengthen the infrastructure If the spiny forest habitat has at protected areas so that tortoise a , it is almost The TSAs goal is to develop populations can be more closely certainly the Radiated Tortoise. partnerships with groups already monitored. This species has become an icon for working at the community southern Madagascar, one that every level in the south, such as WWF Literature Cited Dary, D. 1974. The Buffalo Book: The Full Saga of tourist expects to see (with lemurs Madagascar, which has an extensive the American Animal. Swallow Press, Chicago, of course), and if conservation education network and is able to Illinois. groups need a landscape species to impact conservation on a broad Fritz, U., and P. Havas. 2007. Checklist of Chelonians of the World. Vert. Zool. 57: 149–368. rally around, this is it. Surviving in scale. At Bernard Devaux’s Village Leuteritz,radiata T. 2005. Distribution, status, and both disturbed and “undisturbed” des Tortues, plans are in place to conservation of Radiated Tortoises ( ) in Madagascar. Biol. Conserv. 124: , the Radiated Tortoise reintroduce Radiated Tortoises into 451–461. is one of the most highly visible Lac Tsimanampetsotsa National O’Brien, S., E. Emahalala, V. Beard, R. Rakotondrainy, A.Geochelone Reid, V. Raharisoa radiata and components of this tortured Park, while cultivating community T. Coulson. 2003. Decline of the Madagascar ecosystem, and loosing it to provide support. Nearby, personnel from Radiated Tortoise, due to overexploitation. Oryx 37: 338–343. meat for celebratory meals would Henry Doorly Zoo’s Madagascar Nijman, V., and C. Shepherd. 2007. Trade in be a travesty. But then, travesties of and Biogeography non-native, CITES-listed, wildlife in Asia, as exemplified by the trade in freshwater turtles nature are not new to Madagascar! Project are working in the Lavavolo and tortoises (Chelonidae) in Thailand. The ongoing crisis with the Classified Forest to find an Radiated Tortoise should be a call alternative fuel source to charcoal, 1 Turtle Survival Alliance, Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 to action for all of us — a rallying thereby protecting tortoise habitat Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas 76110. cry if you will — because if we loose from burning and agricultural Email:2 [email protected] this durable symbol of longevity and conversion. The TSA supports both Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, 10460. survivorship from the spiny forest, of these programs, and hopes to soon what will be left to save? We hear forge a closer working relationship conservation groups say that “we with the CSM Special Reserve staff don’t do single species conservation,” to protect this incredibly important but8 TSA if we AUGUST ignore 2010 the plight of the population. Radiated Tortoises will Board of Directors

The TSA Welcomes Two New Board Members

The TSA is pleased to announce that the appointment New York, and Russ Mittermeier will come on officially of two new members to the Board of Directors. Lonnie at the August Board meeting in Orlando, just before the McCaskill was approved at the February 2010 meeting in annual conference.

in zoo animal management, and for prior to that he was with WWF for 11

rick hudson the past 13 years has been employed years. A well-known primatologist at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. and herpetologist (specializing in chelonians and specifically South American chelids), he has conducted fieldwork for over 40 years on three continents and more than 20 countries, mainly in such tropical areas as Brazil, Suriname, and

conservation international Madagascar. Mittermeier’s fieldwork has focused on primates, protected areas, and other conservation issues, and he is considered an expert on Lonnie McCaskill such topics as biological diversity and its value to humanity, ecosystem has been conservation, tropical biology, and with the TSA since Day 1, as an active species conservation. He is active participant in many aspects of our in the IUCN (World Conservation field programs and a central figure Union), currently serving as one in our annual conference. Since the of the Vice Presidents. Russ serves first meeting in 2003, he has worked Russ Mittermeier on the Steering Committee of the on our projects in India, Myanmar, Species Survival Commission, as and Cambodia, and has served as the has also been Chair of the Primate Specialist Group TSAs Conference Coordinator. In the with the TSA from Day 1 and was in- (since 1977), and on the governing winter of 2001–2002, he also played strumental in supporting the group, boards of both the Tortoise and a leading role with logistics and coor- through Conservation International Freshwater Specialist Group and the dinating the Hong Kong turtle rescue (CI), during its formative years. Russ Turtle Conservation Fund. Russ has event staged in . Lonnie has is currently the President of CI, a authored some 600 scientific papers 26 years of professional experience position he has held since 1989; and 19 books. David Shapiro

, founding living in Hong Kong. David has been continue to count on his support, Board member and long-time TSA a dedicated supporter of our efforts but his input will be missed. Thanks supporter, recently stepped down to breed the Yangtze Giant Softshell David, for caring about turtles and from the Board, citing problems Turtle at the Suzhou Zoo, as well tortoises, and for helping the TSA. with meeting attendance due to as other TSA initiatives. We will TSA: Transforming Passion for Turtles into Conservation Action

AUGUST 2010 TSA 9 Member spotlights

How would you describe your personal conservation philoso- phy?

I have been associated with the Australian Landcare movement for many years, which reflects my values of working toward balancing conservation with agricultural pro- duction. Rivers are the lifeblood of our environment, as well as of urban and rural communities; plus, they Hometown Tellare great us about for kayaking. your job. Hometown: Marilyn Connell OccupationChris Bednarski : Gootchie, a rural district Each year, Houston, Texas. in southeastern Queensland, Aus- from late September to January, river : Senior keeper of Herpe- tralia. My property fronts Gutchy turtles seem to rule my life. First, we Dotology you at keep the Houstonturtles Zoo.at your Creek, which flows into the Mary organize a Landcare fencing working home? River. Gootchie/Gutchy (same pro- bee before the nesting season. Then, nunciation) is a local aboriginal word we await the spring rains, wonder- What is I do.your most memorable en- Occupationfor “fat goanna.” ing if enough rain will “wet up” the counter with a turtle in the wild? nesting banks. On many mornings it : Project Officer, Tiaro & means getting up early to reach the District Landcare Group, and Envi- nesting banks just after dawn, where My most memorable encounterClemmys with Whatronmental is your Consultant. most memorable en- we check for , follow the tracks guttataa turtle in the wild was the first time counter with a turtle in the wild? up and down the bank, and some- I saw a ( times discover a freshly laid clutch. ). I was about 8 years old and I love learning from other people. living in Rhode Island, and would At the end of each nesting season, I Mariana A. de M. Campbell is re- frequently (3 or 4 times a day) go dig up clutches from protected nests searching the for to “the swamp,” which was really and collect the hatching data. While her Ph.D. dissertation, and we spent a cranberry bog behind my house, carefully removing the overburden many hours on the river, testing to look for herps. Then, there he at the end of last season, I uncovered water, collecting nesting data, and was...a beautiful male Spotted Turtle. a small dark head. Unbeknownst asking questions. An unforgettable I watched him foraging underwater to me, the incubation period of this experience happened in 2008 when I for about five minutes before he clutch was much longer than that for sat on the Mary River Turtle nesting Havedisappeared. you ever tried to educate other clutches laid on same day. My banks with John Cann, an Australian others about turtles and turtle first reaction was one of concern as turtle expert whom we all admire. conservation? to whether the hatchling was alive Three months later, we hosted such or dead. For the next hour, I had the international turtle experts as Dr. I conduct many privilege of watching the little turtle Peter and Sybille Pritchard, Dr. keeper chats at the zoo, about the Howgradually did you dig itsfirst way learn out. about Gerald Kuchling, Dr. Peter Paul van few turtles we have on exhibit. In the TSA? Dijk, and Chuck Schaffer, which was addition, this spring a few of the beyond my wildest dreams. For a other Keepers and I In 2009, the first Austral- small rural community, it was the held a TSA fundraiser outside of the ian Biology and Conservation of highlight of the year. Many local House, where we handed Freshwater turtle workshop was folks can’t believe that people from out pamphlets and raised public held in Brisbane. There, I met Chuck overseas are that interested in our awareness on turtle conservation. Schaffer (another TSA member), who district. We made posters showing the “Top ensured our entanglement in the One never knows where turtles 25 Species on Death Row,” and had 10international TSA AUGUST turtle 2010 community. will take you. It’s a great adventure. the opportunity to speak to countless Member spotlights

Tell us anything about yourself that makes you unique. people. Overall, the fundraiser went other turtles and tortoises, including very well. I even dressed up in a One of Sri Lankan Star Tortoises, Impressed Tellturtle us mascot about costume! your job. the unique things about me is that I Tortoises, and North American Wood have ADHD, so sitting around or just WhatTurtles. is your most memorable I am a relaxing is hard for me to do. When encounter with a turtle in the senior keeper in the Herpetology I am not swamped with school or wild? Department at the Houston Zoo. My work, you can almost always find me main responsibilities are taking care building something to improve my While fishing at a backwoods of amphibians and chelonians. animals’ habitats. That may include when I was young, I watched building a better basking area, filtra- a large water swim by when tion, a better hide, or whatever I can it was snatched from below by a imagine. As a college student with a large that large number of animals, it is safe to had likely followed my fishing lure say I can’t afford expensive setups for Howtoward would the shore. you describe your them. That is why 90% of the things personal conservation phi- I have for my animals are things I losophy? made for them. To be honest, since these items are custom made with Conservation is everyone’s their specific needs in mind, I think responsibility and can range from they are better than a lot of what I making donations to volunteering could buy in the store. or participating in captive breeding programs. I also encourage pet Hometown: owners to not allow their pets to Joshua Mitchell roam free or to release animals into Occupation: Ames, Iowa. the wild. Non-indigenous species are increasingly plaguing ecosystems Student (Animal and having a negative effect on native DoEcology). you have any pets? Havewildlife. you ever tried to educate others about turtles and turtle A bearded conservation? (Sandy), six turtles, and a Donamed you Izzy. keep turtles at your Conservation is one home? of my priorities in conversation. I have also been selling items at craft Yes, I have two rescued Three- Hometown: fairs and businesses around town to toed Box Turtles (Spud and Shiela), a Bryan Zaher raise money for TSA, and educating Red-eared Slider (Clyde), an African Occupation: Harrisville, Pennsylvania. people on the importance of all Sideneck Turtle (Enguru), and two species, big and small, in healthy HaveOuachita you Map ever Turtles. tried to educate Maintenance and con- ecosystems. For example, I teach others about turtles and Whatstruction first at sparkedthe Alaska your Zoo. interest people how certain seeds may only turtle conservation? in turtles and tortoises? germinate after passing through the stomach of a tortoise, and that these Yes, I gave I grew seeds can grow into a tree that is a presentation on the TSA for my up running around the creeks and home to many other species. Those learning community class at Iowa in the woods. When I was other species also propagate in their State University. I also created five years old, I found two Common own way, like small parts of a big an interpretation program for Snapping Turtles that I brought machine, and taking away one seem- naturalists in my natural resources home and kept for the next 25 years. ingly small part of the machine will class. During this time, I studied and raised cause it to break AUGUSTdown. 2010 TSA 11 Members make the difference

Heather Lowe 1 to conservation projects around the engaged in the work being doneanyone for world. In essence, your support is turtles globally on their behalf. As an Our members are the driving force essential to our success. organization, we believe that behind the success of the TSA, and This year, we made an can contribute to turtle conservation, we are thrilled to announce that our effort to significantly increase regardless of their background or membership has more than doubled communications with our members experience. Each and every member in the past year! Word of mouth is via the e-mail newsletter, website, has the ability to become an advocate our most powerful recruitment tool, and Facebook page. Hopefully, you for turtle conservation in their local so we’d like to take this opportunity are enjoying the frequent updates community, increasing the TSA’s to say thanks to all who have helped on field projects that inspired you presence around the world. In this to spread the word about the TSA to support the TSA in the first place. issue, we are highlighting four truly and our conservation projects If you have any suggestions about exceptional members. We hope that around the globe. Funds generated other things that you’d like to see on you enjoy getting to know them. by membership dues help to offset the website or in any of our other 1 the operating costs of the TSA, communications, let us know! Turtle Survival Alliance, Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 and they also allow access to non- The TSA is truly a grassroots Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas 76110. restricted funds that can be used in organization and we hope that each Email: [email protected] the event of unexpected costs related of our members and donors feel

12 TSA AUGUST 2010 Animal Management

TSA Animal Management Update

Dwight Lawson1, Henk Zwarteporte2, and Scott Davis3

Geochelone platynota he last year was typically busy BurmeseHeosemys Star Tortoises depressa ( for the Animal Management ), and one Arakan Forest programs of the TSA. Behind the Turtle ( ), which scenes, the TSA focused its captive later was placed at the Muenster collectionT by divesting of species and Zoo. A second shipment from KFBG, individuals that were not going to be with 39 individuals, arrivedth inCuora part of an actively managed program. galbinifrons)Amsterdam on July 8 and included Reducing the number of tracked 11 Flower-back Box Turtles ( individuals through donations . All of these turtles frees up some of our most precious were transferred to various privately resource — time — to focus on spe- managed studbooks/breeding cies that are in dire need of captive programs registered with European management. This decision was Studbook Foundation participants, timely, because several high-profile and they represent welcome new confiscations and transactions have bloodlinesChelodina formccordi the ESF. Finally, demanded our attention. eight Roti Island Snakeneck Turtles As publicized on the TSA website ( ) were received throughout the year, authorities in by the ESF from the , Hong Kong have been very active the result of a previous bloodline in policing and seizing illegal turtle exchange with Europe. These new shipments, including one of 1,300 individuals improve the management individuals in February of 2010. options for this Critically Endangered kadoorie farm & botanic garden Long-time TSA partner Kadoorie species in Europe, and provide Malayan Box Turtles (Cuora amboinensis) continue to dominate turtle trade seizures, Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) new bloodlines for increasing and consistently show up in large numbers. accepted 317 of these turtlesHeosemys and genetic diversity within the captive One of the most heavily exploited turtles in is holding some, primarily Yellow- population. Asia, this species is unlikely to sustain this annandalii level of exploitation. headed Temple Turtles ( A developing partnership with ), for placement in TSA Wildlife Reserves Singapore/ facilities in the United States. A resultedGeochelone in the elegans number of high profile and rare importation of 36 confiscated Indian The 2010 ConferenceCuora, will feature tortoises have been seized as well, of Star Tortoises ( ) a session dedicated to the Chinese which some are awaiting clearance into the United States. The majority which and permitting before they are of these individuals were placed with contains among the most threatened shipped to the United States. Others TSA members in the western part of the Asian turtles, withCuora at least have recently been placed within of the country, where the climate is four species already functionallyCuora the TSA Europe network. Henk most amenable for their husbandry extinct in the wild. The session Zwartepoorte, the TSA Europe Chair, and reproduction. We hope that off- will be followed by a full-day reports that one Europeanth placement spring from this group will be avail- workshop, during which experts arrived on March 30 and included able for adoption soon. In the second from China, Europe, and the United a diverse array of 35 individuals of phase of this new partnership, early States will meet to discuss the eight species. This group contained thisPelochelys fall the cantoriTSA will be sending an status of these species in the wild, some highlyAstrochelys endangered radiata species, adult pair of Giant Softshell Turtles their husbandry and breeding in including Madagascar Radiated ( ) from Scott Davis’ captivity, and future plans for their Tortoises ( ), collection to the Singapore Zoo. conservation. AUGUST 2010 TSA 13 wildlife reserves singapore kadoorie farm & botanic garden

Left: Senior Fauna Conservation Officer Kit Tan Sun marks a large Yellow-headed Temple Turtle ( annandalii) as part of the triage process at Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden. The staff at KFBG staff are often asked to hold and treat large numbers of confiscated chelonians, and are highly experienced in this regard. Right: Adult India Star Tortoises (Geochelone elegans) await shipment from Singapore to the United States.

The most exciting news for actively recruiting a Coordinator this and the coming year is the to oversee its assurance colonies, realization of a full-time, paid TSA actively acquire important taxa, and Animal Management position. develop detailed management plans Thanks to the generous support for the most Critically Endangered

of the Beneficia Foundation and holdings. We hope to hire a dynamic, wildlife reserves singapore the Mohamed bin Zayed Species experienced individual soon who Conservation Fund, the TSA is will invigorate this important branch of the TSAs activities. The new DirectorCuora of Animal Management will be intimately involved with the TSAs program, annamensis with efforts to repatriate the ( ) and a host of other conservation activities. With so many wild turtle populations continuing to decline, captive assurance colonies and well- managed breeding programs are more important now than ever. courtesy of harry rotmans 1 A Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) , 800 Cherokee Ave S.E., Atlanta, shipped by Kandoorie Farm & Botanic Garden 30315.2 Email: [email protected] is uncrated in Amsterdam in March of 2010. Chair, TSA Europe, Rotterdam Zoo, Blijdorp, These confiscated tortoises will be integrated Rotterdam,3 The Netherlands. Bernard Santhosh confirms the PIT number into TSA Europe breeding programs. Turtle Survival Alliance, 1989 Colonial Pkwy, Fort on a tortoise prior to shipment. Worth, Texas 76110.

TSA: We’re serious about saving turtles.

14 TSA AUGUST 2010 Sinificant Breedings

Giant Nile Soft-shell Turtle triunguis brandon greaves Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo announced the first captive breeding of the ( ). An adult pair maintained in a 48,500 gallon pool in the Zoo’s Lied Jungle Exhibit has produced a number of infertile eggs over the past several years. On 17 April 2009, keepers observed the female in the process of lay- ing 10 eggs and were able to collect them early the next morning. Several shells were cracked, but the internal membranes appeared to be intact. All eggs were incubated in 1:1 perlite at 84°F and seven hatchlings emerged after 67 days of incubation. Their average weight was 16 grams. After four additional days in the incubator, they were transferred into simple aquatic set ups with a water temperature of 82°F. The hatchlings have been raised on a diet of gut-loaded crickets and Ziegler Aquatic Turtle Food, and their average weight is now 103 grams.

Malaysian Giant Turtles Orlitia borneensis

Ten adult ( ) nicole atteberry have been maintained in the moat and island exhibit that houses Siamangs and GibbonsOrlitia at the Miami Metrozoo since the massive 2001 Hong Kong confiscation/rescue by the TSA. Although many of the were in poor physi- cal condition upon arrival, the staff worked diligently to bring them back to health and losses were minimal. In September of 2009, the staff discovered a juvenile (11cm) in with the group of 10 adults. Based upon the size of the offspring, it was estimated that the hatchling was from the 2008. In December of 2009, another hatchling was found in the moat, this one significantly smallerOrlitia (7 cm). Subsequently, between December of 2009 and May of 2010, six more hatchlings have been discovered, all deter- mined to be this season’s offspring based upon their size. This was the first successful reproduction of at Miami Metrozoo.

stephan böhm Amazon Toad Head Turtle ranicepsStephan Böhm [[email protected]] reports the captive breeding of the ( ). Two clutches of six and seven eggs, respectively, were laid by a mature female, and a first clutch of three eggs came from a young female. All of the eggs were fertile, and the mean measurements were 40.5 × 31.8 mm with an average weight of 26.1 grams. The eggs were incubated in a “Budde-Incubator” (Glass tank filled with 25% heated water, with the eggs incubated in boxes over the water), in a coco-peatMesoclemmys substrate that was kept rather dry throughout the incubation period. The substrate was moistened when the eggs began to hatch, and after this stimulus the small turtles emerged. As with most South American chelids, hatched lying on their backs. The first three eggs hatched in 133 days, but incubation may require up to 150 days at temperatures between 26.5 and 30.0 °C. AUGUST 2010 TSA 15 Sinificant Breedings bill hughes Asian Spiny Turtles Heosemys spinosa Bill Hughes reports that 2009 was a good year for ( ) at the . Four eggs hatched this year, bringing the total number of hatchlings to seven for the Left:past three years (two in 2007,Below, one leftin 2008). to right: Incubation times ranged from 101–108 days at 81°F. A hatchling in its . offspring from 2009, 2008, and 2007. bill hughes bill hughes Yellow-blotched MapBill also Turtle reportsGraptemys the hatching flavimacu- of two lataclutches of the ( ) eggs at the Tennessee Aquar- ium in 2010, resulting in a total of five hatchlings. One clutch was incubated at 82°F and one at 86°F, in an effort to produce offspring of both sexes.

16 TSA AUGUST 2010 Sinificant Breedings

Keeled Box Turtles Cuora Pyxidea mouhotii mouhotii Richard Struijk reports the hatching of five richard struijk richard ( [ ] ) at his facility in the Netherlands. Eggs have been produced yearly since 2007, ranging from two to five eggs per clutch. In 2009, a

firstth clutch consisting of two eggs was produced on June 29 . The mean egg sizes were 47 × 29 mm and their mean

weight was 19 g. A secondth clutch, containing five eggs, was produced on July 26 . The mean egg sizes were 37 × 26 mm and their mean weight was 15.6 g. All seven eggs were fertile and five hatched after 102–113 days. All eggs were incubated while buried up to 45% of their height in a damp mixture of cocopeat and sand, at temperatures of 26–27°C. The mean hatchling weight was 12.2 g and the mean body sizes 41 × 33 × 21 mm (L × W × H).

Pancake

Tortoises Malacochersus tornieri 2 . Richard Struijk also reported the hatching of 13 F struijk richard ( ) between 2005 and 2009 The male and female parents were F1 individuals that hatched in 2000 and 1999, respectively, and started producing eggs at five years of age (female). From one to five eggs hatched every year between 2005 and 2009. One egg measured 41 × 24 mm. Only two eggs were hatched in an incubator,in situ in sand, and all of the other eggs hatched within the terrarium housing the parents. The eggs were deliberately left , and hatching almost always occurred on the surface at night or during the early morning. The mean hatchling length was 34 mm (N = 6), the mean width was 39 mm (N = 4) and the mean height was 17 mm (N = 2). The mean hatchling weight was 10.7 g (N = 6), and hatchling weights differed by as much as a factor of 2. julie tougas

Flowerback Box Turtles Cuora galbinifrons galbinifrons Julie Tougas reports the hatching of three ( ). The 2.3 parents were purchased in 2002 and reportedly originated from Hainan Island. Eggs were laid on 26 May, 17 July, and 26 July of 2009, and hatched after 74–79 days of incubation.

AUGUST 2010 TSA 17 Sinificant Breedings — CUORA

Cuora mccordi Captive Management chris hansen chris hansen of Cuora: An Alternative to Extinction in the Wild

Cuora

The genus contains some of the most threatened Asian turtles, with several species already functionally ex- Cuora zhoui tinct in the wild. As such, captive management is the sole remaining option for the conservation of a number of spe- torsten blanck cies. With support from the Mohammed bin Zahed Species Conservation Fund, the TSA is holdingCuora a workshop at our Annual Meeting in Orlando in order to make an initial as- sessment of captive populations of Cuora in China, Europe, and , and to lay the foundation for a long- term captive breeding efforts. Leading experts from around the world will meet to share information and ide- as, with the goals of determining the viability of remaining wild populations, identifying the founder animals being held in captivity,Cuora and setting out the basic requirements for the captive husbandry and breeding of each species. All 12 of the species have been bred in captivity and this photo montage illustrates the amazing diversity seen sabine schoppe in the hatchlings. ting zhou

Cuora yunnanensis

Cuora amboinensis

18 TSA AUGUST 2010 Sinificant Breedings — CUORA richard struijk richard

Cuora mouhotii chris tabaka

Cuora picturata torsten blanck

Cuora aurocapitata Cuora cyclornata

Cuora flavormarginata evelynae chris hansen torsten blanck

Cuora galbinifrons julie tougas Cuora trifasciata Cuora flavomarginata (twins) Cuora pani julie tougas matt vaughn

Cuora amboinensis Cuora bourreti torsten blanck

AUGUST 2010 TSA 19 TSA PArtner News and Behler Chelonian Center Annual Report 2009–2010 listing meeting in Madagascar. From that time, we have worked actively Ross Kiester1, Eric Goode2, and Max Maurer3 with the Malagasy government, the DWCT, the TSA, the TCF, and many other organizations and individuals in crafting the Action Plan for this n the last year, the Turtle exefforts situ to preserve species in their species. This Action Plan is now Conservancy and Behler inChelonian situ native habitats and ranges, and being reviewed by the government of Centerex situ(TC/BCC) focused inon situ the conservation directed at Madagascar and likely will become coordinated interaction of off-site efforts to protect species official policy. andI conservation: outside their natural habitats. Ourin We began our work on the conservation implementing local understandingsitu ex situ of the optimum implementation of this plan by interaction and combination of forming a partnership with the and conservation has led DWCT. Together, we wrote a grant the TC to focus on a few long-term proposal to the U. S. and Wildlife projects. These includeAstrochelys working Service that was funded in the yniphorawith the Malagasy government amount of $30,000. The TC/BCC for the preservation of matched that amount, as did thein situ , achieving a breakthroughGopherus DWPT, resulting in a total of $90,000. flavomarginatusin our land purchase in Mexico This money is being used for for the preservation of work to enhance protection of the , signing a formal Angonoka in Baly Bay National Park, cooperationGeochelone agreement platynota with the where it is under extreme threat Taipei Zoo in an effort to better from poaching. Although completely protect , and protected by law, the recent political leytensisbringing critical knowledge of the instability in Madagascar has made it captive husbandry of all too easy for poachers to remove a to the PhilippineAstrochelys Islands. significant portion of the remaining yniphora Personnel at the TC/BCC have wild population, estimated at only tc/bcc miye mccullough tc/bcc miye been involved with between 200 and 600 individuals. (Ploughshare Tortoise We hope that these new resources Gerald Kuchling with an Astrochelys yniphora or Angonoka) for many decades, for guards in the park will help stop in Madagascar. and last year we began a major this exodus. ex A Geochelone platynota at the Behler new effort with this most Critically situ Coordinated with this work, Chelonian Center. Endangered tortoise. Jim Juvik, the TC/BCC is committed to a scientist at TC, originally work enhancing the captiveex rediscovered this species in 1971, situbreeding facility that DWCT operates when there was concern that it was at Ampijoroa. In a separate already extinct. In the 1990s, Juvik effort, we are working with and Ross Kiester worked with Lee the TSA, the Association of Zoos Durrell and Don Reid of the Jersey and Aquariums, the European Wildlife Preservation Trust, who Association of Zoos and Aquariums, had begun a captive breeding and and other partners to create field research program. In 2007, additional captive breeding colonies tc/bcc peter praschag rodrigues Eric Goode visited Richard Lewis of using animals confiscated from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust illegal trade. This effort is complex (DWCT) in Madagascar to begin and difficult and involves the discussions of collaboration, and in governments of Madagascar, the January of 2008, Goode and Maurice country in which the animals were 20 TSA AUGUST 2010 Rodrigues participated in the Red- confiscated, and the host country that will maintain the colony, as well as CITES and TRAFFIC. The number of known confiscated Angonoka mccullough tc/bcc miye in Taiwan and Hong Kong alone is over 28, with many more animals held illegally. We hope that these confiscated animals can become a key resource in the overall strategy to save this tortoise from extinction. During September of 2009, the TC/BCC co-director and scientific staff were guests of the Taipei Zoo in Taiwan and attended a regional, Asia-focused Signing of partnership between the TC and symposium on “Conservation the Taipei Zoo. From left: Jim Juvik, Eric Activities for Endangered Chelonian to cattle and off-road vehicle use will Goode, Jason Yeh (Director of the Taipei Zoo), and Kuo-Yun Fang (Deputy Director Counsel of Species.” A significant motivation likely result in the largest population Agriculture). for this zoo visit was to forge a of this species anywhere. This land is working relationship between the also home to a wide variety of other TC/BCC and the zoo’s Center for animals and plants. It lies adjacent Research and Conservation. The to the Desert Laboratory, operated center holds a large inventory of by Mexico’s Institute of Ecology endangered turtles and tortoises (INECOL), and has been the site of confiscated from the illegal animal many studies on the Chihuahuan trade in Asia. These include several Desert. Angonoka, and we discussed their We do not maintain this species husbandry and the possibility at the BCC, but collaborate with the that they could become part of an Turner Endangered Species Fund, assurance colony. under which Bolson Tortoises are After several years of effort in being bred in New Mexico. We have the field and at understanding the shared expertise in captive breeding, complexities of acquiring land in set up parallel climate monitoring Mexico, the TC together with the at the Turner site and in the Bolson

Andrew Sabin Family Foundation de Mapimí, and are providing on-ex terry andrew photo by and assisted by Josiah T. Austin situboard tortoise cams for a study of Eric Goode and Ross Kiester presenting and the Desert TortoiseGopherus Council, is foraging in both localities. This checks to Lee Durrell of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. flavomarginatusnow in the process of purchasing work is part of a long-term plan 12,000 acres of prime to reintroduce this species in areas A flavomarginatus in Mexico. () of its former range where it has gone habitat in the middle of the Mapimí extinct. Biosphere Reserve. José Amate Perez Geochelone The BCC platynotaand the Taipei Zoo leads our effort in Mexico, with hold the two largest collections of much help from Myles Traphagen, (Burmese Mercy Vaughn, and the TC staff. exStar situ Tortoise) in captivity outside of This land will be managed for the Myanmar. Our mutual interest in the tc/bcc maurice rodrigues long-term protection of the Bolson conservation of this species Tortoise population and is critical led the TC/BCC and the Taipei to its conservation. A substantial Zoo to sign a formal cooperation population is present on this land, so agreement on September 16, 2009. protecting it from degradation due The agreement integrates the AUGUST 2010 TSA 21 with the TSA on the long-term goal A major advance in the work of of repatriating some of these captive- the BCC came when Gerald Kuchling bred animalsSiebenrockiella to Myanmar. leytensis visited to determine the sexes of We have maintained a small our offspring via endoscopy. Gerald group of sexed over 120 juvenile animals () at the at the center. Knowing the sex of BCC since 2008, and have learned hatchlings as soon as possible is about its husbandry requirements. extremely important to captive The TC and the TSA at the Katala Foundation This turtle is highly unusual, being breeding, because it tells us if we in the Philippines. From left: Eric Goode, Miye McCullough, Peter Praschag, Diverlie crepuscular and nocturnal, and are incubating eggs at the correct Acosta, Bill Zeigler, Sabine Schoppe, and Rick spends its days on land in deep temperature to produceAstrochelys the radiata mix of Hudson. burrows and its nights in streams. malesGeochelone and females platynota we desire. With This unique natural history, and the numbers of a high degree of intraspecific and that we aggressionin situin this species,ex situ create breed, we will be able undertake significant management problems experiments on Temperature for both and Dependent Sex Determination on conservation. The TC is supporting these species. Early sexing also the TSA and Sabine Schoppe and makes studbook management the Katala Foundation’s efforts in much easier, because it means that the Philippines to manage animals we can meet studbook goals years tc/bcc eric goode confiscated from the illegal pet trade. sooner than if we had to wait for the A Siebenrockiella leytensis in the Philippines. In 2009, we became a partner in hatchlings to mature in order to be this work by committing financial sexed. support and by visiting the site in the In addition to the trips to Taiwan Philippines. Because understanding and the Philippines mentioned the natural history of this species above, we undertook an extended is critical to their husbandry,S. leytensis the knowledge that the TC has gained from maintaining will help this field project greatly. In the past year, the Behler Chelonian Center continued to have tc/bcc peter praschag success in breeding,Astrochelys producing radiata a total Gerald Kuchling examines a Cuora trifasciata Geocheloneof 145 hatchlings platynota of 11 species.Geoclemys We at the Behler Chelonian Center. hamiltoniihatched 32 , 37 phayrei Pyxis, 20arachnoides Chersina, 62 angulata , and five , signatus tc/bcc eric goode management of these two significant forsteniias well as Malacochersus ,tornieri assurance populations into a single , genetic resource. We also hosted , and in situ . personnel from the Taipei Zoo on As we continue to transform two separate occasions at the BCC in breeding success into Above: A group of juvenile Astrochelys radiata California to further the partnership, conservation action, we sometimes at the BCC.

exchange management ideas, and to have surplus animals available. Right top: japonica, a species collect genetic material to determine All proceeds from these sales go found in Okinawa, Japan. the paternity of our individuals. directly into conservation work We have had great success in in range countries. Our website Right botom: tentorius trimeni, a species found in South Africa. breeding this species, so we are now (turtleconservancy.org) shows the 22working TSA AUGUST with these 2010 institutions and current details. trip to Namibia and South Africa A short trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, to learn about the habitats of the again led us to visit the National many species of tortoises that Mexican Turtle Center (Centro can be encountered between Mexicano de la Tortuga) and gave us Windhoek, Namibia,Chersina and Cape angulata Town, the opportunity to retrieveRhinoclemys weather HomopusSouth Africa. areolatus We were especiallyH. signatus rubidadata loggers rubida we had previously interested to see , left in the habitat of , and (Oaxaca ), in their native habitats, as they are a species we breed at the BCC. species we maintain at the BCC. Placing these data loggers in the We documented our trip in a video, actual habitats of the tortoises and which we will present at the TSA terrestrial turtles that we study and meeting. keep gives us a much better picture GeoemydaThe TC also japonica traveled to the Ryukyu of their actual annual microclimate Islands of southern Japan in search requirements. Data derived from of , to study its conventional weather stations ecology, status, and distribution. often does not provide an accurate Again, we maintain this species at representation of this microclimate, the BCC and seeing it in the wild because the stations are too far increased our understanding of its away and are not inside a specific husbandry requirements. To our habitat. We now routinely use these surprise, we found that this species data loggers as we travel, and have lives on steep hillsides and takes placed them at several locations in refuge in deep burrows among rocks. Madagascar, , Namibia, the The video documenting this trip Philippines, and Mexico. is available for viewing at . announce that we have hired Dr. Paul Gibbons (DVM, MS) to be the new Director of the Behler Chelonian Center. Paul is the President-elect

of the Association of Reptile and tc/bcc maurice rodrigues

Amphibian Veterinarians, and is held Stigmochelys pardalis: Q: Why did the in high esteem by the herpetological tortoise cross the road? A: To show the community. We are looking forward opossum it could be done. to even better care of our living collection and to helping Paul shape tc/bcc eric goode the direction of reptile veterinary medicine. Look for him at the TSA to coordinated projects. Our greatest meeting. At the same time, The challenge now is to make this whole Behler Center in California will endeavor sustainable, to help ensure be expanding as we complete the that turtle and tortoise populations purchase of neighboring land that are sustainable. will more than double the area of the 1

center, giving us the opportunity to Chief Scientist, The Turtle Conservancy, 49 Bleeker

improve our infrastructure. 2Street # 601, New York, New York 10012. In the next year, the TC will Email: [email protected] in situ ex situ Co-Director, The Turtle Conservancy, 49 Bleeker continue along, slow and steady, 3 Street # 601, New York, New York 10012. supporting and Research Associate, The Turtle Conservancy, 49 projects, seeing to it that current Bleeker Street # 601, New York, New York 10012. tc/bcc eric goode projects come to fruition, and engaging in collaborations that lead AUGUST 2010 TSA 23 TSA PArtner News The Turtle Conservation Fund: Providing Strategic Action Planning and Funding funding for one or two projects. The Support for Conservation of the World’s Most TCF continues to strive to meet the urgent conservation challenges and Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles opportunities for all of the world’s endangered tortoises and freshwater Anders G. J. Rhodin1 and Hugh R. Quinn z turtles, and is gradually expanding a portfolio of assisted species, countries, and projects. An example of a country where ver the last several years, the for facilities or broad projects that the TCF has focused its efforts is Turtle Conservation Fund impact additional species. In the first China. This country is home to (TCF) has gained notoriety as of two funding cycles of 2010, the nine of the TCFs 42 target species, one of the world’s leading turtle TCF received an additional 31 grant more than any other nation. These conservation support organizations. support proposals totaling about species are represented by seven OThe TCF has been successful in $175,000. species and two helping to identify, prioritize, With the TCFs global perspective, giant softshells, all categorized swinhoei promote, support, and provide a grants were awarded to projects as Critically Endangered. One of leadership role in collaborative conducted in 37 countries. Awards the softshells, , global turtle conservation efforts were given to projects in Australia, is precariously teetering on the and opportunities focused on the Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, brink of extinction, as it is known world’s most endangered tortoises Brazil, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, from only four living individuals. and freshwater turtles. The TCF has China, , Cuba, Dominican The softshells and box turtles were been highly successful with its grants Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, driven to near extinction because program, by supporting needed Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, they were relentlessly hunted for turtle conservation projects and Indonesia, , Jamaica, Madagascar, food and use in traditional medicine. programs worldwide. Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Collecting animals for the pet trade Since the founding of the TCF Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, has also been a factor contributing in 2002, 268 grant proposals have Philippines, Puerto Rico, South to the decline of the remaining been received, of which 97 (36%) Africa, Tanzania, Togo, , and box turtles. Overall, the TCF has have been funded. Total requests Vietnam. Such a broad geographic supported projects on the ecology, have been received for $1,442,317 distribution of funds reflects status, conservation genetics, and in funding, with a total TCF the TCFs mounting impact on other measures needed to conserve disbursement of $446,159 (31%) in international turtle conservation. China’s Critically Endangered turtles. awards granted. The average award Of the 37 countries where the Additionally, work by the TCF’s was for $4,600, with support ranging TCF has provided support, projects partner organization, the Turtle from $1,000 to $10,000. Of the TCFs in 10 countries have received Survival Alliance, has been fundedRafetus “Turtles in Trouble: The World’s funding, from five to 10 grants swinhoeipartially by the TCF, in an attempt Top 25 Most Endangered Tortoises in each. These countries, and the to greed the two remaining and Freshwater Turtles – 2007,” Critically Endangered turtle species in captivity, both held at projects representing 21 (84%) in them, have especially needed this the Suzhou Zoo in China. The future have been funded. Of the TCFs 42 extra focus and support and have of this species truly hinges on this Target Species (2008 list), projects benefited the most from directed effort. Should it not succeed, this representing 28 (67%) have been TCF funding efforts. These focus species may be lost forever. In all, supported. Of the 68 taxa listed by countries are: China (10 funded 10 projects have been funded for the IUCN as Critically Endangered projects), Madagascar, Myanmar, and China’s Critically Endangered turtles (CR) or Endangered (EN), the TCF Vietnam (nine each), Indonesia and since 2007, totaling over $46,000 has supported projects for 43 Colombia (eight each), Cambodia and involving 17 investigators. (63%). These Top 25, CR, EN, and (seven), India (six), and Mexico and In Madagascar, the TCF began its Target Species figures do not include the Philippines (five each). Several efforts in 2007 by supporting the 24calculation TSA AUGUST of support 2010 provided other countries have received IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group workshop that examined the current IUCN Red List status of all Madagascan tortoises and freshwater turtles. All five endemic species were uplisted to Critically Endangered, as a result of widespread population declines and . Additional key outcomes of this workshop were conservation prioritization and strategic action planning. Implementing the plan developed at the workshop, and focusing on the endemic species, the TCF has since supported several projects on Countries where the TCF has provided funding for turtle conservation projects are shown in green (37 countries); countries in dark green (10) are focus countries with 5–10 projects the ecology, status, critical areas, funded each. Countries in beige contain native turtle populations that have not received and measures needed to conservePyxis funding from the TCF; countries and regions or islands in white contain no native turtle populations. arachnoidesMadagascan turtles and tortoises, notably theP. planicaudaSpider Tortoise ( Total annual grant disbursements by the TCF since its inception (two funding cycles per year). ) and the Flat-tailed Tortoise ( ). Additionally, work has been funded to examine the effectiveness of Erymnochelysa repatriation madagascariensisrelease program for the Madagascan Big-headed Turtle ( ). In all, the TCF has funded nine projects in Madagascar since 2007, totaling over $41,000 and involving 10 investigators. Not only are these projects working effectively to conserve Critically Endangered turtles in Madagascar, but they are also providing valuable training for Malagasy conservationists. The above are only a couple of examples of how and where the TCF has been providing strategic assistance and conservation Turtle Survival Alliance, European among the world’s foremost turtle funds for threatened tortoises and Association of Zoos and Aquaria biologists and conservationists. freshwater turtles. Such work cannot Shellshock Campaign, Chelonian Included in this leadership group are be done in a vacuum. The TCF is a Research Foundation, Chester Gary Ades, Chris B. Banks, Kurt A. true partnership coalition of leading Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, Asian Turtle Buhlmann, Kevin R. Buley, Antoine turtle conservation organizations Program, Wildlife Conservation Cadi, Bernard Devaux, Eric Goode, and individuals. Partner organiza­ Society, Behler Chelonian Center/ Douglas B. Hendrie, Brian D. Horne, tions include Conservation Inter­ Turtle Conservancy, Chelonian Rick Hudson, Gerald Kuchling, national, International Union for Research Institute, and Humane Richard Lewis, Susan Lieberman, the Conservation of Nature/Species Society International – Australia. Luca Luiselli, George A. Meyer, Survival Commission/Tortoise and Individuals on the TCF Executive Russell A. Mittermeier, Vivian Páez, Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, Board span the globe and are Hans-Dieter Philippen, AUGUST Colin 2010 Poole, TSA 25 Peter C. H. Pritchard, Hugh R. Quinn gerald kuchling (Co-Chair), Martina Raffel, Anders G. J. Rhodin (Co-Chair), Walter C. Sedgwick, Peter Paul van Dijk, and Henk Zwartepoorte. To date, the TCF has received nearly $850,00 in total funding or committed support over the next few years, primarily from private foundations and individual private donors, in addition to various in-kind donations from several organizations. Among many others, we most gratefully acknowledge the very welcome and substantial support over the years from the following wonderfully generous richard lewis richard and committed individuals and organizations: the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Shellshock Campaign, George A. Meyer and Maria Semple, Conservation International, Frankel Family Foundation, Matthew Frankel, Humane Society International – Australia, A Taste of Thai, Chuck Landrey, Behler Chelonian Center/Turtle Conservancy, The Maritime Hotel, Eric Goode, Walde Research and Environmental Consulting, Island Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Fort Top: Collecting eggs laid by the last Worth Zoo, , Savannah captive pair of Rafetus swinhoei at the River Ecology Laboratory, Nando Suzhou Zoo, China, as part of a TCF- Peretti Foundation, Chelonian supported project co-directed by the Turtle Survival Alliance. Research Foundation, and Panaphil Foundation. We thank them all, as Middle: Measuring wild Erymnochelys do all the endangered turtles and madagascariensis for a TCF-supported repatriation project for the species in tortoises of the world. Madagascar. To learn more about the TCF and its many programs, to apply for Bottom: The TCF Executive Board (partial) grants, or to consider a donation to at a funding-cycle review meeting in New York at The Maritime Hotel, March of 2009. the TCF, please visit our website at: Front to back, left to right; seated: Colin st www.TurtleConservationFund.org1 Poole; 1 row: Peter Paul van Dijk, Brian Horne, Hugh Quinn, Rick Hudson; 2nd row: Co-Chair, Turtle Conservation Fund, Chelonian Russ Mittermeier, Walter Sedgwick, Hans- Research Foundation, 168 Goodrich Street, Dieter Philippen; last row: , 2Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462. Anders Rhodin, Kurt Buhlmann, and Eric Email: [email protected] Goode (meeting host). Co-Chair, Turtle Conservation Fund, 8200 Red Deer Road, Rapid City, South Dakota 57702. 26 TSA AUGUST 2010 TSA PArtner News Exciting New Partnership Launched now facing extinction due to over- for Turtle Conservation collection on a massive scale. New initiatives for Dr. Horne may include fieldwork on Critically Endangered turtles endemic to Indonesia. ecently, the Institute for Conser- Madagascar and Southeast Asia. This exciting alliance creates vation Research at the San Both of these areas are well known the first-ever joint program Diego Zoo, the Turtle Survival for containing highly diverse and/ between three major conservation Alliance (TSA), and the Wildlife or endemic species of chelonians. organizations in the United States Conservation Society (WCS) Sadly, these two areas also have devoted specifically to freshwater Rsigned a two year Memorandum of the majority of the most Critically turtle and tortoise conservation. In Understanding (MOU) detailing the Endangered turtle species in the particular, the TSA has been an creation of a global conservation world. Dr. Horne is currently helping integral partner with Brian’s program on freshwater turtles and to guide multiple conservation postdoctoral research on the tortoises. Under the supervision of programs for Giant River Turtle in Red-crowned Roof Turtle, since Dr. Brian D. Horne (Conservation places such as Myanmar, Cambodia, 2005. This new agreement will Research Postdoctoral Fellow), this and Malaysia. He also recently act as a catalyst for strategic turtle agreement allows Brian toBatagur divide returned from southwestern conservation projects that are his time between projects on the Madagascar, where he and a team crucially needed in Asia. kachuga Dr. Brian D. Horne, photographing a Radiated Red-crowned Roof Turtle ( from the TSA and WCS helped Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata). ) in India and other crucial prioritize conservation projects turtle conservation projects in for the island’s Radiated Tortoises, Rick Hudson

AUGUST 2010 TSA 27 TSA EUROPE Project EMI: Breeding and Rearing the , Manouria impressa Atlanta), who provided information on incubation temperatures and (GÜNTHER, 1882) methods for hatching the eggs, 14 eggs hatched, a first for this species Gabriela Eberling1 and Viktor Mislin1 in Europe. Because of the moderately low hatching rate, however, it was Manouria obvious that additional work was impressa necessary to improve future results. he Impressed Tortoise ( sometimes difficult to meet. The M.A lackimpressa of available information ) is notoriously behavior of the Impressed Tortoise is on the nutritional requirements challenging to maintain in captivity, also rather interesting, as in nature of and techniques for and thus in Europe very few females will construct large nesting incubating their eggs led to the idea adult individuals are available for mounds in which they deposit soft- of initiating a research project. In Tcaptive reproduction. Because of shelled eggs, an unusual condition in time and with the cooperation of its specialized diet, which includes tortoises, and for several weeks will Basel University in Switzerland, a preference for certain types of aggressively guard the against we established Project EMI, which mushrooms that often are expensive any intruders. M. we called: “Research on optimal or hard to locate, the nutritional impressa In the year 2000, one of us (VM) husbandry and breeding conditions demands of this species are began assembling a group of as a contribution to species Top: An adult female Manouria impressa. Manouria impressa. for the purpose of captive conservation of the endangered Bottom: Reproductive behavior in Manouria propagation. In 2007, a female ” impressa. constructed a nesting mound into To gather information and all photos © project emi which she deposited 47 eggs. With obtain additional experience to the help of Dwight Lawson (Zoo helpM. us impressa with this project, we began assembling various types of data on from keepers both in zoos and at private locations. As M.these impressa developments unfolded, VM decided to contribute his offspring of to the project. The EMI project is coordinated by Viktor Mislin (Switzerland) and Gabriela Eberling (Germany), includes otherM. individuals e. emys with long-term experience in keeping and breeding , and is being conducted in cooperation with the Department of Evolutionary Biology at Basel University. Veterinary support is being provided by Dr. med. vet. Piero Godenzi (in Switzerland) and by Dr. med. vet. Frank Mutschmann (in Germany). The dates for the project extend from 2008 to 2013, a time span when we plan to rear the young tortoises to sexual maturity underM. standardized, impressa controlled conditions. The husbandry of and 28 TSA AUGUST 2010 the conditions for egg incubation Left: A box (top) and enclosure (bottom) used for rearing Impressed Tortoises at Project EMI.

Right, from top to bottom: Viktor Mislin with a protégé.

A nesting mound constructed by a female Manouria impressa.

An egg clutch within the nesting mound.

Eggs of Manouria impressa hatching.

Hatchling Impressed Tortoises.

M. impressa will be studied for the duration in maintaining captive . of the project not only to gather The additional space includes places information applicable to the to for the tortoises to hide, for food the study animals, but also to other and water bowls, as well as areas captive individuals. Accordingly, we for basking and egg deposition. We researched the climate data available adjusted the surface area for juvenile for the natural habitat of this species tortoises based on the parameters and applied theseM. impressa conditions to the used for adults. We maintain one to activity and aestivation periods three tortoises to an enclosure, as reported for in nature. additional animals kept in enclosures By using this information, our goal is that are too small, or that do not to establish a controlled population contain enough hiding places, could Husbandryof captive born individuals. stress the tortoises and lead to health problems. M. impressa For lighting and humidity, we The size of the enclosure for are using HQI spots and a UV A/B maintaining is based lighting source, in addition to a on the “minimum conditions for the humidifier. Our preferred UV light husbandry of ” listed in the source is a new product called regulations established in Germany Bright Sun Desert. The young on 10 January 1997. These regula- tortoises appear to be rather active tions indicate that the minimum size under this type of lighting, and this of an enclosure must be six times product is indicated to approximate the carapace length of the largest the conditions experienced under tortoise. natural conditions. According to these regulations, We measured the light intensity the enclosure size applies to two and UV B output of the Bright Sun tortoises. If one or two more Desert lights at a distance of 30 tortoises are added to the enclosure, cm from the floor of the enclosure. the surface area must be increased Through the use of using solar by a factor of 10%, and by a factor meters, we attained a UV B value of 20% if a fifth is added. With of 79 mW (Micro Watt) and the the EMI project, we increased the light a value of 110,800 Lux, which enclosure size for two tortoises by corresponds to the light intensity 10%, based on the experiences of VK values measured outdoors on sunny AUGUST 2010 TSA 29 days in Germany and Switzerland. among new participants. In one intake decreased for some time. Importantly, the light intensity case, where their transportation After they became re-acclimated, should be measured on a regular involved crossing country borders however, they appeared to recognize basis, since the values could decrease and several checkpoints by customs their enclosures and at times were by as much as 50% within six authorities, the tortoises were observed feeding on snails and months to a year, depending on the stressed to such a degree that upon earthworms. number of hours the lights are in use. arrival at their destination they were The outdoor enclosures were To prevent overheating the tortoises, foaming from their mouths and planted heavily in order to offer ap- however, the lights must be placed noses. Furthermore, after they were propriate hiding places. The tortoises at a proper height in the enclosure. released into their new housing they showed a preference for lying under For example, a temperature of 60°C showed signs of stress by attempting the plants by half-burying them- can be reached when the lights are to climb the walls of the enclosure, selves in the soil, and in these places placed at a height of 20 cm from the and once they found hiding places, appeared to seek a cool retreat floor of the enclosure. they retreated for weeks and during during hot days. In addition, we in- An enclosure should be fully this time refused any food. stalled a sprinkling system along the furnished before any young tortoises In certain cases, starting in edges of the enclosures to provide are introduced. Any rearrangement 2008, yearling tortoises were Nutritionbetter humidity. of the furnishings in the enclosure, maintained outdoors from June M. however, might stress the tortoises until early September. In each of two impressa and cause them to refuse food. seasons when they were maintained The rearing of juvenile As the project moved along, we outdoors, once they were brought can not be considered beganTop, left to to distributeright: An Illumination young tortoises Meter used for measuringback indoors light intensity; their activity the Bright and Sun food UV without addressing certain Lamp; and, a digital Solarmeter used for measuring UV B rays. problems. With respect to nutrition, these dietary specialists can become Bottom: Chickweed planted in an enclosure for rearing Impressed Tortoises. very demanding subjects for their keepers. In order to not rely on oyster mushrooms, a favorite food item of these tortoises, we offered them a variety of other mushroom species. The cultivation of various mushrooms has proven to be a valuable addition to the project, because now we do not depend on the relatively expensive types of mushrooms available at supermarkets. Different kinds of mushrooms, however, are not always eaten by the tortoises. If a proper microclimate is provided within the enclosure, the types of mushrooms preferred by the tortoises can be grown. We also offer the tortoises white mushrooms, pumpkins, zucchini, chopped cherries, seasonal vegetables, and hay flowers (chopped meadow hay). We provide them a fiber-rich diet at all times, and occasionally powder their food with a mineral supplement (Korvimin ZVT) that 30 TSA AUGUST 2010 contains important vitamins, Left: Juvenile Manouria impressa at 6 months. Middle: Juvenile Manouria impressa at two years of age. Right: Portrait of a hatchling Manouria impressa. Note the protruding egg-tooth, used to slit the eggshell.

amino acids,Sepia and spore elements. tortoises did not accept animal becomes reduced with age. We also offer the young tortoises matter, but at the age of about two Breeding Results cuttlebone ( sp.), which is years, whenDaphnia maintained outdoors, Between September of 2007 and eagerly ingested. To avoid digestive we observed them feeding on snails, April of 2010, 23 additional tortoises problems, we occasionally provide as well as that we sprinkledM. hatched. Interestingly, during the the tortoises with a vegetable onimpressa their food. summer of 2008 the temperatures substitute (Diarovet-N). At times The coloration of hatchling were significantly lower than in during the spring but not in other is predominantly brown, 2007 and 2009 and the tortoises seasons, the tortoises appeared to and at this stage of life the tortoises experiencing problems with egg- prefer feeding on the leaves of such lack significant markings. At one laying, and thus no offspring were green vegetation as chickweed, and one-half to two years of age, produced. 1 fieldEpipremnum lettuce, dandelions, pinnatum pointy however, the juveniles begin taking Universität Basel, Zoologisches Institut, plantain, and the fresh shoots of ivy on the appearance of the adults. Evolutionsbiologie Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051 ( ) that we At this point, the carapace rim is Basel, Switzerland. Email: [email protected] planted in the enclosure. The young strongly serrated, a feature that

Top, left to right: Mushrooms growing in the enclosure; mushroom cultivation provides a ready food source for Impressed Tortoises; and, a variety of mushroom species favored by Manouria impressa.

Bottom, left to right: Ivy (Epipremnum pinnatum) is another food item of Manouria impressa that we planted in the enclosures; and, a young Manouria impressa feeds on chickweed planted in the enclosure.

AUGUST 2010 TSA 31 TSA EUROPE

Research Project EHAP: Advances in the Husbandry of the Madagascar Flat-tailed Tortoise, Pyxis planicauda

Viktor Mislin1, LydiaReck1, and Marcel Reck1

300/350 mW/12000 Lux. The output intensity of this bulb, however, should be measured on a regular basis. Top left: An ion exchange feeder for the Importantly, we take periodic ultrasound humidifier.Top right: An ultrasound readings with a Solarmeter Model humidifier in use.Bottom: A newly-hatched Madagascar Flat-tailed Tortoise. 6.2 UVB to measure the intensity One of the enclosures used in Project EHAP. and output of these lights, as their UV radiation output is reduced by about 50% after using them for six exchange apparatus. Fifteen minutes n an effort to improve the husbandry months to one year. Another important after we turn on the standard lighting, of the endangered Madagascar consideration is to avoid overheating we connect the humidifiers for 15 Flat-tailed Tortoise, we made advances the enclosure, and the tortoises. When minutes/hour during each hour of the to Project EHAP (a German acronym the bulbs are operating at full capacity day, for a total of six or seven times per Ithat translates to “Exchanging experi-Pyxis the enclosure temperatures can reach day. We use the humidifiers on all the planicaudaences in keeping and breeding the 40°C, so the tortoises must have the tortoises...from hatchlings to adults. Madagascar Flat-tailed Tortoise [ option of retreating to hiding areas We adapt or improve our ]”) with respect to the appli- where the temperatures are 50% supporting apparatus according the cation of lighting and humidity to this lower. For this reason, our enclosures latest information and techniques Lightingspecies under captive conditions. are open on top and are equipped with available. The P.use planicauda of proper lighting a glass strip (only 12 cm tall) on the and humidity is crucial for the optimal Humidityfront. husbandry of , as these Lighting is an important considera- will directly affectP. planicauda the health and tion, as the light intensity and ultra- rearing of the hatchlings. To date, 26 violet exposure the animals receive in We use ultrasound humidifiers hatchlings of have been their natural habitat can not be exactly to create proper climatic and transferred to project participants, and replicated in captivity. By using state- microclimatic conditions in the all the animals have remained healthy of-the-art lighting equipment, however, enclosure. By using these humidifiers, and are thriving at all locations. From we can now approach these conditions. less fungal and bacterial growth is 2005 to 2010, not a single hatchling For standard lighting, we use Sylvania developed in the substrate of the has died, and we attribute this to the FL54 Watt T5/865 Daylight tubes, enclosure. A wet substrate can lead high standards set for this project and which we turn on for 12 hours per to bacterial infections and protozoan theP. use planicauda of proper technical equipment. day. To approximate the natural infestations in the tortoises, in addition We support and encourage keepers daylight intensity, we use a Bright Sun to shell rot. of in their efforts to Desert light that contains good UV B To avoid bacterial growth, micro assure the survival of this endangered values; these lights are turned on for dust particles, or the intrusion of small tortoise in private collections by means two periods of three hours each per insects into the humidifier chamber, a of captive propagation. day. As substitute during the midday humidifier must be cleaned after being 1 hours, when in nature the UV radiation used for a certain number of hours. Universität Basel, Zoologisches Institut, Evolutions­ reaches its peak, a Ultra Vitalux 300 For our purposes, we made biologie Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland. Watt bulb is turned on for three to four instruments that we connect to a Email: [email protected] hours.32 The TSA UV AUGUST B output 2010 of this bulb is water reservoir or directly to an ion TSA EUROPE

European Studbooks: Cuora bourreti, population = 4.9.9). A substantial Cuora galbinifrons, and Cuora picturata part of the studbook populations is of captive-bred origin, ranging from Richard Struijk1 Studbook32 to 55%. Breeding

bourreti C. galbinifrons All three of the speciesC. bourreti in the he European Studbook Founda- ) to 17 ( ). The studbooks are being reproduced in tion (ESF; www.studbooks.eu) collection sizes for the participants captivity. Until now, has is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven Studbookranged from Populations one to 14 turtles. been bred the least, with offspring organization that was formed for the being produced at only one loca- Tconservation of reptiles and amphib- tion on a yearly basis since 2008, ians in captivity, with an emphasis on C. bourretiThe totalC. number galbinfirons of regist eredC. resulting in a total of five hatchlings. endangered species. One of the main picturatalive turtles are 22, 78, and 57 for Outside of the studbook, five captive exgoals situ of the foundation is to create , , and bredCuora individuals galbinifrons have also been sustainable and genetically-healthy , respectively. Since re- registered. populations through the use starting the studbooks five years ago, has been bred inof situstudbooks. DueCuora to the dramatic C.the bourreti number of registeredC. galbinifrons live turtles at six locations, although offspring decrease of population numbers has increased C.by picturata a factor of 5.5% for have been produced on a regular , species of Cuora are well , 4.6% for , basis (> 2 years within a four-year representedCuora within bourreti theCuora ESF. Three galbini- and 5.2% for . The sex period) at two locations. In total, 18 fronsof the 11 currentCuora picturata studbooks ratios for allC three.bourreti species are biased turtles haveC. picturata hatched since 2005. are for C. galbinifrons, toward females, which is most Three breeders are avail- , and . The first obvious in (live studbook able for , which is a studbook, for , was initiated in the late 1990s. Despite its downfall a few years later, it was revived in 2005galbinifrons and divided into the three above-mentioned studbooks of the (former) -complex. In 2006, registrations started taking Studbookplace. Participants

Participants from eight European countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland) are currently participating in the three studbooks. Most are private turtle keepers, but one Turtle Center has also registered their turtles. The number of participantsC. galbinifrons for each of the studbooksC. picturata has increased since 2006, especially for and . Growth has been due largely to breeding successes and the entry of several new partici-C. pants. In 2009, the total number of participants ranged from seven ( AUGUST 2010 TSA 33 C. picturataunique situation. One of the first (if not the first) captive breedings of worldwideC. picturata was registered by one of the studbook participants in 2001. Today, is being bred on a yearly basis, and males have been produced. In total, 31 Conclusionsturtles have hatched since 2005.

A positive trend can be seen in the increasing number of studbook participants and the sizes of popula- tions in the studbooks. In addition, breeding success has also increased. All three studbooks, however, require a broader geneticC. bourreti base to achieveC. picturatafuture sustainability. The number of wild caught and remains small, and thus new participants for the studbooks are needed. C. picturataThe sex of captive bred individu- als remains uncertain. Although male have been produced, sex Cuoraratios likely will be female biased, just as in almost all captive bred species. Accurate data regard- ing incubation methods and the sex of offspring are necessary, as well as an important consideration. Furthermore, only unrelated pairs of individuals should be introduced to prevent inbreeding.Cuora We expect that the number of people breeding these species of will increase in the future. The owners of captive bred individuals should house related turtles of the opposite sex separately, and make an attempt to richard struijk richard struijk richard acquire unrelated animals. Main- taining good records are the key, especially for the long term.

1 Anna Hoeve 29, 2804 HA Gouda, The Netherlands. Email: [email protected]

Dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views of captive bred studbook individuals of Cuora bourreti (upper, in photo), C. galbinifrons (lower left), and C. picturata (lower right), respectively.

34 TSA AUGUST 2010 Looking for a unique gift? Check out the TSAs online store! You’re sure to find something special for all of the turtle lovers in your life on the TSA website. Merchandise includes apparel, gift memberships, art, books, and back issues of previous TSA magazines. Many items directly benefit specific field projects, including the TSAs conservation programs in Madagascar, Myanmar, and China.

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International Orders: Please inquire for postal rates. TSA AFRICA Tortoise and Survey in Benin, West Africa rise to an elevation of 800 m at the Massif of Atakora, the highest point in the country. The climate in the 1 Tomas Diagne different regions of the country is also variable. During my stay, heavy rainfall fell at Cotonou Ouidah, in the south, while at Djougou and in

Pendjari Park, in the north, thit was the dry season. South of the 10 parallel the climate is considered south- equatorial, with the temperature ranging from 23 to 32°C during the four seasons of the year, while in the north, the thermal fluctuations increase along with a drought, more of a Sahelian regime that encompasses two seasons. I began my journey with a three day stay in the capital city of Cotonou, where I attended the Regional Biodiversity meeting. Many of the neighboring countries were represented, including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo. In a pond at the Benin governmentPelusios office castaneus of Water and PelomedusaForestry I saw subrufa several subrufa live freshwater turtles ( sulcataand lucy keith ), an edged between Nigeria and adult female (a Togo, the small country of species a ranger indicated existsKinixys in Benin is 750 km long and 300 km bellianathis country, K.around homeana Parakou, in the wide,2 with a surface area of 112,622 reserve of Alama) and many km . Formerly called Dahomey, and . Other Win November of 1975 the country reptiles, such as Savanna Lizards and became known as the “Republic of a Royal Python were held in cages, Benin.” Because of my interest in the as well as small such as turtles of this region, my plans were a Spotted Genet and Hedgehogs. to attend a Biodiversity Congress Regrettably, this “biodiversity salon” in Cotonou, as well as to meet the was offering the captive wildlife for TSA Africa network’s national sale! representative for Benin, Josea Later, I accompanied Severin Dossou Bodjrenou. Tchibozo, a biologist at the The landscape and environment University of Abomey Calavi, to the of Benin shows a high degree of Dantokpa market on the banks of the contrast between the southern and Oueme River, which flows through An adult niger basks at the Rembo northern parts of the country. The the capital city. There, amidst alleys Koto Lagoon, Benin. lagoon environment along the coast strewn with garbage and waste, I quickly rises to an area of crystalline found an assortment of bones and 36 TSA AUGUST 2010 plateaus, which then gradually dead animals, including the skulls of monkeys and vultures, as well After a few days, I was happy one was 35 cm long. I asked Daniel as crocodiles, mutilated to leave Cotonou and its barbaric where the shells had come from, shells, terrestrial and aquatic turtles, manners. Accompanied by Severin, and he replied, “I won them near and so on. Most of these species Pascal Dupont, and Martin, we Kumasi in Ghana. We find many over are protected by national laws, drove north into the wilder regions there. They are very popular because but they are still used widely in of the country. Our destination there is a lot of meat inside.” Based pharmacopeias and animist rites. In was the small village of Toffo, not on the lack of nuchal andK. erosa prominent the narrow streets of this disturbing far from the city of Bohicon in the marginal shape, I immediately scene, I asked where one could buy province of Zou. Pascal, who is an deduced that this was , a live turtles. “Sure,” replied a seller, as avid entomologist, picked up one of species widely consumed in Ghana. he pulled a dehydrated freshwater his colleagues, a snail farmer named I was beginning to understand the turtle from a tin box.Pelomedusa By its dark Daniel Gnanvo, on the roadside at plight of turtles in this part of West subrufashell and nigra accompanying pectoral, Attogon. Subsequently, we left the Africa. it appeared to be a paved road and went through a After a brief return to Cotonou, . Until then, I was not large teak plantation managed by we prepared for a longer expedition aware that this was still the National Office of Wood (ONAB). to Pendjari National Park in the found in Benin! I negotiated to buy At Toffo, we briefly surveyed the northern part of the country. it — something I normally would not neighborhood, but Pascal and I This time I hoped to find some do — for 1,500 FCFA (approximately were disappointed by the paucity of wilderness, and a larger number

$3 US) in order to photograph and animals in the vicinity of the village. of live turtles. thWe left the capital release it. From their huts, however, people city on April 9 , after experiencing Severin showed me some posters brought about 10 turtleKinixys shells; the numerous technical and regulatory that described the traditional uses of bellianaturtles had beePelusios eaten castaneus in old feasts difficulties. Our team consisted certain species of turtles. Although and I easily recognized of members of the NGO Nature the content of the posters made me and , Tropicale, and some winners of shudder, their textKinixys was informativebelliana common species in the country. and reflective of traditional customs. The landscape along our journey The first was of , with was deep green and hypnotic. a vernacular name Logozo (Fon), Pineapple vendors sold their fruit

and indicated that for medicinal use on the roadsides, especially at the thomas diagne one must, “Kill the turtle and take beautiful village of Séhoué. During its entire head, plus the excrement our return, we stopped at a research of a horse and a cow’s hoof. Dry station devoted to coffee and cocoa all of these elements in the sun and I discovered a beautiful and and crush them into powder. The relatively untouched primary forest, powder should then be mixed with with ponds in the spongy soils red palm oil. A person suffering from invadedPelusios by large ferns. Although hemorrhoids should first wash his this appeared like good habitat anus after using the toilet and then Kinixysfor , Daniel indicated that pass the mixture. This preparation the main species in this area was is made without any incantation.” A , a turtle widely consumed second poster listed the Leatherback by the local populace. The flesh of turtle, Agbossègué, or Hou (Mina), the turtle is used to prepare a sauce thomas diagne and showed that for medicinal use, as an accompaniment to white rice “The turtle is killed and its flesh is or maize paste. Often, the head consumed to fight against various of the turtle is kept and used at malaria fevers, vomiting, and official “voodoo” ceremonies during Top: homeana, a species that resides indigestion. Its shell is recovered mysterious night meetings, but I did in wet forest environments and spends most and exposed to sunlight to facilitate not learn moreKinixys about these practices. of its time amongst the decaying vegetation. the flow of oil into a container. The Back home, Daniel handed me two Bottom: What is known today as Pelusios castaneus in Benin occurs in two forms. The recovered oil is used to massage large shells of , and it was dark one is likely an undescribed species. people suffering from tetanus the first time I had seen such large convulsions.” individuals; the carapace length of AUGUST 2010 TSA 37 because we were headed for the could travel to the Lokoli swamp outpost of Arli, where our driver, forest. The forest is located 8 km Chabi, had recommended that we from the main road between spend the night. Arbi is located Cotonou and Bohicon, and extends in the north, near the border for over 500 hectares among three with Burkina Faso. We saw more villages: Lokoli, Koussoukpa, and wonderful animals, including Démé. The population of this area bustards, hartebeest, warthogs, consists of about 1,500 people, all and hippopotamus in a large pond farmers from the Fon ethnic group. where we observed them from The climate is Guinean, with an cyprien edah Thomas Diagne, the TSA African Chair, during the top of a tower. Unbelievable! annual rainfall of about 1,100 mm. a field survey of the Lokoli Forest in Benin. How talkative and noisy they are! The relative humidity is high, even Just before nightfall they gave us a in the dry season, which explains the thundering concert in the style of lush, dense forest, which consists “Out of Africa.” The outpost of Arli primarily of Guinean species. The the Marathon of Biodiversity. We was well equipped with a large, fauna is also diverse, and you can drove to the north, passing through permanent building and attractive find many types of and insects several towns and villages that outdoor facilities. The instructions (some-endemic), mammals such as included Bohicon Savalou, Pira, provided by the rangers were clear: the extremely rare Sitatunga, , Bassila, Djougou Natitingou, and do not travel alone at night, and do and tortoises. This time I hoped finally Tanguieta, where we spent not make much noise early in the to observe turtles active in their the night after having crossed the morning and be sure to look around environment. mountainous massif of Atakora because animals are often out; even When I arrived, I met with and its breathtaking scenery. The lions cross the encampment. These Cyprian Edah, a young forester who temperature at Tanguieta was instructions were enough to keep us works on the forest conservation hot and the air was much drier, a on our guard, and to sleep lightly. project implemented by Nature Sudanese climate. In the morning, The next morning, my intuition Tropicale. He was aware of my we visited an ostrich farm near led me to search the kitchen waste visit, and promised to facilitate my Tanguieta, and then entered the Cyclanorbisleft by the guards, and I found several meeting with Adrian, a hunter and national park at Porga, near the bones and some of the plastron of fisherman who often catches turtles, border with Togo. sp. Unfortunately, this here called “logozo.” After taking Undoubtedly, this park had rich proved that the guards consume a canoe with Cyprian across the fauna, a change from the rest of the some of the animals in the park, marsh and to the edge of a swampy country. After a few kilometers, we an observation that is not very forest, he explained the issues of saw a raptor that had just captured comforting. Later, we all traveled to conservation in this region and the a snake and was holding it tightly the Bali pool, an area where animals purpose for his work; he is involved in its talons. We saw red monkeys, such as primates, ungulates, and in the preservation of the endemic baboons, an elephant, and various birds gather to quench their thirst. Of Red-bellied Monkey of Benin. I species of antelope, including the course, we did the same by rushing observed and photographed the rich famous Roan. I imagined what this to the hotel bar at Pendjari to enjoy a aquatic vegetation that surrounded region must have been like before cold beer, after several hours under me, and Cyprian surprised me with the presence of humans. We then the beating sun. his knowledge of the scientific names stopped at the Pendjari River, After 12 days, we returned to of most plants, which reminded me from which the park received its Cotonou following a route that of previous courses in botany. name. I asked the guards about the took us to the Tanougou waterfall. Once I returned from the field, occurrence of turtles in the park, A nice bath in the icy water made I met the famous hunterPelusios and and they assured me that people me nostalgic for the conditions of castaneusfisherman Adrian Salame, who often see two “kinds” of tortoises, Senegal, as traveling abroad can handed me a beautiful one a “soft tortoise”Kinixys andCyclanorbis the other a sometimes make you feel better as if it was a rare treasure. “tortoise.” I presumed that they were about your own country. When Adrian is a stocky man, austere and referring to and , I returned to the capital, Pascal a bit wild, who does not understand but I wanted to be sure. Dupont suggested that I spend the French very well and who smelled 38 WeTSA could AUGUST not 2010 afford any delays, night so that in the morning we of raffia alcohol. That day he had thomas diagne thomas diagne Young villagers hold a Pelomedusa subrufa, an abundant turtle in Benin. A turtle seller shows a juvenile Trionyx triunguis.

already visited his traps, and I Two bags could hold about 100 lbs. I palm wine, however, prevented me suggested going with him the knew these turtles would end up in a from understanding everything that following day to see what we would soup, and did not like it. was said. find. Of course, I told him I would We moved around in a swampy I returned to Cotonou with a release any animals after observing area that was particularly difficult to head full of images and memories of them. Back in the village of Démé, traverse, and felt like I was Kinixyswalking an authentic forest, not destroyed I left my friend Pascal Dupont and withhomeana suction cups. In one of the by humans, where there still his family, with whom I spent many traps, we found a beautiful appear to be many living turtles. pleasant moments. . The habitat was suitable We can only hope that Adrian will Adrian had two kinds of for this species, consisting of woody eventually reduce his catch and traps. The first, which were very vegetation and a low water level, the that no other hunter will take his sophisticated, were long, 50 cm high same habitat in which the Sitatunga place. The situation of tortoises and corridors made from palm leaves. Antelope is found. By then the turtle terrapins, of course, is not ideal, They included 30 to 50 m of trap had curled into its shell. This species and most species are widely hunted with a slip knot. Once an animal, a is well represented in almost all and consumed. We can expect to , rodent, or even a python enters the countries bordering the Gulf see more chelonians only in a few this device, it follows it, loses its of Guinea, and it prefers wet forest isolated parks, and in a restricted way through the maze, and ends up environments where it spends most part of the country. Luckily, the main trapped with no apparent exit, which of its time in decaying vegetation. species are elusive and small, or hide inevitably leads to its capture. The It feeds primarily on earthworms, in the mud, which somewhat reduces second trap was made of a net that insects, and snails, but also has a real their risk of capture. was half submerged in the current passion for wild mushrooms. Its long My only ambition for writing this of a small stream flowing between legs enable it to walk easily on a wet story is to provide some information two marshlands. Adrian was proud and spongy substrate. about a relatively little-known to show me his traps, and to explain Once back in the village, the country not yet described in this the subtlety of their operation. I children learned of my interest magazine. realized that he had placed much in turtles and brought me an I thank Severin Tchibozo, Josea thought into the behavior of animals, abundance of shells and pieces of Dossou Bojirenou, Adrian Salame, and had adapted his traps to the Cyclanorbisbone. I quickly identifiedKinixys homeana them as Cyprian Edha, and all the trackers different prey. A professional hunter Pelusiosbelonging castaneus to the three main species: and villagers I met during my stay, that lives only from what he catches, sp., , and who certainly helped me to better he appears respected by other . I sat in the shade understand this country and the villagers in the region. At the edge of a huge Ironwood Tree and I shared situation regarding its turtles. I also of a stream he explained to Cyprian, a glass of palm wine with Adrian, thank Rick Hudson and the TSA for who then translated to me that “in which he placed in a gourd full of helping to finance my work. 1 about January, in the good season, dust. He told a dark story about the TSA Africa Chair, Nature Tropicale Senegal, B. P. 657, he sometimes trapped two bags local turtles in the Fon language, 25022 Rufisque, Senegal. Email: [email protected] or [email protected] full of turtles as they go upstream.” which Cyprien then translated. The AUGUST 2010 TSA 39 Range CMountryyanmar Updates

Efforts to Conserve the Myanmar Roof Turtle along the Chindwin River, only a ( trivittata) Reach a Milestone: small section (10–25 km) of the river, near the village of Linpha, still Record Number of Hatchlings Recovered on supports this turtle. We estimate that the Chindwin River as few as 10 adult turtles remain in the wild. Further exacerbating the Win Ko Ko1, Kyaw Moe2, Khin Myo Myo3, problems of this small population is that the sex ratio is female biased, 4 5 Brian D. Horne , and Rick Hudson and each year at least 100 eggs fail to show any signs of embryonic development. Perhaps, too few males Batagur are available to properly inseminate trivittatan terms of extinction risk, the turtles, this species continues the remaining wild females. Our Myanmar Roof Turtle ( close to survive, albeit now only onB. hope is, however, that in 2011 a to the brink.) is assured a spot in the trivittatathe upper Chindwin River. We number of the 5-year-old males top five chelonians considered may never be able to return currently being headstarted at the Hence, it is imperative populations to their Yadanabon Zoo can be released Ithat we safeguard the last natural historic numbers, but our goal is to into this population, to increase the population, no matter how small it is, establish at least three new nesting number of hatchlings produced each as it might represent our onlyB. chance populations across the species’ year. totrivitt saveata this species in the wild. historic range. We approached the 2010 nesting A rather resilient species, The Wildlife Conservation season with a sense of dread and is tenaciously clinging Society (WCS)B. turtle trivittata team began foreboding, knowing that in late to existence in the wild. Despite protecting this last known breeding 2009 the Myanmar government decades of chronic and intensive population of in 2005. Of had granted leases for large scale Extensiveexploitation gold miningof both activity eggs on and the adult upper Chindwinapproximately River, near the 600beaches miles used of by habitat Batagur gold extraction on the Chindwin trivittata for nesting, was expected to have devastating consequences on nesting success. An River, including on the main nesting unexpected record number of hatchlings, however, were produced in 2010. beach used by for this species. We had every reason to believe the mining activity would prove highly disruptive to the females’ nesting attempts, not to mention the associated environmental ills,

kyaw moe and win ko and thus we expected very little nesting to occur. Yet, incredibly, a record number of hatchlings (118) were produced from the nest site protection program. To date, 376 hatchlingsin situ (2006– 2010) have been transferred from riverine hatcheries and protected nests to the Yadanabon Zoo for headstarting, as well as integration into the zoo’s assurance colony. Remarkably, the adult females in the assurance colony started to breed just two years after being introduced into the new facility, in December of 2006. The 40 TSA AUGUST 2010 first four hatchlings were produced kyaw moe and win ko kyaw moe and win ko

Left: The WCS Turtle Team searches for eggs laid recently by a Batagur trivittata on the upper Chindwin River. Right: Each of the depressions or “body pits” represents a trial dig by a nesting female Batagur trivittata. Here, the team measures the distance between pits.

B. trivittata B. trivittata in late 2008, 17 more hatchlings in prove pivotal in our recovery efforts the survival of , as well 2009, and an additional 16 in 2010, for , and have come too as to support the recovery of wild thereby bringing the total number far not to devote our best resources populations. 1 of juvenileB. trivittata turtles headstarted at the to this program. Although much can Turtle Coordinator, Wildlife Conservation Society, zoo to nearly 400 animals. be celebrated, as we have reached Myanmarst Program, Building 1/C Aye Yeik Mon The assurance colony some historic milestones, history 1 , Yadanmon Housing Avenue, Hlaing Township, at the Yadanabon Zoo has grown tells us that celebrating too soon can Yangong, Myanmar. B. trivittata 2Email: [email protected] rapidly, and the headstarting facility lead to catastrophic results. Project Officer, Wildlife Conservation Society, is now at full capacity. Additional The recovery program Myanmarst Program, Building 1/C Aye Yeik Mon housing, however, will be built in has been a model for collaboration, 1 , Yadanmon Housing Avenue, Hlaing Township, in situ 3Yangong, Myanmar. 2010 (see adjacent article). The next capitalizing on the strengths of Research Assistant, Wildlife Conservation Society, critical step in our recovery program both the WCS (in managing Myanmarst Program, Building 1/C Aye Yeik Mon will be to find suitable release field programs) and the TSA (in 1 , Yadanmon Housing Avenue, Hlaing Township, 4Yangong, Myanmar. sites that offer some measure of establishing captive programs). The Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern protection from illegal hunting and wild population has, from the start, Boulevard,5 Bronx, New York 10460. accidental drowning in fishing nets. supported the assurance colony; now Turtle Survival Alliance, Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 Expanding on the surveys conducted the time has come for the assurance Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas 76110. by BrianB. trivittata D. Horne and Win Ko Ko Acolonies juvenile Burmeseto play Roofan integral Turtle captured role in by fishermen and turned over to the WCS Turtle for suitable reintroduction habitat Team, a positive sign that at least some eggs are surviving in nature. for in the Hukaung Tiger Reserve in 2009, the WCS turtle team is now conducting additional surveys in the Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Alaungdawkathapa Wildlife Sanctuary. kyaw moe and win ko ManyB. trivittata pieces are in place to launch a monitored reintroduction program for . Nevertheless, to advance to the next phase of the recovery program we must devote more resources and experienced personnel to the field research effort. With this in mind, we hope that Gerald Kuchling will be able to guide the recovery process in 2011. We have reached a crucial juncture where good science could likely AUGUST 2010 TSA 41 Range CMountryyanmar Updates

The TSA Gears Up for New Construction Projects in Myanmar

Rick Hudson1 kalyar platt

he TSA will soon embark on fund-raising, these new facilities will Rick Hudson inspects a juvenile Batagur a major construction phase provide greatly enhanced breeding trivittata. This species grows so rapidly in in Myanmar, with new facilities and management conditions for captivity, that individuals soon outgrow their enclosures and new ones must be built. planned for turtles and tortoises threeBatagur Critically trivittata Endangered endemic Tat three locations. The culmination species: the BurmeseGeochelone Roof platynota Turtle of many months of planning and ( ), the Burmese B. trivittata StarHeosemys Tortoise depressa ( ), Currently over 240 rapidly and the growing , hatched from rick hudson ( ). New enclosures 2006 to 2009, are maintained here, are also plannedManouria at three emys locations phayrei with another 115Batagur from a record for groups of Asian Mountain hatch on the Upper Chindwin River Tortoises ( ). soon on the way. grow at In August of 2009, a TSA team an astounding rate and they have led by Rick Hudson that included quickly outgrown their ponds, Lonnie McCaskill, Dave Manser, and one group of 2006 hatched Kalyar Platt and her father Nyunt “juveniles” has already been moved Thein — a retired Burmese civil to the adult breeding pond to free engineer with years of experience up space. To accommodate the 2010 in the construction industry. Over a hatchlings, another group will have Above: Kalyar Platt (center) and her father period of two weeks, the team visited to be moved to the adjacent water Nyunt Thein review design plans for a numerous sites with an eye on hyacinth filled filtration-pond for proposed rescue facility near Myitkyina, the capital of the Kachin State. building a turtle and tortoise rescue grow out. Plans call for two new center, while expanding existing ponds, each 6' × 18', and a third pond Below: The Arakan Forest Turtle (Heosemys facilities at the Yadanabon Zoo in that is circular and measures 10' × depressa) is one of seven chelonian species endemic to Myanmar, and is the target of new Mandalay and the Lawkananda 12'. Each pond is three feet deep in captive facilities at several sites. Wildlife Sanctuary in Bagan. The the center, gently sloping or stair- TSAH. will depressa partner withM. anothere. phayrei stepping up to the edge. conservation group to build facilities WithChitra plans vandijkito expand ourN. capti ve for and in formosawork with the two endemic softshell rick hudson Thethe RakhineYadanabon region. Zoo turtles, and , we are building a series of four 10' × 20' ponds. This new area Mandalay’s Yadanabon Zoo will allow the zooN. formosa staff to provide is set for the most intensive optimal growing conditions for theC. construction activity, with a vastly vandijkismall group of , and to expanded breeding enclosure for have space for a pilot program for Asian Mountain Tortoises, new whenManouria the opportunity e. phayrei arises. grow-out ponds for Burmese Roof The Yadanabon Zoo’s group of Turtles, and new rearing ponds for 65 adult (see endemicNilssonia softshell formosa turtles, starting the 2008 TSA magazine for a full with a group of Peacock Softshells story) have been living in crowded 42 TSA AUGUST 2010 ( ). and temporary quarters since rick hudson rick hudson rick hudson

Left: Burmese Roof Turtles exhibit extreme differences in , which become prominent in their third year. These individuals 1 hatched in 2006 and were photographed in 2009; the male is on the right. Center: Yadanabon Zoo veterinarian Dr. Tint Lwin holds a 3 ⁄2 year old Batagur trivittata, displaying its impressive growth. Right: The sexes in Batagur trivittata are diagnosable not only by coloration, but also by tail length. The female is on the left.

being confiscated from traders besides a major expansion we are flooding, star tortoises seek high in September of 2007 — but that including provisions for beefed-up ground for nesting). InManouria addition, is about to change. A new facility security measures. The new facility e.we phayrei will build an adjacent 28' × 88' will triple the size of the existing will include a 60' × 88' expansion of divided enclosure for enclosure, and will improve the old facility, with new and secure . The security features husbandry and management by grow out enclosures for juveniles include predator-proof, heavy mesh allowing smaller breeding groups and new breeding areas for adults, wire, a 10' high perimeter fence to be maintained. Permanent withThe staff elevated at the Lawkananda nesting areas Wildlife (to Sanctuary avoid werewith surprised razor to wire, see captive a guard Burmese tower, Star and ponds with drains, earthen mounds Tortoises (Geochelone platynota) feeding on spineless Opuntia, or prickly pear cactus. This plant is readily available in the central dry zone of the country, and could be cultivated to for climbing, and shade retreats provide an inexpensive and nutritious food source. with planted bamboo will also be featured. This group will soon be divided among multiple locations

to avoid risk, and one group has rick hudson already been placed at the Yangon Zoo. In August of 2009 we found the Yadanabon Zoo group to be remarkably healthy, as evidenced by their good weight and state of hydration. The estimated costs for all of the construction at the Yadanabon LawkanandaZoo are approximately Park $41,000.

Of the four government-run breeding facilities, Lawkananda is the most successful and maintains the largest population. Lawkananda is currently overcrowded, however, because they receive the government’s 20% share of captive-hatched tortoises from the nearby foreign- run commercial facility known as Griffin Enterprises. The staff here is concerned about potential theft, so AUGUST 2010 TSA 43 rick hudson rick hudson

This juvenile Peacock Softshell Turtle ( formosa) was hatched These Asian Mountain Tortoises (Manouria emys phayrei) were part from a protected nest on the upper Chindwin River and brought to the of a confiscation in 2007 in which 70 individuals were taken to the Yadanabon Zoo for headstarting. New facilities will soon be built to Yadanabon Zoo. New facilities are being constructed to better manage manage both of Myanmar’s endemic softshell turtle species. the 65 remaining tortoises.

motion detectors with automatic Lacking adequate facilities, and with rick hudson lights. The estimated costs for this turtles packed tightly, the mortality Lashiofacility are $23,000. was high. After being stored in a warehouse, the surviving tortoises were packed in the bed of a pick- Located in northeastern Myanmar up and taken to a release site. The on the border with China, Lashio Forestry Department wants to do a is a common trade route into that better job and welcomes the TSAs country and the site of multiple offer for assistance. The estimated wildlife confiscations. Consequently, costs for this facility are about Lashio was designated as a priority $32,000. for a first-response rescue center Though the team designed two for turtles and tortoises seized from additional facilities, those described rick hudson the trade. A Forestry Department above are our top priorities; others base station just outside the town, will be completed as funds permit. Kho San Tan Park, provides a perfect The total costs are $96,000. To meet

setting for the Center: the land this challenge, the TSA2 has been ⁄3 is adjacent to a hillside of moist aggressively fund-raising, and we tropical forest, has plenty of relief, have reached about of our goal. and a stream that runs through For their generous support, we

Top: Members of the TSA team inspect the it. We designed a broad range of thank the following organizations: land at Kho San Tan Park near Lashio, the site terrestrial enclosures (14 in total) Pat Koval/WWF , the Los of a planned turtle and tortoise rescue center. to supportIndotestudo the diversity elongata of Manouria species Angeles Zoo, the British Chelonia Lashio, near the border with China, lies along seen in the trade, including areas Group, the Taipei Zoo, Woodland a major trade route for illegal wildlife. emys M. impressa. for , Park Zoo, Kenneth Tang and the Bottom: Yellow Tortoises (Indotestudo , and A series of HATZH Donation Fund, the Detroit elongata) from a large trade seizure near three stream-fed ponds are designed Zoological Society, the Toronto Zoo, Lashio are packed into the bed of a pickup truck and hauled away for release. Without that should be suitable for any Nature’s Own, and Andrew Walde. adequate holding and treatment facilities, number of aquatic turtles, including mortality among confiscated turtles and large softshells. The staff here is 1 tortoises is generally high. Survivors may Turtle Survival Alliance, Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 not fare much better without better release enthusiastic about having an area Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas 76110. Email: [email protected] protocols. to stage turtleIndotestudo confiscations, and just the past week handled a large 44 TSA AUGUST 2010 seizure of and . RangeB angladeshCountry Updates

A Promising Start for Turtle Conservation increased dramatically in Bangladesh in Bangladesh, with an Emphasis on after the country’s independence in 1971, which opened the door the Flagship Species Batagur baska, the for commercial exploitation on a large scale. During the 1980s and 90s, commercial harvesting and the export of turtles reached a peak Peter Praschag1 and Rupali Ghosh2 (Rashid and Khan, 2000), with annual sales of about US $ 600,000 resulting from turtle exports mainly to China, Japan, and a few other angladesh is characterized by countries. Fortunately, these exports a dense network of over 700 have been banned by the govern- peter praschag rivers, which produce the third ment, but local consumption and highest outflow of water of all the trade still occur, especially in remote Bcountries in the world. The widest areas. The harvesting of turtles and rivers are the Brahmaputra, , their eggsBatagur occurred baska to suchB. donghoka a degree, and the lower Meghna, with the however,Hardella that thurjii the large, hard-shelled latter expanding to around eight kil- turtles ( , , ometers during the wet season and and Batagur) kachugaare on the brink even more during floods. Together of extinction or perhaps already with slow moving channels, flooded extirpated ( ). The areas, lakes, and countless smaller collapse of populations of these bodies of water, these heterogeneous highly specialized riverine species

peter praschag aquatic habitats support a high came in the mid-to-late 90s, due diversity of freshwater turtles. to a change in fishing techniques. A total of 28 species (includ- Small rowboats were then replaced ing 15 subspecies) of turtles and by motorized fishing trolleys, and tortoises occur in Bangladesh, which fishermen were able to set extensive includes five marine turtles, 14 nets in rich fishing grounds along the geoemyds (hard-shelled freshwater rivers. These nets were so large that or estuarine turtles), two testudinids they sometimes extended across the (tortoises), and seven trionychids width of the rivers. (softshell turtles) ) (Khan 1982; Today, the turtle market revolves Sarker and Sarker, 1988; Das, 1991; aroundLissemys relatively punctata abundant andersoni species Rashid and Swingland, 1997; P. Pra- like the Anderson’s FlapshellPangshura Turtle tecta peter praschag schag and R. Ghosh, pers. observ.). ( ), the pe- None of the species, however, is tersiIndian Roof Turtle ( ), endemic to the country. the ( Top: Local An adult trade male in Batagur fresh waterbaska in turtles ), and the two of the larger soft- breeding coloration. Nilssonia hurum shell turtle species, theN Indiangangetica Pea- Middle: One male and two female Batagur cock Softshell ( ) and baska kept in a village pond. The owner the Ganges Softshell ( . ). consumes their eggs every year. In recent years, a new and profitable Bottom: Rupali Ghosh with an old male market originating in Bangladesh Batagur baska from a village pond. The is causing the mass harvesting of owner had the terrapin for more than softshell turtles throughout southern 50 years. Asia. Large softshells are being harvested in alarming quantities all over the country AUGUST to collect 2010 their TSA 45 nia

sp. is sold for 400 to 600 Tk ($6 now be overcome. The facility will to $9 US), a fresh kilogram of calipee have the capacity to house and breed

peter praschag for 2000 Tk ($30 US), and 1 kilogram other endangered freshwater turtle of dried calipee for over 6000 Tk species C.found indica in Bangladesh, such ($90 US). as the IndianNilssonia Narrow-head nigricans Softshell All attempts to find one of the Turtle ( ),P. the cantorii Black Softshell mostBatagur Criticall baskay Endangered turtle Turtle ( ), the Giant species, the Northern River Terrapin SoftshellBatagur Turtle ( Hardella), and also ( ) in the Indian states a few hard-shelled species of the of and OrissaB baska have genera andRafetus swinhoei. failed, so Bangladesh appears to be Next to the Yangtze Giant the last stronghold for . . To Softshell Turtle, Bat-, no our knowledge, only 12 individuals freshwateragur baska turtle is likely in more

peter praschag are being maintained in India (two danger of rapid extinction than at the Madras Crocodile Bank and 10 . The next few years will at the interpretation center in Sanja- be critical for this species, as we rush khali, West Bengal) and a few more to build holding and breeding ponds in a private collection in Austria. Only in Bangladesh and secure long-term one female remains at Sanjakhali, captive specimens. This endeavor and no male has been transferred to promises to be costly, but the TSA is the Crocodile Bank for an attempted committed to securing the funds. We breeding with its two females. B thank the Beneficia Foundation for Top: The Friday market in Old Dhaka, where baska Presently, we are not aware of supporting some of our field work, turtles are slaughtered and sold openly on any reproducing populations of . and Pat Koval and WWF Canada for the street. Pictured here are the bodies of in the wild, so our primary generously providing the funds for Lissemys punctata andersoni, Nilssonia objective was to locate individuals pond construction. hurum, and tecta. Bottom: The slaughtering of Morenia petersi in Old Dhaka. of this species in the turtle trade or in village ponds. After three years of Literature Cited investigation, with fieldwork accom- Das, I. 1991. Colour guide to the turtles and tortoises plished primarily by Rupali Ghosh, a of Indian Subcontinent. R and A Publishing cartilaginous posterior rim of the few individuals were spotted in fish Limited, Portishead, Avon, . Khan, M. A. R. 1982. Chelonias of Bangladesh and carapace and some smaller parts of breeding ponds in disparate areas their conservation. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 79: the plastron, a product called calipee. of southern Bangladesh. All of the 110–116. Rashid, S. M. A., and I. R. Swingland. 1997. On We saw drying calipee on fishing individuals identified have been held In the ecology of some freshwater turtles in lines in fishermen’s houses through- in captivity for at least 15 years. As Bangladesh. Pp. 225–242 J. V. Van Abbema outN mostgangetica of the country.N hurum All of the a result, we now have a remarkable (Ed.), Proceedings: Conservation, Restoration, target species are listed on CITES opportunity to assemble a breeding and Management of Tortoises and Turtles: An indica International Conference. New York Turtle and Icantorii ( . and . ) or group for a species that is function- Tortoise Society, New York. CITES II ( and ally and ecologically extinct in the Rashid, S. M. A., and S. M. M. H. Kahn. 2000. Trade In and Conservation of Freshwater Turtles and ). Unfortunately, the dried wild due to overexploitation for calipee, which are often cut into human consumption. Tortoises in Bangladesh. Pp. 77–85 P. P. Van Dijk, B. L. Stuard, and G. J. Rhodin (Eds.), Asian small pieces, are difficult to identify In collaboration with CARINAM Turtle Trade. Proceedings of a Workshop on as part of a softshell turtle and thus (Center of Advanced Research in Conservation and Trade of Freshwater Turtles are transported without difficulty Natural Resources and Manage- and Tortoises in Asia. Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 1–4 December 1999. across international borders on their ment, S.M.A. Rashid) and the Forest Sarker, S. U., and N. J. Sarker 1988. A Systematic way to Hong Kong and mainland Department, the TSA is supporting List of Wildlife of Bangladesh. Privately printed China. A few shipments containing the establishment of a breeding (50 pp.). several hundred kilograms of calipee, facility for the Northern River Ter- 1 from thousands of softshell turtles, rapin. We are attempting to obtain Am Katzelbach 98, 8054 Graz, Austria. have been confiscated, but the risk several individuals from different Email:2 [email protected] for traders remains very low and the fish ponds to establish a breeding Shant Kamal Kunj, 1, Shakti Colony Rajkot 360001, Nilsso- Gujarat, India. demand and profit are very high. In group. The permitting process is 46Dhaka, TSA 1 AUGUST kilogram 2010 of a living finished, but financial hurdles must Catalogues Manuals Brochures Direct Mail Newsletters Stationary Variable Data Books Family History

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TSAs Indian Turtle Conservation Program: A

Ray of Hope for an Imperiled Turtle Fauna in-situthis project, we are currently conducting natural history research, Shailendra Singh1, 2, Brian D. Horne3, and Rick Hudson2 headstarting, community- based education programming, and poacher rehabilitation activities for five of India’s most endangered ince its inception in 2005, the Conservation Research has expanded turtles. By addressing various Indian Turtle Conservation greatly to better aid in the recovery social and economic issues in Program, a joint endeavor of of India’s imperiled turtles. Originally the communities associated with the Turtle Survival Alliance, the a single species conservation project, India’s diverse turtle fauna, we have SMadras Crocodile Bank Trust, and it has grown to become a larger, made great strides in halting the Athe male San Red-crowned Diego Zoo’s Roof Institute Turtle (Batagur for kachugamulti-species) in full breeding program.coloration. RankedThrough as downward spiral of many turtle Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, this species is emblematic of the Turtle Conservation populations throughout the region. Program and serves as its flagship species. Our turtle conservation program is now considered one of the most socially integrated of its kind in Asia. Many of our activities in 2009

brian d. horne included educating and training various groups on issues of turtle conservation, which created dialogue with government and non-government organizations, and policy makers, in an effort to build sustained advocacy for freshwater turtles and their associated habitats in India. These activities will help us continue our current efforts in the Chambal River and Upper Ganges River System (central India), and expand our program in four additional turtle priority areas: the Terai Region (northern India), the state of (northeastern India), the Sunderbans of West Bengal and the state of Orissa (eastern India), and the Western Ghats and the state of Tamilnadu (southern India). Our goals are to conserve as many remaining wild populations of chelonians as possible, and to establish multiple assurance colonies of the regions’ Critically Endangered turtle species within the next five to 10 years. We are optimistic that we can achieve these benchmarks by garnering help and support from regional partners, international donors, and local stakeholders and 48 TSA AUGUST 2010 communities. Herein, we are presenting a few rate. We believe the poor hatching of our key achievements from 2009, rate was caused by a sudden

which we hope will be the building decrease in nest temperatures in ashutosh tripathi blocks for long-term chelonian early November. After collecting Theconservation Indian Narrow-headed in India. standard morphological Softshell Turtle Conservation measurements and injecting a small Initiative decimal coded wire under the skin of a hind limb of the hatchlings for Chitra indica future identification, we released The Indian Narrow-headed them all at the original nesting site. Softshell Turtle ( ) is During the surveys along the hunted extensively throughout its Ramganga River, we found four nests wide distribution in India. The outer destroyed by predators (presumably cartilaginous rim of its carapace is jackals) and two more in which the shailendra singh used as delicacy in Southeast Asian eggs had been poached by locals for cuisine, as well as an aphrodisiac in human consumption. This year the traditional Chinese medicine. low water level in the river rendered In 2006, we began to assess the historically favorable nestingC. indica habitat population status of this turtle. Our along the hatchery unsuitable. surveys revealed steep population Previously, we observed declines, and that less than 20% nesting on high and steep riverbanks, of the habitat reported for this yet this year we found all 10 nests on species 20 years ago continued to low and flat sandbanks. support populations. These declines Since the main channel of the shailendra singh were mainly due to unsustainable Ganga River along the project site is harvesting, along with habitat underC. indica intense fishing pressure, we degradation and fragmentation. assume that this nesting population We had limited success during of originated either from our initial nesting surveys and upstream or from other tributaries of it was not until 2008, when we the Ganga (e.g., the Ramganga River, engaged former turtle poachers as which flows through the Corbett shailendra singh field assistants, that we identified a Tiger Reserve). Within the nextC. indica year, few surviving but isolated breeding we hope to use radio-telemetry to populations. One population along determine whether female the upper Ganges River (herein exhibit nest site fidelity. Additionally, referred to by the Indian name we hope to initiate a survivorship “Ganga”) near the confluence of the study of post-release headstarted Ganga and Ramganga rivers, in the individuals, but this project will state of UttarC. indica Pradesh, is ofin-situ particular have to be postponed because of last interest. Here, we studied the nesting year’s disappointing headstarting Top to Bottom: We collected the eggs of Chitra indica mostly from unprotected biology of via an nest results. Despite efforts at intensive stretches of the Yamuna River and incubated protection program. care, no hatchlings survived the them naturally through hatchery programs. Encouraged by these results, we cool winter months at our soft- Hatchling Chitra indica before being expanded our surveys to include release siteC. indicaor outdoor captive processed and released at one of the in situ the middle and lower stretchesC. indica of facilities. This year, we released hatcheries. the Yamuna and Chambal rivers. In all of the hatchlings after September, we found two taking the standard morphological A hatchling Chitra indica stretches its neck in front of our green headstarting facility. nests (351 eggs) along the Ganga measurements, and retained none River nesting site, and two more of them for headstarting.C. indica Our new Ashutosh Tripathi, Project Officer with the in October (195 eggs) near the goal is to build an indoor rearing India Program, processes a hatchling Chitra indica for a rearing program at the Garhaita village of Kundpura. Only one of the facility specifically for , Turtle Centre. four clutches produced hatchlings, which will allow for better control however, and only at a 12% hatching the environmental temperatures. We AUGUST 2010 TSA 49 Left, top to bottom: Individuals of Chitra indica sometimes wander outside of the limits of the National Chambal Sanctuary and are vulnerable to accidental or intentional killing.

shailendra singh Dr. Gowri Mallapur, a veterinarian for the Crocodile Bank Trust, inspects Decimal Coded Wire tags placed in newly hatched Chitra indica at one of the in situ hatcheries.

Chitra indica juveniles sampled from the Yamuna River as part of a species migration and dispersal study.

Fishermen are given an incentive to rescue and release individuals of Chitra indica that they accidentally capture in unprotected stretches of the Yamuna River.

plan to build this facility at our turtle manpower issues. center in the village of Garhaita, once Finally, we developed a modest ashutosh tripathi we raise the necessary funds. turtle incubation chamber (3.3 × We initiated a mark-recapture 3.3 m) at the GarhatiaBatagur Turtle kachuga Centre, study on the Yamuna River,C. just indica under the water tower of the green outside of the National Chambal rearing facility for C. . Sanctuary, to quantify the C. indica indicaThis chamber will be insulated and population at the sanctuary. The used for artificially incubating primary results show that clutches from the Chambal moves in and out of the sanctuary, River, which will avoid the loss of and especially during the monsoon developing eggs during unexpected floods (July to September). We also cold spells. ashutosh tripathi expandedB. kachuga the nesting surveys on the C. indicaThis year we collected significant Yamuna and Chambal rivers, along data on the ecology and biology of our project lines in the , and this information could Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh be important for the conservation (UP). Here, we found one clutch management of this species as (141 eggs) along the Yamuna and we expand this initiative in other two clutches (257) on the Chambal, priority areas. The preliminary in-situnear the Garhaita Turtle Centre. We studies indicate our need to enhance translocated these eggs to another research efforts to better understand hatchery established near the ecology and reproductive the village of Garhaita. Of these, biology of this species — one that only two nests from the Chambal is constantly forced to adapt to the River hatched, with an 85% success myriad of habitat fluctuations and rate, while the clutch from Yamuna unpredictable climatic conditions River failed to develop. In addition, imposed by this harsh region. we recorded observations on three This project was supported, natural nests on the Chambal in part, by a grant from Cleveland River near Garhaita; the eggs from TheZoological Batagur Society. Conservation shailendra singh these nests hatchedC. indica in October in andsitu Program on the Chambal River November, with a 96% success rate. Protecting the nests would seem to be a preferable option In 2006, the project team started over translocating them to remote implementing the Conservation hatcheries, although this option Action Plan recommendations 50 TSA AUGUST 2010 might not always be feasible due to for the Endangered Red-crowned Batagur kachuga Below, top to bottom: A riverside hatchery for B. Batagur dhongoka and B. kachuga along the Chambal River. dhongokaRoof Turtle ( ) and in this population. This crucial part the Three-striped Roof Turtle ( of the project is a standard means of A group photo of the turtle project team at ) in the National Chambal gauging the success of a hatch-and- the Uttar Pradesh riverside hatchery. (River) Sanctuary, located in the release program in augmenting the states of UP and Madhya Pradesh wild population. Turtle team members collect eggs from a Batagur nest for relocation to a riverside (MP). The Red-crowned Roof Turtle We surveyed the entire lower hatchery. conservation program was chosen course (ca. 400 km) of the Chambal as the flagship project for this River and determined the abundance A clutch of Batagur kachuga eggs is ready for transport to a riverside hatchery. region, as well as for the country, of chelonians, habitat conditions, because this turtle is charismatic and suitable nesting habitats from and shows a high probability for January through March. We also quickly securing a viable population collected data on various habitat of the turtles while serving as a parameters and anthropogenic shailendra singh model for other turtle conservation disturbances, to develop a nesting programs throughout India and habitat suitability index. A abroad. With fewer than 400 adult comparison among the previous females remaining in the wild (based years’ data showed continued on yearly nesting surveys), decisive marginalization of the nesting areas conservation actions were clearly due to the various anthropogenic anasua roy warranted. disturbances, especially riverside We completed the fifth field agriculture and cattle intrusion season (2006–2010) by conducting along the riverbanks. Historically, a recovery program in Chambal the low water levels in the river have for the aboveB. two kachuga sympatric turtle been regarded as one of the major species. DuringB. dhongoka this time, more than threats to the nests, since most of 380 nests of and over the previous turtle nesting islands

2,150in-situ nests have been became accessible to terrestrial bhadauria khem b. protected through the establishment predators. For example, in the lower of 14 riverside hatcheries (3 100 km of the Chambal , 34 major or 4 per year) along the Chambal nesting islands that historically were River. isolated from the riverbanks became Last winter, we started various continuouslyB kachuga connected to them. conservation and research activities At present, we are rearing over in the middle and lower stretches 1,500 . of various age

in-situ ashutosh tripathi of the Chambal River. Again, we groups (from 0 to 5 years of age) in established three turtle two headstarting facilities along the hatcheries, two in the stateB. kachuga of UP and Chambal River. In early 2011, we will one in the state of MP. WeB. dhongoka protected initiate movementB andkachuga survivorship 77 nests (1,330 eggs) of studies by using sonic-telemetry and 436 nests (9,120) . with headstarted . . B. kachuga The eggs began hatching in early May In the spring of 2010, the state Sanctuary, might be the next possible of 2010, a process that continued forest department released about reintroduction site for , throughout the month. We released 400 turtles of various age groups whereas B. dhongoka in our surveys we are most of the hatchlings within 24 (2006–2008) from our Deori encountering moderate populations hours, once they were permanently facility in MP, at various locations of along the middle marked. This procedure entails the near the middle Chambal River. To stretch of the Ghaghara River, 200 injection of a decimal coded wire tag expand this effort, weB. havekachuga been km downriver from thegreen Katerniaghat under the dermis of a hind limb and/ B.searching dhongoka for suitable habitats to Wildlife Sanctuary. or a colored plastic cable tie attached release headstarted and We completed the B. to the trailing edge of the rear shell. . We identified the Son, kachugaheadstarting enclosure to rear By surveying for marked turtles, Ken, Betwa, and Ghaghara rivers endangered turtles (especially we hope to estimate hatchling as possible reintroduction sites. ) at the Garhaita Turtle survivorship and dispersal distances The Son River, in the Son Gharial Conservation Centre, AUGUST on the2010 lower TSA 51 Chambal River, with partial support to the turtle conservation aware- from the Turtle Conservation Fund. ness needs of the local/riparian

ashutosh tripathi This (51 × 16 m) enclosure is close to community, it will also facilitate the 2 m deep and contains floating and conservation (education, awareness, stationary basking platforms, and and training) initiatives involving the entire structure is covered with other regional threatened aquatic predator-proof iron mesh. We also animals, ecosystems and protected added a four-chambered biofiltration areas, issues, and target groups. unit powered by a solar water pump. Mrs. Patricia Koval, of the TSA The rearing enclosureB. kachug currentlya Board of Directors and Chair of houses over 200 juveniles (three WWF Canada, inaugurated the or four years old) of . center on World Earth Day (22 May Additionally, we renovated the 2010), with over 200 villagers and original hatchling facility at the government officials in attendance.

ashutosh tripathi Garhaita Turtle Conservation Centre To mark the occasion, the villagers by creating four deeper pools with of Garhaita sang traditional songs wider ramps, to hold turtles of invocating the Chambal River as a various age classes separately for deity, and the local children performed growth and temperature related a short play enacting the depletion of Educationstudies. and Socio-economics the sanctuary’s flora and fauna. We began to utilize a mobile education exhibit featuring the This year’s greatest region’s biodiversity. The exhibit accomplishment was the was based on the area’s traditional

ashutosh tripathi construction of a Conservation camel-drawn cart and inaugurated Education Centre. We upgraded by Mr. Neeraj Kumar, a Divisional our humble education facility, aptly Forest Officer of the Chambal, and it named the “Makeshift Hut” at the traveled throughout the sanctuary Garhaita Turtle Centre into a modest during National Wildlife Week (15 × 10 m), permanent structure. (1–7 October 2009). Various color The center was named after the posters depicting the sanctuary’s late Dr. John Thorbjarnarson, a wildlife were displayed, along with well-respected herpetologist who conservation slogans in Hindi. made lasting contributions to Additionally, a puppet team was

shailendra singh crocodile and turtle conservation. hired to perform shows atop the This education and interpretation cart. The theme centered around facility was built with the generous the greater conservation of natural support of the Disney Worldwide resources and the plight of aquatic Conservation Fund and the Beneficia wildlife. This mobile exhibit now

Above, top to bottom: A female Batagur Foundation. We can now accommo- travels from village to village dhongoka found early on the morning, shortly date over 100 children/community along the Chambal River, creating after nesting. members for educational events. In awareness of freshwater turtles and the near future, the building will be other aquatic wildlife in riparian The hatchery staff releases tagged turtles along the Chambal River. equipped with four internal display communities. panels dedicated to the region’s We also assembled over 50 A bucket of tagged hatchling Batagur endangered freshwater turtles, outreach educational programs for dhongoka about to be released at the in situ hatchery. threatened aquatic biodiversity, over 2,000 villagers and primary freshwater ecosystems, and socio- school children living within the Renovations to the original headstarting cultural features. In addition, a Chambal National Sanctuary. We facility are now complete, with the construction of deeper pools and basking live animal aquatic exhibit will organized these programs using such ramps. be added, along with interactive education tools as lectures, ecological animal models. Though the prime based games, drawing competitions, 52 TSA AUGUST 2010 objective of this facility is to cater and live demonstrations and skits on the relevant dates of the villages along the Chambal River. environmental calendar (e.g., Water We evaluated approximately 200 Day, World Wetland Day, Earth villages along the lower section of brian d. horne Day, World Biodiversity Day, World the river and the accompanying Turtle Day, World Environment Day, buffer zone, near the confluence of and National Wildlife Week). We the Chambal and Yamuna rivers, and also distributed turtle calendars assessed their interaction with the and posters portraying wildlife sanctuary’s threatened biota. This and associated laws to the various information was critical because schools within the sanctuary. We it could help us develop additional are now planning to hold a series livelihood and social/civic programs. of teachers training workshops To sustain the momentum of this in association with the nationally initiative, we hired several students recognized Centre for Environmental that previously had volunteered ashutosh tripathi Education. as part-time educators. We also The school education and employed fishermen from variousin-situ awareness programs made us realize fishing hamlets to assist with the that many of the participants lacked turtle surveys and guard the a general knowledge of the flora in riverside turtle hatcheries around- the protected area. Perhaps, this the-clock. In addition, we contracted lack of knowledge is due to the fact local village masons and laborers to that most nativeProsopis plants juliflora in the region build the education center described have been outcompeted by the exotic above. Paying the local people for and invasive (a their involvement with the project Mexican mesquite tree). In order to has garnered great community raise awareness of the region’s floral support. ashutosh tripathi diversity, we developed a small plant We are currently expanding nursery (13 × 7 m) in the campus our goals and aim to conduct our of the turtle center to demonstrate social/education programs in over native plants to the local children, as 600 villages along the entire length well as to encourage their use. of the sanctuary. The information This year, on World Wetland Day, collected from the present education we conducted two major trainings and awareness initiatives will help sessions for the MP frontline us design educational and social de- forestry department staff. The topics Rightvelopment, top to bottom:programs Pat Koval for the introduces various a included aquatic wildlife survey juvenile Batagur kachuga into the new green headstarting facility. shailendra singh methodology, turtle diversity and nest protection, and wildlife laws Brian D. Horne, Pat Koval, and Shailendra regarding freshwater turtles. In Singh (middle front row, left to right) at the inauguration of the new education center. November, we conducted another training workshop, at the Kukrail Pat Koval reveals the commemorative name Gharial Centre, for turtle/crocodile plaque on the new education center on the Chambal. keepers and fishermen. The objective of this workshop was to train these A camel-powered mobile education cart. The people to safely capture and handle cart traveled across rough terrain to reach aquatic reptiles. We also accepted rural villages along the Chambal River, to broadcast the turtle conservation message. two student research trainees gowri mallapur gowri from the state of West Bengal, who Shailendra Singh demonstrates the proper were trained in all aspects of turtle techniques for capturing turtles to zoo keepers and the forestry department staff conservation and research in the at the Kukrail Gharial and Turtle Centre in Chambal and Terai regions. Lucknow. We continued to conduct socio-economic surveys in the AUGUST 2010 TSA 53 Far left: Batagur kachuga yearlings at the Deori EcoCentre headstarting facility. These turtles will be studied to examine the dispersal capabilities and threats to headstarted individuals. shailendra singh shailendra singh Left: Construction of the new green headstarting facility at the Garhaita Turtle Conservation Centre is complete, and includes a solar powered biological filtration system.

target groups (e.g., fishermen, sand areas, including the Kaziranga, community members as to the occur- miners, riverside agriculturists, and Nagawan, and Nameri national rence of the species at Vishwanath turtle poachers) that are adversely parks in the Brahamaputra River (opposite bank of Kaziranga National impacting the biota of the sanctuary. basin. We beaganP. sylhetensis our preliminary Park) and Ghahigaon, in the Sonitpur Ideally, the implementation of these surveys and community awareness district. According to the fishermen specialized programs can convert programs for along the and previous unpublished research our conservation philosophy into chars (islands) of the Brahmaputra accounts,P. thesesylhetensis locations were action, so that wildlife and tradi- River, near the Nameri and Nagawan known to support robust popula- tional societies can survive along- national parks. We also established a tions of P. sylhetensis, but after the Assamside one in another! Northeastern India hatchery on an P.island sylhetensis in the district weeklong surveys it was obvious that of Morigawan in order to protect a a population of remains few clutches of eggs, as only in reduced numbers along the Located at the junction of people in these river communities upper stretch of the river.P. We sylheten- plan to the Himalaya and Indo-Burma often poachP. turtlesylhetensis eggs for human sisreturn to these locations this fall in biodiversity hotspot, northeastern consumption. Although weP. did tentoria not hopes of finding our first India is regarded as a major turtle locate any nests,N. nigricans we nests. conservation priority area. This protected over 50 nestsP. tentoria of We also identified a project region supports a remarkable and multiple clutches of . site, Chandavi, along the Assambheels 23 species of chelonians, making Many of the rescued and Meghalaya state border. This it the world’s greatest area for clutches failed to hatch, however,N. area consists of a complex of turtle diversity. In 2008, a group of nigricansperhaps due to previous mishandling (lakes) along the Kulsi River, in theC. students from University of the eggs by poachers, but the indicaKamrup district,Nilssonia and hurum holds high started an awareness project for clutches are still incubating numbers of softshellN. turtles nigricans (i.e., the various threatened species in the hatchery. and ) with inhabiting the Brahamaputra Although this year we used the the possibility that is River basin, with financial support hatchery as an experiment, it helped found there as well. We conducted provided by the Rufford Small to create awareness among the river several education programs for the Grant Foundation and technical communities on the diversity of local villages and the Rabha tribal support by the TSA India Program. turtles using this island as a nesting communities, to create awareness In 2010, the TSA became an active area. Additionally, it helped impart regarding the area’s turtle diversity participant in the program, and egg translocation methodology, and how unsustainable turtle initiated conservation projects for hatchery construction techniques, harvesting will negatively impact the safeguarding the region’s turtles. and management ideas to our new aquatic ecosystem that many local Presently, we are targeting four field assistants. The decision to use livelihoods depend on. N. turtlePangshura species sylhetensis for conservation the hatchery willP. sylhetensis likely prove to be nigricans The other regional target species, efforts: the AssamNilssonia Roof Turtle nigricans of vital importance in the future the ( ( ), Indotestudothe Black protection of eggs. ), has only recently been elongataSoftshell Turtle ( ), In late March of 2010, we visited reported in the wild; previously, it the ElongatedManouria Tortoise emys ( various locationsP. sylhentensis along the Bra- was only known to survive in a few ), and the AsianP. sylhetensisBrown hamaputra to determine the current Hindu templeMandir ponds.Pujo Samiti The majority of Tortoise ( ). status of . During our these ponds in Assam are governed An elusive species, surveys, we interviewed a wide by the (Temple 54is now TSA found AUGUST only 2010 in a few protected range of fishermen and riparian Worship Committees), and in the past it has been difficult to convince currently contains numerous large Chaurpur, and Durgapalli (near the temple worship committees predatory catfish that could easily the town of Sambalpur) to inquire that improvements to the ponds consume the younger turtles. about the softshell turtle trade, are necessary for the long-term Our plans are to initiate a captive and gathered a large amount survival of these “sacred” turtles. conservation program with the of information regarding the Consequently, we are planning Assam State Zoo and Botanic Garden composition, location of trade routes, a meeting to generate dialogue to develop assurance colonies of modes of transportation, location among the temple authorities, the regional target species, and toward of the collection centers, and final district administration, conservation this end we had several lengthy destination of the catch. During organizations, and the forestry discussions with the zoo’s director, interviews with the local fishermen, departments. We aim to create Mr. Narayan Mahanta. We agreed wePelochelys confirmed cantorii the occurrence of a construction blueprint for the to work together to design and the Asian GiantC. Softshell indica Turtle needed improvements to the temple constructIndotestudo enclosures elongata, for holding ( ) and the high ponds, in an effort to improve their Manouriaendangered emys turtle species, P. sylhetensis which abundance of in the area. husbandry and survival. Our goal is include We also surveyed the mouths for these populations to reproduce , and . of various rivers along the eastern and become self-sustaining These enclosures are scheduled for coast of Orissa, toBatagur gather baska information assurance colonies. construction under their new master on the past and present status the We visited the temples of Hazo plan. We also created dialogue River Terrapin ( ). We and Kamakhya and a few otherN. with such regional conservation interviewed over 50 fishermen along nigricanssmaller temples in the region, organizations as Aranyak and the the Devi andB. Kathjodibaska rivers, but searching for more captive Centre for Environmental Education, found no evidence of recent sightings . At Hazo, we saw a as well as with local researchers, in or nests of in the area. moribund female on a masonry an effort to build strong partnerships Furthermore, we arranged meetings bank of the temple pond, which died and networks for a wider turtle with several local conservation shortly after our arrival possibly Orissaconservation program in the region. organizations, forestry department from a severe infection on a front leg. biologists, researchers, and interest We also saw several other individuals groups to discern the feasibility of that showed signsN. nigricansof a severe fungal In April of 2010, we completed future collaborative projects with infection on their shells. Surprisingly, a rapid survey along the Mahanadi TSA India. we found a few nests River to gather preliminary We concluded our surveys and under ornamental bushes bordering information on turtle diversity meetings with a positive outlook Nthe. nigricans masonry banks of the pond. and abundance in the state, as for initiating a turtle conservation Although the death of the female previous reports indicated that project in the state. Partners like the was disheartening, it the river was a major area for Wildlife Society of Orissa, Utkal State proved to be the needed motivational trapping turtles. We visited Binka, University at Cuttuck, and the state factor for the temple authorities to grant us permission to improve the basking and nesting areas. We shailendra singh

added sand to a large nesting area, chittaranjan baruah and built basking platforms and shade structures in two corners of the pond. What we lack, however, is financial assistance from the regional Above: The Nilssonia nigricans facility turtle program to assist the temple improvement project for creating nesting committee in hiring a full-time staff beaches is underway. The project is being conducted in association with Guwahati member to monitor the turtles. The University and Temple committees in the state responsibility of thisN. nigricans staff member of Assam. would be to prevent the future loss of valuable adult , and to Right: A trained turtle guard collects Nilssonia nigricans eggs at the Hazo Temple pond. The protect their nests from predators. eggs are incubated in a safe environment. An additional juvenile grow-out facility is also needed, as the pond AUGUST 2010 TSA 55 Government of India, and the Forestry Departments of UP, MP, brian d. horne West Bengal, and Assam. We acknowledge the TSA board of Directors for their interest, encouragement, and necessary approval for various projects, and the MCBT Trustees and staff for their support of the program. We cordially thank Scott Davis, Anders Rhodin, Hugh Quinn, Patricia Koval, Romulus Whitaker, Patrick Aust, Jeffery W. Lang, B. K. Patnaik, Pradeep Vyas, Neeraj Kumar, Eva Sharma, B. C. Brahma, Anjan Guha, U. S. Dohare, and Dhruvjyoti Basu for their various suggestions, assistance, and support. Samir Whitaker, Heather Lowe and Gowri Mallapur provided A boy at a fisherman’s home along the Mahanadi River, near the town of Sambalpur in the administrative support for the state of Orissa, shows the bony carapace of a recently eaten Giant Softshell Turtle (Pelochelys cantorii). project. We are grateful to various partner organizations, including the Centre for Environmental forestry departments appear willing endangered turtle fauna. We thank Education, the Zoology Department to collaborate on turtle conservationB. baska the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust of Guwahati University, the Terai projects. for their logistic and administrative Environmental Foundation, the Although this year the support for this nationwide Katerniaghat Foundation, and the project progressed slowly due to conservation program, the San Diego Gharial Conservation Alliance, for a lack of required permits from Zoo’s Institute for Conservation joining hands with us in taking the state forestry department, we Research for technical assistance the turtle conservation mission completed the first phaseB. baskaof the for various projects and critical forward. Finally, we appreciate the statewide survey on the present financial support for the Central help provided by the conservation and historical status of . We India project, and the Beneficia team members, Ashutosh Tripathi, presented our findings and future Foundation for backing our work Khem B. Bhadauria (Chambal), conservation plans to various high- since 2007. We acknowledge the Nikhil Whitaker (MCBT/South level research advisory committees, generosity of the Disney Worldwide India), Pradeep Saxena and Bhasker in an effort to obtain permission to Conservation Funds for supporting Dixit, Anasua Roy (Terai region), launch nesting population surveys the Turtle Conservation Education Chittaranjan Baruah (Assam), Rupali deeper into the Sunderbans. Hope­fully, and Awareness Initiative. For various Ghosh (Eastern India), and all of the permission will be granted to improve critical components of the program, students and volunteers; without the breeding facility at the Sajnekhali we are especially grateful to the their tireless efforts, this program field station, in the Sunderbans Tiger Cleveland Zoological Society, Pat would not have been possible. Reserve. As reported in 2009, eight Koval/WWF Canada, the Detroit 1 males, three females, and one juvenile Zoological Institute, Sedgwick TSA India, Centre for Herpetology/Madras Crocodile wereAila in the pond, but, sadly, two County Zoo, Nature’s Own, the Bank Trust, Post Bag 4, Mamallapuram, 603 104, females were lost during a recent Turtle Conservation Fund, British Tamil Nadu, India. “ ” (sea storm) when floodwaters Chelonia Group, and Andrew and Email:2 [email protected] Acknowledgments. Turtle Survival Alliance, Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 inundated the facility. Angela Walde of Walde Research & Colonial3 Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas 76110. — We Environmental Consulting. For aiding San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research, graciously acknowledge the Turtle with various logistical problems 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, California 92027. Survival Alliance for spearheading and permits, we thank the Ministry 56conservation TSA AUGUST programs 2010 on India’s of Environment and Forests, the Range CountryIndia Updates

Strategic Planning Workshop for Endangered Indian Turtles

Shailendra Singh1 and Rick Hudson2

he joint TSA/MCBT/San Diego focus our efforts and develop an Zoo Indian Turtle Conservation organizational strategy, we mapped Program (ITCP), in association out a system (see map) that will pro- India Turtle Priority Regions. with the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Forest vide extensive coverage to as many TDepartment, is organizingIndian a national key species and critical habitats as levelFreshwater workshop Turtle dedicated and Tortoises to turtle possible. tion action plans and identify immedi- conservationConservation entitled Priority “ Areas Five priority turtle areas in India ate needs for the five Turtle Priority Initiatives have been identified: the Chambal Areas. Participants will evaluate past River and Upper Ganges River System priorities with respect to changes in

.” The workshopnd willth (central India), the Terai Region national and international conserva- be held from the 22 to the 24 of (northern India), the state of Assam tion priorities. The ITCP and other re- October 2010 in Lucknow, the capital (northeastern India), the Sunderbans gional partners will implement these city of Uttar Pradesh. The main of West Bengal and the state of Orissa action plans through mobilizing and objectives of the workshop will be to: (eastern India), and the Western Ghats facilitating conservation teams. The • Review the implementation of the and the state of Tamilnadu (southern workshop and action plan will also 2005 “Conservation Action Plan India). When combined, these five seek enhanced participation of the for Indian Endangered Turtles and regions support India’s most highly central and state governments in the Tortoises” developed at the Kukrail endangered and charismatic turtles. turtle conservation effort as part of Gharial Rehab Centre in Lucknow by Priority areas were selected on the nest year’s activities associated with the MCBT and TSA. basis of species richness, endemism, the “International Biodiversity Year.” • Discuss and prioritize important proportion of endangered turtles, and The program’s vision is to conserve turtle areas for conservation action our ability to initiate conservation as many of the remaining wild popula- across India, and review their po- programs. This alignment encompass- tions of turtles as possible and to tential to support new programs. es much of the Ganges-Brahmaputra establish multiple assurance colonies • Identify competent local partners river basin drainages (excluding of Critically Endangered turtle spe- and collaborators for key turtle Bangladesh), an area that supports cies within the next five to 10 years. conservationConservation initiatives. Action Plan for the world’s greatest diversity of turtle Funding for this workshop is being EndangeredAfter five Freshwateryears of executing Turtles andthe species. Containing 18 species, includ- provided by the Turtle Survival Tortoises2005 of India ing 12 of the 14 Indian species in need Alliance. of conservation, the Lower Gangetic , there is a need for Plain was designated as a global Literature Cited a rigorous review of ongoing turtle Turtle Priority Area (Buhlmann et al., Buhlmann, K. A., T.S.B. Akre, J. B. Iverson, D. conservation projects. Based on the 2009). Karapatakis, R. A. Mittermeier, A. Georges, A. G. success of the Chambal River-based The workshop aims to synchronize J. Rhodin, P. P. van Dijk, and J. W. Gibbons. 2009. program, and given the rapidly in- as well as capitalize on the efforts A Global Analysis of Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Distributions with Identification of Priority creasing level of threats that Indian’s of the various organizations and Conservation Areas. Chelonian Conserv. Biol. 8: turtle face, we believe that it is time to individuals working to conserve che- 116–149. expand our program to other regions lonians in India. By bringing together 1 in India that support endangered or over fifty national and international TSA India, Centre for Herpetology/Madras Crocodile endemic species in need of conserva- frontline biologists, conservationists, Bank Trust, Post Bag 4, Mamallapuram, 603 104, Tamil tion attention. India is a large country educators, socio-economists, manag- Nadu,2 India. Email: [email protected] Turtle Survival Alliance, Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 with a diversity of habitats, cultures, ers, and policy makers, the workshop Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas 76110. and chelonian species. In order to seeks to develop regional conserva- AUGUST 2010 TSA 57 Range CountryIndia Updates

World Turtle Day in India Commemorated status and trade assessments, with a Poacher Conversion Workshop the TSA-MCBT India Program has been working through such meetings Shailendra Singh1 to convert regional turtle poachers by finding ways to provide them with alternative livelihood training by setting-up various eco-friendly orld Turtle Day in Indiaprima- harvesting of turtles along the micro-enterprises. facie was again a success, when a Ghaghra-Sarju river system in the Thirty-five people participated at cadre of 35 turtle poachers, Terai (foothills of the Himalaya’s the last meeting. After hours of long , gave-up on the commercial along Indo- border). They discussion and the presentation of reached a decision after long opposing views, most (80%) of the W hours of discussion regarding the participants agreed to work with the losses and benefits of poaching project team for at least next three and killing turtles, as well as after years. During this time they would be weighing the possibilities of eco- involved with protecting turtles and friendly livelihood options available other aquatic wildlife in the region, through a turtle project. The turtle along with other converted poachers poachers and fishermen involved in and conservation teams. In addition, non-commercial turtle harvesting these people signed a pledge that pradeep K. saxena took a week of convincing to prohibits them from commercially gather at a conversion workshop harvesting freshwater turtles in the in Ghaghraghat, along the Ghaghra area. Most participants of the Terai poacher River, to discuss these issues and A series of follow-up meetings are conversion workshop agreed to work with find ways of working together for the planned in near future, in an effort the project team for the next three years, and signed a pledge to give up the commercial benefit of turtle conservation in the to form several “River Conservation harvesting of freshwater turtles. area. Committees” along critical stretches The Ghaghra-Sarju river system of the entire river system. Under the

Shailendra Singh (white hat) collects data for along the Terai supportsHardella one of auspices of the TSA-MCBT program, a recently launched study on the population thurjiithe few healthy populations of the such committees will include ex- dynamics and reproduction of Hardella thurjii, Crowned River Turtle ( turtle poachers, fishermen who use conducted with the help of ex-poachers and Chitra indica pradeep K. saxena ), the Indian Narrow-headed eco-friendly fishing methods, local fishing communities. Morenia petersiiSoftshell Turtle ( ), but influential community members, the IndianGeoclemys Eyed Turtle hamiltoni ( and regional conservation NGOs. ), and the Spotted Pond These committees will advise the Turtle (Nilssonia gangeticus), in N. regional turtle project on turtles hurumaddition to two other softshell and habitat protective measures, turtles, and the feasibility of creating livelihood . On both rivers, softshells options for poachers, the availability are hunted extensively for the and need for candidates for a commercial trade of calipee (the rehabilitation program, and the long- Hardellaouter cartilaginousGeoclemys rim) and meat, term costs associated with turtle while hard-shelled turtle species like protection and habitat conservation and are killed in the area. for local consumption. Furthermore, 1 each year a significant number TSA India, Centre for Herpetology/Madras Crocodile of turtles throughout the region Bank Trust, Post Bag 4, Mamallapuram, 603 104, drowns accidentally in nets and Tamil Nadu, India. traps used for community fishing. Email: [email protected] 58 TSA AUGUST 2010 Besides involvement in species Range CountryINDIA Updates Red-crowned Roof Turtle (Batagur kachuga) Breeding at the Centre for were produced. Clutch 3/Box 1, with a range from 25 to 31° C (average = Herpetology/Madras Crocodile Bank, an 27.54° C), did not produce any live hatchlings; however, this clutch did Update on the 2010 Breeding Season not deviate significantly from those that produced a large number of Nikhil Whitaker1 hatchlings. For example, the tem- perature in Clutch 4 ranged from 27 to 32° C (average = 29.3° C) and in Clutch 6 from 24 to 32.5° C (average he Madras Crocodile Bank turtle tracks every evening was em- = 29.9° C). Some eggs showed no Trust (MCBT) has Batagurmaintained ployed in 2010, ensuring that for the calcification, particularly at or near kachugaan Assurance Colony of the Red- most part (5/6 nests) the eggs were the poles, and they had low hatching crowned Roof Turtle ( collected the night after laying. The success; others showed punctures ), with 2: 4 adults arriving time of oviposition appeared to be into the shell membrane, and these Tin 2001 and successful breeding unrelated to the ambient tempera- were repaired with surgical tape but (i.e., the production of viable eggs) tures (average temperature = 26.5° failed to hatch. beginning in 2004. The details of C), but deviations from the average The growth rates for 29 hatch- previous reproductive success, were high at this time and there was lings produced in 2009 were higher husbandry and management, and a large difference between minimum than expected. The hatchlings gained enclosure design for this species and maximum temperatures. Inter- an impressive amount of weight have been described by Basu et estingly, all six clutches were laid from the time of hatching until al. (2006) and Whitaker (2009). within a circle with a diameter of ca. they reached one year of age (total Here, I present captive breeding 2 m, but the temperatures at the time = 238 g, an increase of 83%). The observations for the 2010 season, of egg collection varied considera- hatchlings were maintained in glass and report on the B.growth kachuga rates of bly, as well as the depth of the nests aquaria measuring 4' × 1' 18" × 1' hatchlings produced in 2009. (from 15 to 23 cm). The overall via- 18", with a square land area and fish Six clutches of eggs bility of the eggs was 56 %, with the bio filters (Body Guard™ AP2200F). were deposited in 2010, and since hatch rate of the viable ones at 62 %. The aquaria were equipped with logs six others were deposited in 2009, The viable eggs that did not hatch for the animals to climb onto, and this information again implies that were subjected to the same medium with half broken clay pots that they females produced multiple clutches. (vermiculite) and approximately the could use for shelter.

Eggth laying in 2010th occurred between same humidity, so the reasons why The juveniles were transferred

25 January to 4 March. The clutch they failed to hatch remain unclear. to a much larger enclosure with ath size ranged from one to 30 eggs, for The low hatching rates in the gravel bed filtration system on 5 a total of 89 eggs. The same meth- clutches are confusing, given the August 2009 (at six months of age), od of sweeping the banks clean of high proportion of viable eggs that and implanted with PIT tags on their Left: A clutch of Red-crowned Roof Turtle eggs deposited the previous evening. Middle: Clutch 4 of Batagur kachuga hatched en masse. Right: At six months of age, the juvenile Batagur kachuga were transferred to a much larger enclosure.

AUGUST 2010 TSA 59 right hind limbs on 15 January 2010 suggesting Acknowledgments. that sexual — maturity is Chelonia Group, and Walter (at 10 months of age). reached at around five years of age. Sedgwick. Work at the MCBT is presently I thank underway to collaborate with the Rick Hudson, Brian Horne, Literature Cited TSA in obtaining an endoscope, Shannon Ferrell, Lonnie McCaskill, Basu, D., H. V. Andrews, S. P. Singh, R. Singh, K. Devi, and S. Mundoli. 2006. First captive breeding so the animals that hatched with Rom Whitaker, Gowri inMallapur, situ Kachuga kachuga. known incubation temperatures Soham Mukherjee, Gangadurai, record of the Indian Painted Roofed Turtle, Herpinstance 3(2): 7– 9. Batagur kachuga can be sexed; this information Pindey, Seth, and our field Whitaker, N. 2009. Update on captive breeding of would provide Temperature Sex scientist, Shailendra Singh, who the Red-crowned Roof Turtle ( ) Determination patterns in this helped the project in a number at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. TSA 2009: 74–75. species. Also of interest is that the of ways. The large gravel filter 1 turtles produced at the MCBT in systems were funded by the TSA, Curator, Centre for Herpetology/Madras Crocodile 2005 now show the cephalic and with support from the Turtle Bank Trust, P. O. Box 4, Tamil Nadu, 603 104, South India. Email: [email protected] neck pigmentation of adult males, Conservation Fund, British Painting Auction

Radiated Tortoise Browsing

This original painting by noted wildlife artist Carel Brest van Kempen, entitled , will be auctioned at the 2010 TSA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. Proceeds will directly benefit conservation efforts for the Radiated Tortoise in Madagascar. RangeM adagasCountryc Uarpdates

Distribution of the Madagascar Spider where the last remaining strongholds Tortoise, Pyxis arachnoides of the Madagascar Spider Tortoise occur. With two out of the three field seasons (January–March 2009; 1,2 3,4 Ryan C. J. Walker and Tsilavo H. Rafeliarisoa January–March 2010) completed, 106 km of transects have been brygooi traversed using a Distance Sampling methodology (Buckland et al., 2004; he dry-spiny ecoregion of inhabits the northern extent Walker, 2009a) across approximately southern coastal Madagascar of the rangeP. betweena. arachnoides Morombe 87% of what is thought to be the supports the highest rates of and the Manombo River (Pedrono, species’ coastal range (Fig, 1). endemism in this island country 2008); (2) P. a. oblonga is found The results ofP. thea. brygooi 2009 field season, Tand is an important environment to the south as far as the Menarandra which documented the extent of for many locally-endemic reptilesPyxis River; and (3) inhabits the range of within the arachnoides(Gardner et al., 2009), including the the extreme southern reaches of the Mikea forests (Fig. 1) were reported Madagascar Spider Tortoise ( range (Pedrono, 2009). The three in the 2009 TSA Magazine (Walker, ). This tortoise, one of subspecies are characterized by 2009b). Three population centers the world’s smallest, is so-called the presence of a plastral lobe that are thought to exist for this northern because the intricate pattern of its shows clinal variation in mobility subspecies, with sparse numbers carapace resembles a spider’s web. (Prichard, 1979), with the mobility found north of the Manombo River, From 1970 to 2000, the habitat of increasing from north to south. a concentrated population north the Madagascar Spider Tortoise Establishing the population density of the Baie de Fanamotra, and a has undergone levels of forest loss and range of any threatened species small population around the forests averaging 1.2%/yr. (Harper et al., is essential if effective and well- east of Morombe at the northern 2007) as a result of subsistence directed conservation efforts are to extremity of the rangeP. a. (Fig. arachnoides 1). The agriculture, especially from charcoal be implemented. Therefore, during resulting data from the 2010 field production (Örjan et al., 2006) and 2008, a three-year survey program work suggests that livestock herding (Harper et al., was initiated by a team of British, is likely to be extirpated between 2007; Walker, 2009). Coupled with North American, and Malagasy field the Onilahy and the Fiherenana suspected illegal poaching activities biologists, aimed at establishing rivers, probably due to habitat for the pet trade (Walker et al., 2004) and the local food market, the pressures exerted on this species ryan c. j. walker threaten its long-term survival. Not surprisingly, the Madagascar Spider Tortoise has become one of the TSAs focal species. To date, range estimates for the Madagascar Spider Tortoise have P.been arachnoides made using dated information and limited field records. Historically, was thought to inhabit a continuous strip of coastal dry forest that covered approximately 560 linear kilometers along the southwestern coast of Madagascar (Fig. 1; Bour, 1981); this range, however, might be contracting P. a. An adult Pyxis a. arachnoides forages in Tsimanampetsotse National Park. (Pedrono, 2008). Three subspecies of this tortoise are recognized: (1) AUGUST 2010 TSA 61 River, within the narrow coastal the healthiest population for each strip west of the Mahafaly Plateau respective region. For example, ryan c. j. walker to the Linta River (Fig. 1). An area of populations of tortoises inhabiting approximately 72 km along the coast, the dunes 5 km to the west of south of Ampalaza and through the Tsimanampetsotsa National Park Marolinta and Menarandra regions, occur at levels of approximately 2–3 appears to be devoid of tortoises; times theP. densities a. brygooi of populations thisP. situationa. brygooi is similar to the large within the park. Also, the historic expanses of habitat within the range range of lies outside of of where the tortoises any formally recognized protected are apparently absent.P. a. oblonga A small, area. Two new protected areas, isolated population of the Southern Ranobe PK32 and Northern Mikea, ryan c. j. walker Spider Tortoise ( ) was however, have been proposed for discovered approximately 40 km the region. Unfortunately, because of north of Cap Sainte Marie, and the fragmented nature of the range moderate numbers were found in between the subspecies, none of the the Cap Sainte Marie Special Reserve remaining populations fall within the P.(Fig. arac 1).hnoides boundaries of those newly proposed Among the subspecies of protected areas. , the plastron The above data will be morphology of the populations incorporated into the TSAs GIS within the transitional zones database. This database provides is interesting. The population a “real time” map of the current occurring between the Fiherenana distribution of the remaining

ryan c. j. walker and Manombo Rivers supports a Madagascar Spider Tortoise mixture of individuals displayingP. a. brygooi a populations. Our recent work P.plastron a. arachnoides hinge consistent with the represents the onlyP. comprehensivearachnoides morphological traits of , survey of the distribution and , and also examples population size of . One of individuals showing a combination more field season of data collection of the two (Fig. 1). This mixture of remains, which will provide a better characters suggests intergradation understanding of the current range between the two subspecies. A and distribution of this Critically zone of intergradation was also EndangeredAcknowledgments species. recorded during 2010 around the Linta River area, stretching south . — Financial, Top: A survey vehicle in the Anakoa for approximately 26 km along the logistical, or other support for this region. Middle: An adult female Pyxis a. arachnoides. Note the worn carapace scutes, coast, where tortoises displaying work was generously provided by possibly caused by the hooves of livestock. morphologicalP. a. arachnoides characteristics P. a. the following organizations: The Bottom: A Pyxis a. arachnoides rests under consistent with intergradation EZA/Shell Shock Turtle Conservation a tree to escape the midday sun in the Cap oblonga Sainte Marie region of southwestern, coastal between P. arachnoides and Fund, The Turtle Survival Alliance, Magagascar. were found (Fig. 1). Overall, The Royal Geographical Society, the current range of The British Chelonia Group, The has been reduced as much as 68% Mohammed Bin Zayed Species of thePyxis historic a. arachnoides range reportedP. a.in the Conservation Fund, The Leicester oblongaliterature. Tortoise Society, Conservation removal to the north and east of and International Madagascar, The Toliara and the ease of collection occur in moderate numbers Open University, Henry Doorly for poachers fromP. a. arachnoidesToliara to the in each of the regions’ protected Zoo Madagascar Biodiversity and south. A reasonably unfragmented areas, Tsimanampetsotsa National Biogeography Project, Madagascar population of , Park and Cap Sainte Marie Special National Parks and Blue Ventures however, still inhabits the coastal Reserve respectively. The protected Conservation. The following 62dry TSA forests AUGUST south 2010 of the Onilahy areas, however, fail to encompass individuals provided logistical Fig. 1. Left: Forest cover in southwestern Madagascar deduced from shapefiles derived from LandSatTM data, with locations of the106 km of tortoise survey transects undertaken in phases 1 and 2 of the project (January–March, 2009 and January–March, 2010). Right: Suspected historical area of occurrence of Pyxis arachnoides as described by Bour (1981) and later by Pedrono (2008), with current range of the three subspecies overlaid.

Pritchard, P. C. H. 1979. Encyclopedia of Turtles. support or assisted with fieldwork: T. F. H. Publications, Inc., Neptune, New Jersey. Walker, R. C. J. 2009a. Comprehensive survey of Inge Smith, Solomonbana Vitantsoa, ryan c. j. walker Spider Tortoise distribution in Madagascar gets Charlie Gardner, Alice Ramsay, underway in the north. TSA News. 2009: 8–11. Pyxis Harrison Randrianasolo, Hery Walker, R. C. J. 2009b. Preliminary results of a arachnoides brygooi Rasolohery, Al Harris, Brian Horne, population range and density survey for in Madagascar. TurtleLog Richard Razatimanatsoa, and Juln No. 2. DOI:10.3854/tln.002.2009 (http://www. Bruchard. iucn-tftsg.org/turtlelog_online_newsletter/ tln002/. Viewed 22 June 2009). Walker, R. C. J., C. Rix, and A. Woods-Ballard. 2004. Literature Cited Pyrix arachnoides The legal and illegal trade in the Madagascar The survey team in February of 2010, two Bour, R. 1981. Etude systematique du genre Spider Tortoise , for the exotic months into the range wide population survey endemique Malagache Pyxis Bell, (1827) pet trade. Herpetol. Bull. 90: 2–9. of Pyxys a. arachnoides in the Anakoa region. (Reptilia Chelonii). Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn. Lyon Walker R. C. J., A. J. Woods-Ballard, and C. E. Rix. 50: 154–174. 2007. Population density and seasonal activity Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides Tsilavo Rafeliarisoa, Richard Razatimanatsoa, Buckland, S. T., D. R. Anderson, J. L. Laake, K. P. of the threatened Madagascar Spider Tortoise and Ryan Walker (left to right) collect Burnham, D. L. Borchers, and L. Thomas. 2004. ( ) of the southern morphometric data to better understand Advanced Distance Sampling. Oxford University dry forests; South West Madagascar. African J. population variation in the subspecies of Press, New York. Ecol. 46: 67–73. P. arachnoides. Gardner, C. J., D. Kidney, and H. Thomas. 2009. First comprehensive avifaunal survey of PK32- Ranobe, a new protected area in south-western Madagascar. Phelsuma 17: 20–39. 1 Harper, G., M. Steininger, C. Tucker, D. Juhn, and F. Nautilus Ecology, 1 Pond Lane, Greetham, Rutland, Hawkins. 2007. Fifty years of and brian horne LE152 7NW, United Kingdom. forest fragmentation in Madagascar. Environ. Department of Life Sciences, Open University, Milton Conserv. 34: 325–333. Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom.

Örjan, B., M. Tengö, A. Norman, J. Lundberg, and E-mail:3 [email protected] T. Elmqvist. 2006. The value of small size: loss Departement de Biologie Animale, Universite´

of forest patches and ecological thresholds in d’Antananarivo,4 BP 906, Antananarivo, Madagascar. southern Madagascar. Ecol. Appl. 16: 440–451 Madagascar Biodiversity and Biogeography Pedrono, M. 2008. The Tortoises and Turtles of Project, Henry Doorly Zoo, Grewcock’s Center for Madagascar. Natural History Publications Conservation and Research, 3701 South 10th Street, (), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Omaha, Nebraska 68107. AUGUST 2010 TSA 63 RangeMA Countrydagasc Uarpdates

Innovative Solutions to Conservation several factors have contributed Challenges for the Radiated Tortoise to the vast decline of this species, including the loss and alteration of (Astrochelys radiata) Project at Lavavolo natural habitat and the lack of en- Classified Forest, Madagascar forcement against illegal harvesting that has intensified due to current political instability in Madagascar. Tsilavo H. Rafeliarisoa1, Gary D. Shore2, Based in Lavavolo, Madagascar, Susie M. McGuire3, and Edward E. Louis, Jr.4 the RTP is a multifaceted program that addresses both environmental and anthropogenic threats to the Astrochelys radiata Radiated Tortoise (see August 2009 he Radiated Tortoise Project conservation of the Radiated Tor- Rafeliarisoa, Pp. 76–77). (RTP), part of Omaha’s Henry toise ( ), a flagship The results of a recent survey Doorly Zoo (HDZ) and the Madagas- species emblematic of the dry spiny reveal several conservation chal- car Biodiversity Partnership (MBP), forests of southern Madagascar. lenges in Lavavolo. Radiated Tortoise was initiated in 2000 to facilitate the Categorized as Critically Endangered, declines are associated with the loss T of habitat from slash and burn activ- ity, fuel wood andOpuntia charcoal produc- tion, and the subsequent overgrowth ryan c. j. walker by an invasive cactus. Four years of extreme drought have lead to a severe lack of water in the region affects both the tortoise and human populations. Additionally, the lack of a strong educational foundation in the region magnifies these issues. Many children stop attending school because they do not want to continue to endure the daily 20+ kilometer walk in such extreme heat. Further- more, due to limited educational tools, students are not engaged or motivated to continue their scooling past the first few years. Therefore, in addition to the RTPsTop left: research Tsilavo Rafeliarisoa programs documenting of habitat a Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) in Madagascar. brian d. horne Far left: Tsilavo Rafeliarisoa, Richard Razatimanatsoa, and Ryan Walker collecting tsilavo rafeliarisoa tsilavo morphometric data on tortoises during a range-wide survey.

Left: Jean Claude Rakotoniaina, a Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership field assistant, notches an identification pattern on the marginals of a Radiated Tortoise.

64 TSA AUGUST 2010 anne trumble anne trumble anne trumble anne trumble

Top: Susie McGuire demonstrates the use of puppets at a primary Ventral and dorsal views of the new Radiated Tortoise Project mascot. school in Madagascar. Bottom: Malagasy primary school students learn about tortoise conservation.

evaluation and restoration, tortoise diets in pristine prototype initiatives include evaluating the effectiveness versus impacted habitats and population genetic of desalination technologies, potential for cash and food monitoring, community based pilot programs have been crops, and biofuel methodology using local resources. initiated to empower the local people. Conservation First, a prototype solar desalination unit has been education plays a vital role in changing attitudes toward constructed at the HDZ and is being evaluated for its the intrinsic nature of wildlife. The first task completed efficiency to produce potable water from saltwater. and already transferred to Madagascar involves use of Substantial rainfall has not occurred in Lavavolo for the Radiated Tortoise as a conservation tool. The MBP the past four years, and the water currently utilized purchased puppets, which were painted for drinking or watering the local cattle herds by the to resemble Radiated Tortoise shell patterns. These community is “brackish.” Moreover, the community well puppets are ambassadors and mascots to the project, and is located over 500 meters from the village, requiring will aid in the introduction of all RTP programs. Through the local residents to invest a significant amount of their the use of presentation equipment provided through a time to water collection. Therefore, a program to involve 2010 TSA grant, environmental education workshops Hippo Rollers to transport water and create community are held in schools that incorporate new environmental crops will be implemented, solving the problem of lessons into their curriculum. In addition to conservation the water accessibility, which should alsoOpuntia improve education as a means to address community based rinconsistentaketa agricultural productivity. challenges, the HDZ and MBP have also developed With the introduction in the 1800s of cactus, several pilot programs that provide solutions to the in Malagasy, the landscape of the original spiny conservation challenges of the Lavavolo region. These forest has been dramatically altered. OneAUGUST of four 2010 species TSA 65 raketa raketa mena of in Lavavolo, , Both approaches will be tested in is a highly that rocket stoves here in Omaha, with lisa kimmel impedes the growth of agricultural the biofuel briquettes evaluated for gardens. Furthermore, duringraketa the dry their use and efficiency depending season the people of Lavavolo only on the percentage of cactus, sawdust, use the fruit portion of the as and cattle dung. Other alternatives to a source of food and water, for them- sawdust such as ground leaves will selves and their cattle. The MBP is also be tested. When combined with evaluating the utility of this invasive other activities, such as research, species as a key component in bio- access to alternative food resources fuel briquettes. To aid in the drying increases the standard of living, of the biofuel material, a working which ultimately reinforces behav- lisa kimmel prototype solar desiccator has been ioral changes needed to effectively developed using supplies readily protect endangered species. available Opuntiain Madagascar. Two ap- This project was funded, in part, proaches for making the briquettes through grants from the Turtle Sur- from the cactus pads are vival Alliance. being tested as part of a preliminary 1 pilot study in Omaha prior to trans- Doctoral candidate, University of Antananarivo, ferring the results and informationOpuntia Faculty of Sciences, Animal Biology Department, to Lavavolo, Madagascar. The first and Field Supervisor of Omaha’s Henry method involves drying the Doorly Zoo Radiated Tortoise Project, ONG Madagascar Biodiversity PartnershipVO 12 BIS A before the cactus is processed with Manakambahiny, Antananarivo, Madagascar. Email: other biofuel material (sawdust and [email protected] or [email protected] Laboratory Technical Advisor, Omaha’s Henry

cattle dung). The second method lisa kimmel Opuntia Doorly Zoo, Center for Conservation and Research, involves the direct grinding of fresh th 37013 South 10 Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68107. cactus prior to briquette CEO/Program Manager, 5820 Spring Street, Omaha, production. To facilitate this proc- Nebraska4 68106. Director of Conservation Genetics, Omaha’s Henry ess, a prototype grinder built from Opuntia Doorly Zoo, Centerth for Conservation and Research, lawnmower blades that chopped 3701 South 10 Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68107, and the pads will be further General Director of the ONG Madagascar Biodiversity “field” tested by a local high school Partnership VO 12 BIS A Manakambahiny, Opuntia Antananarivo, Madagascar. mentoring program. Using non-dried pads straight from the plant, as in method two, would allow the solar desiccator unit to be used

Right:solely A forprototype drying water the desalinationbriquettes. unit.

Far right, top to bottom: A solar desiccator unit; racks of Opuntia pads drying in a lisa kimmel solar desiccator; a grinder prototype; and, briquettes of sawdust, cattle dung, and freshly ground Opuntia are set out to dry. lisa kimmel

66 TSA AUGUST 2010 RangeM adagasCountryc Uarpdates

Slaughtered: Scenes from a Radiated What we encountered at Tortoise Poaching Camp Ankirikirika was not what we expected. We uncovered few Christina M. Castellano1, J. Sean Doody2, tortoises despite long days spent Riana Rakotondrainy3, William Ronto3, searching. The trees in the forest Tantely Mahamasina3, Julio Duchene4, and Zigzag Randria5 had been illegally harvested, and we discovered fire pits at old Our 4-wheel drive rocks side to side in the sun as we lumber over the rugged, harvesters’ camps that contained white ground beneath us. We are lost in delighted memory of the previous burned tortoise shells. Most shells evening’s celebration — a feast of roasted goat, hearty rum, and traditional had been hacked open from the top song with the gracious and vibrant community at Ankirikirika. They opened of the carapaces and the plastrons their home to us while we searched for tortoises, and now the smiling Prince were ripped-off with visible hatchet is guiding us away from their sacred forest to our next destination. The road marks on their bridges. The villagers quickly narrows; we are just meters from the muddied waters of the Menaran- told us that strangers enter the forest dra when a camp comes into view through the barbed and prickly trees of the to harvest the timber and live off forest. As we inch closer the staggering details become crystal-clear. Bloodied tortoise meat during their stay. Dried tortoise shells, tangles of entrails, disjointed limbs. Grinding halt, doors tear tortoise limbsfady are a delicacy among open, hearts racing, shouts heard; now we are in hot pursuit of fleeing poachers, outside tribes that do not respect breathless they vanish into thin air. the taboo, or that prevents the local people from harming them. A. radiata Indeed, the local tribes consider the tortoises dirty and prefer not even he sacred forest of Ankirikirika (2002) estimated that to touch them. From our surveys,

is located less than 300 km west occurred at a density of more2 than we estimated the mean density of of the port-city Ft. Dauphin in 1,000 individuals per km . NearlyA. a Radiated Tortoises at Ankirikirika2 to southern Madagascar. Known for its radiatadecade later, we visited Ankirikirika be 465 individuals per km , which is Tsplendid and pristine gallery forest, to obtain a current estimate of a significant decrease from earlier it is alsoAstrochelys legendary radiatafor supporting density, assess the popula- estimates. a huge population of Radiated Tor- tion’s trend, and compare it to other The local community, including toises ( ). Leuteritz locations across this species range. the King and his extended family are the traditional stewards of the forest at Ankirikirika. We interviewed the brother of the King, a 70-year old goat herder, and his son aged christina castellano 35 to determine the causes of the local habitat destruction and the mass disappearance of tortoises. They agreed that in the past outside people were unafraid to collect tortoises from the forest, but now they run from the police. Those that still collect them have been Radiatedsuffering Tortoise through limbs a areprolonged considered to be a delicacy by outside tribes. Here, they dry in the sun in preparation for transport to markets.

AUGUST 2010 TSA 67 drought and have had little success cooked tortoise limbs. They were the meat, weapons, and cooking with their crops. The two men being dried in the sun for transport utensils into the Menarandra River. were sympathetic, because the to market for sale. We estimated that Our drive out of the site was at a tortoise hunters are apparently each blanket had over 150 limbs, snail’s pace due to the rocky road, in need of food for their families or the meat of about 40 tortoises. and we were filled with fear and and have very little else to sustain Together, the meat on all of the anxiety at the thought of enraged them. Having both been born in the blankets represented more than 250 poachers returning to their camp forest, the men have witnessed the individuals. and discovering the losses to decline in tortoises over the years. When we arrived the poachers their livelihood. Once clear of any Consequently, they have imposed were in the process of slaughtering danger our moods turned somber a law to punish collectors, which tortoises, cleaning shells, and as we traveled to Itampolo. There stipulates that if someone is seen removing entrails. There were we submitted a police report and slaughtering a tortoise they must dozens of small, charcoal pits that provided several hatchets and purchase a six-year-old zebu for were being used for cooking. Cast bottles of liver oil to the police as about 200,000 Ariary ($90 US), iron pots filled with diced vegetables evidence of this crime. The long spread its blood at the site where it sat in the sand along with pieces drive and silence among our group was killed, and present the meat to of burned shell. Primitive metal forced reflection and the images of the villagers. Moreover, the event hatchets used for the slaughter dismembered turtles are now forever is documented and the poachers’ were also lying beside tall, plastic burnedAckno inwledgments.— our minds. names are sent to the police. bottles filled with liver oil. One living Despite the disappointment of tortoise was hanging in a tree — a We thank locating few tortoises, we completed rope sewn through a hole in its shell Mr. Andy Sabin, the Wildlife our stay at Ankirikirika with a — we swiftly cut it loose. Three sacks Conservation Society, and celebration to thank the community filled with dried tortoise meat were Conservation International for for graciously hosting us. We left the also discovered, each sack containing supporting this program. 1 next morning for our next survey the meat of about 100 tortoises. Threatened Species Unit, Healesville Sanctuary-Zoos location, which was just east of the The sacks were tied to timber poles, Victoria, Healesville, Victoria 3777, Australia. fishing village of Itampolo. About or carry sticks, used for transport. Email:2 [email protected] 11 km south of Ankirikirika, we Twenty-eight carry sticks were left School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton,3 Victoria 3800, Australia. inadvertently entered a functioning in the camp, suggesting that about Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of tortoise poaching camp. The thirty poachers had been present. Sciences, University of Antananarivo, P. O. Box 906, poachers were just as startled as At the urging of our Antananarivo4 101, Madagascar. 5University of Tulear, 601 Tulear, Madagascar. we were and fled anxiously into the accompanying Malagasy Forestier Betioky-sud, C. P. 612, Madagascar. surrounding forest. On the road were environmental officer we destroyed old,We located tattered tens blankets of fire pits covered with burned with tortoise shellsthe camp throughout before the leaving Primitive by tossinghatchets are used to slaughter tortoises and oil is collected in poaching camps. old, plastic bottles and later used for cooking christina castellano christina castellano

68 TSA AUGUST 2010 Range CVountryietnam Updates

First “Turtle Cup” Soccer Match Held for Rafetus swinhoei Dong Mo Lake in Vietnam The first Turtle Football Cup for was supported McCormack1 by the Columbus Zoo, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), as well as the Cleveland Metroparks ForZoo additional(CMZ). information please th th contact: n March 28 of 2010, the Asian and history due to a 15 century Turtle Program (ATP) of the legend about a mystical turtle living Asian Turtle Program Cleveland Metroparks Zoo organized in a lake at . the first Turtle Football (Soccer) Cup Presentations were made in the village of Nghia Son, in the Son between the matches to highlight P. O. Box 179 OTay district of Hanoi. The matches the need for community support Hanoi, Vietnam involved teams from four villages, in protecting the Dong Mo Turtle, Tel: +84 (0) 437737858 and were organized to promote and the lake it lives in, for future Email: [email protected] awareness and conservationRafetus swinhoei of the generations. the Asian Turtle Critically Endangered Swinhoe’s Following some closely played Conservationor visit Network Softshell Turtle ( ), a matches, one of which went to species known to occur in Dong Mo penalty kicks, the Youth Union team www.asianturtlenetwork.org Lake but recognized as one of the of the village of Ngia Son II emerged website: world’s most Endangered Species. as the champions of the day. Because 1 Presently, only four animals are of theRafetus success of the first Turtle Program Coordinator, Asian Turtle Program (ATP) known to exist globally. Football Cup, Mr. Pham Van Thong, of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, P. O. Box 179, Hanoi Swinhoe’s Soft-shell, also known the project coordinator, Central Post Office, Hanoi, Vietnam. as the in Vietnam, intends to expand the games in 2011 Email: [email protected] is important to Vietnamese culture to include additional communities. Below: T-shirts: “Turtle Cup” T-shirts carried the awareness message, “Let’s protect the legend of Vietnam. Protect the Hoan Kiem Turtle.”

Right: The winning team: the youth team of Ngia Son II received sports equipment for McCormack Timothy their village. Timothy McCormack Timothy

AUGUST 2010 TSA 69 Range CVountryietnam Updates

Training Detection for Research and worst enemy of many turtle species, Conservation of Tortoises and Freshwater especially terrestrial ones that are most vulnerable to detection by Turtles in Southeast Asia hunting dogs. In Southeast Asia, dogs have long been used for hunting. For Timothy McCormack1 example, in Vietnam, dogs will often follow their owners into the forest, Canis lupus individually or in packs. With a familiaris natural hunting instinct, they follow istorically, dogs ( greater sensitivity in detecting and a lead dog and chase wild pigs, deer, ) have been used to distinguishing a wide variety of squirrels, civets, or almost anything hunt many taxa, from elephants odors than our own (MacKay et al., they see. They either catch, corner, or and lions to birds and, yes — 2008). This fact means that in the chase their prey until it is exhausted, turtles. The well evolved olfactory hands of a proficient hunter, man’s which allows the hunters to pick Hsystem in dogs allows for much best friend could be considered the off the animals with a stick, knife, gun, or crossbow. If they encounter turtles, their barking, scratching, and biting quickly alerts the hunters to an easy catch. Timothy McCormack Timothy During interviews with Vietnamese hunters, they often reminisce about the hunting heyday. In the 1980’s, when turtles and other wildlife were abundant in the forests and the Asian Turtle Crisis was just emerging, they would take their dogs into the forest with three or four friends. The turtles were so common and the dogs would find so many that additional friends were brought along to carry out rice sacs full of turtles that they collected in a matter of days. Today, some terrestrial species (the ones most vulnerable to dogs) have all but disappeared, especially those with a high commercialCuora trifaciata value such as the Chinese Three-stripedC. galbinifronsBox Turtle ( ) and the Indochinese. Box Turtle ( ) (Spinks and Shaffer, 2007) Because of this decline, the number of dedicated turtle hunters has dwindled and, instead, hunters take dogs into the forest to catch anything they can. If they find a single A local turtlehunting per dog day,in northern they are Vietnam, doing with an .

70 TSA AUGUST 2010 well; some weeks they find none. a sizable population in good habitat. to detect a wide variety of items, Such reduced turtle populations Despite selecting the best seasons from finding drugs and explosives pose a serious challenge for of the year for encountering active to invasive ant species, and even researchers, as surveys are turtles, the capture rate was only whale scat or mobile phones in sometimes exhausting and 0.029 turtles per man hour (H. Van private schools (Smith et al., 2003; demoralizing. Increasingly, graduates Ha and T. McCormack, unpublished). Rolland et al., 2007; Parker and Hurt, from the university, who have Because such efforts are required, its 2010). With a detection accuracy studied forestry or a biological not surprising that some researchers greater than experienced by humans, science, are interested in the have opted to use hunters and local dogs have been used in wildlife conservation and research of the dogs to form a more efficient team, conservation for over 100 years 25 species of native chelonians. and to lower the costs. But the risks (Smith et al., 2003; Parker and Hurt, More turtle-focused fieldwork is associated with this method are 2010). The Asian Turtle Program being conducted in Vietnam each often overlooked, as local dogs are (ATP) at the Cleveland Metroparks year, which is helping to increase difficult to control, especially if they Zoo, in cooperation with the Centre our knowledge of these animals run in packs, and then there’s the for Resources and Environmental and is promoting conservation. For risk they might kill otherManis wildlife. Studies (CRES), organized training aquatic species, non-lethal trapping Hunters finding valuable species with the Barking Mad Dog Training is possible and requires little of turtles, pangolins ( sp.), School (BMDTS) to professionally effort other than setting, baiting, or other species could potentially train the dogs to allow for a safer, and checking traps. For terrestrial chose those animals over payment more efficiently controlled, and turtles, pit-fall traps and drift fences for work. Also, if good populations the use of a scientific Gopherusapproach in can work, but they require time are identified, the hunters will come agassiziiconducting turtle surveys. Surveys for construction and a placement back when the research team or on Desert Tortoises ( in good locations to be successful. Forest Protection Department (FPD) ) have shown much greater Time search, walking line transects, is not present. efficiency when performed by or covering grid squares has proved Because of the need for greater teams using dogs, especially in thick successful, but these require efficiency in surveying CriticallyCuora undergrowth (Nussear et al., 2008). extensive man hours.Cuora One mouhotii example bourretiEndangeredC. galbinifrons species such as theC. Rather than importing popular is the survey work performed on the picturataIndochinese Box Turtles ( breeds, such as Labradors, or ( ) , , and pre-trained dogs, however, we at Cuc Phuong National Park, in ; see Stuart and Parham, selected six local dogs, all without Ninh Binh Province. During a two 2004), for which their distribution prior training. Two were a special year study, in 2008 and 2009, time and occurrence in many protected breed known as Phu Quoc dogs, search was conducted in an area areas remains unclear, we decided to from a small island in southern where radio-tracking studies on this utilize the incredible olfactory sense Vietnam, renowned for their hunting crypticLeft: A Cuora species mouhoti had at already Cuc Phuong identified National Park,of Vietnam.dogs. Their Right: sense Searching can for be turtles trained without dogscapabilities requires large and teams, agility. long Some hours, cameand hard work. Pictured here is the team assembled to search for Cuora mouhoti. Timothy McCormack Timothy Timothy McCormack Timothy

AUGUST 2010 TSA 71 from local villages where they were Hanoi, it was their first experience in illegal wildlife, since shipments often destined for the dinner table, since forest. contain turtles. dog meat is considered a speciality Training started with basic The training was conducted dish in Vietnam and eaten at the handling, care, and grooming, with the support of the Critical end of the lunar month. Local dogs and rapidly progressed to basic Ecosystems Partnership Fund were selected, as these were already obedience and encouragement in (CEPF), The Mohamed bin Zayed acclimatised and adapted to life in their search for turtle scents, which Species Conservation Fund, and a tropical environment, as well as a was accomplished by using cloth the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. local diet that some imported dogs bags scented with the desired turtle The Ocean Park Conservation have struggled with. Using local dogs species, with meat treats inside the Foundation, Hong Kong, supported also reduced the significant cost of bags. Gradually, over the weeks, the the radio-tracking and time search. purchasing and transporting animals treats were removed and eventually We would also like to thank the and, from a welfare standpoint, this we used live turtles in small cages, personnel at Cuc Phuong National decision rescued these animals and and harnessed the dogs so they Park and the Turtle Conservation presented an opportunity to show could work on long lines. As the dog Center (TCC) for hosting the training that all dogs have an ability to be training progressed the harnesses program. trained. were removed, which allowed them In May of 2010, we held a two greater movement through the thick Literature Cited In week intensive training course for undergrowth. MacKay, P., D. A. Smith, R. A. Long, and M. Parker. the dogs and their six handlers. The Indications of success varied with 2008. Scat detection dogs. Pp. 183–222 R. A. course was conducted by Richard each dog, as some would bark and Long, P. MacKay, W. J. Zielinki, and J. C. Ray (Eds.), Noninvasive Survey Methods for . Clarke, the director of training bite at the turtles but others were Island Press, Washington, D. C. for BMDTS, and four qualified more passive, sniffing or showing Nussear, K. E., T. C. Esque, J. S. Heaton, J. B. Cablk, K. K. Drake, C. Valentin, J. L. Yee, and P. A. Medica. volunteer trainers from the United excitement when they detected Gopherus agassizii 2008. Are wildlife detector dogs or people better Kingdom with decades of combined them. Although the dogs displayed at finding Desert Tortoises ( )? Herpetol. Conserv. Biol. 3: 103–115. experience in training drug, different strengths and weaknesses, In explosive, and security dogs, as well after only two weeks each was able Parker, M., and A. Hurt. 2010 Canine detection teams and conservation. State of the as tiger scat detection dogs. Training to locate and indicate the presence Wild 2010–2011: A Global Portrait. Wildlife was held in Cuc Phuong National of four2 concealed animals within a Conservation Society and Island Press, Park, where animals from the Turtle 25m grid square. Washington, D. C. Conservation Center (TCC) were Following the course, additional Rolland, R. M., P. K. Hamilton, S. D. Kraus, B. Davenport, R. M. Gillet, and S. K. Wasser. used to introduce turtles scents to training will focus on the dogs’ 2007. Faecal sampling using detection dogs to Euhalaena glacialis the dogs. For some of the dogs that fitness and scent-building capacity, study reproduction and health in North Atlantic were raised in the urban sprawl of to prepare the them for summer Right Wales ( ). J. Cetacean Local dogs trained to hunt for turtles. Res. Manag. 8: 121–126. surveys in northern and central Smith, D. A., K. Ralls, A. Hurt, B. Adams, M. Parker, Vietnam. Field testing the team to B. Davenport, M. C. Smith, and J. E. Maldonado. 2003. Detection and accuracy rates of dogs gain practical experience for both Vulpes macrotis mutica trained to find scats of San Joaquin Kit the handlers and hounds will be ( ). Anim. Conserv. 6: important for their development 339–346.

Timothy McCormack Timothy Spinks, P., and H. Shaffer. 2007. Conservation through 2010. By 2011, therefore, Cuora a more experienced team will be phylogenetics of the Asian box turtles (, ): mitochondrial conducting fieldwork in Vietnam, introgression, numts, and inferences from which will greatly reduce the risk multiple nuclear loci. Conserv. Genet. 8: to wild turtles and the duties will 641–657. Stuart, B., and J. Parham. 2004. Molecular Cuora galbinifrons be performed with more scientific phylogeny of the Critically Endangered methodology. We also would like to Indochinese box turtles ( ). diversify our agenda by using the Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 31: 164–177. dogs in enforcement activities. The 1 dogs can be used by the FPD and Program Coordinator, Asian Turtle Program (ATP) the environmental police to check of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, P. O. Box 179, Hanoi buses and trains along major trade Central Post Office, Hanoi, Vietnam. Email: [email protected] routes in Vietnam and China for 72 TSA AUGUST 2010 Range CountryChina Updates

A Third Attempt at Breeding for a glass barrier to better separate Rafetus swinhoei in China the public from the breeding pond. The barrier was built in late August of 2009. To follow suit, the Chinese Gerald Kuchling1, Lu Shunquing2, and Emily H. King3 government Rafetus is presently funding a similar glass barrier for theRafetus second, larger pond. The male and female were maintained together during August and early September of gerald kuchling 2009, but due to bites from the male during attempts the female received skin abrasions and scarring on her neck and front feet. Because of an unsuccessful attempt by veterinarians to catch and restrain the female for examination and treatment in mid-September of 2009, the female became shy and wary of people, a situation that continued into the spring of 2010. The female still will not accept food from hand feedings as readily as before, which has made the monitoring of her A female Rafetus basks at the Suzhou Zoo. supplement intake more difficult. The improved diet is now mainly based on whole shrimp, freshwater crayfish, fishes, freshwater snails, fterRafetus moving swinhoei the last Chinese Although nutrition in these turtles , quail, pigeons, and occasionally female Yangtze Giant Softshell has been discussed extensively chicken heads and wings that contain Turtle ( ) from the with the Chinese stakeholders since vitamin and calcium supplements. Changsha Zoo to be with the last 2007, drastic improvements to An additional food item is Mazuri Chinese male at the Suzhou Zoo, the the previously mainly meat-based Croc Chow, donated by Disney’s Afemale laid over 100 eggs in 2008 diet (chicken and pork) were only Animal Kingdom. (two clutches) and over 200 in 2009 implemented since July of 2009, On 6 June 2008, the female laid (four clutches; see TSA Newsletter when it became apparent, like in her first clutch of eggs. After an 2008, 2009). Unfortunately, none of 2008, that the eggs deposited in unusually hot spring in Suzhou in the eggs hatched. Egg candling in July 2009 againRafetus would not hatch. In 2009, shest nested for the first time of 2009 indicated that about 25% the summer of 2009, however, the on the 31 of May. In 2010, however, of the eggs showed early embryonic female began filling up on the spring and early summer were development, with the terminal sinus “junk food” (e.g., bread, crackers, and unusually cool and rainy, and the of the vitelline circulation visible chips) thrown into her pond by zoo female did not st nest for the first time after one week of incubation; none visitors, a situation that seriously until the 16 of June. Due to the late of the eggs, however, showed further jeopardized the attempts to improve nesting date, it was not possible for development. As suggested in the her diet. To address this problem, us to reportRafetus on swinhoeithe development of TSA Newsletter of 2009, nutritional immediately after last year’s TSA the eggs. deficiencies in the long-term captive meeting in St Louis TSA Board The breeding female (over 70 years in captivity) members Chuck Landrey, Pat Koval, program still has hurdles to were the most likely cause for this Walter Sedgwick, and Anders Rhodin overcome, and those problems might setback. generously made funds available increase if hatchlings AUGUST are 2010 produced. TSA 73 emily king emily king gerald kuchling gerald kuchling

Top left: Several mediums for incubating Rafetus eggs are being tried this year, including vermiculite, pearlite, and sand. The eggs are divided among three incubators with varying temperature regimes. Bottom left: A mating attempt by the pair of Rafetus occurred on May 3rd of this year, shortly after they were introduced.

Top right: Veterinarian Dr. Gu (left) and Rafetus keeper Di Min (right) excavate the first nest of the 2010 season. A total of 63 eggs were recovered on June 17th. Bottom right: Sponsored by the TSA, the glass barrier pictured here was installed to prevent zoo visitors from throwing trash or junk food into the pool. The video surveillance camera used to monitor nesting activity, mounted on the house wall, was donated by David Shapiro. The female Rafetus is seen basking on the shoreline.

The water quality is a concern, since ponds to improve the water quality Conservation Fund/Shellshock in the spring of 2010 the eyesRafetus of the and its clarity, and to use this filtered campaign, the Cleveland Zoo/Wade male became infected and the female pond water for the future rearing of Foundation, and Pat Koval/WWF developed skin lesions. The hatchlings. Canada. 1 ponds are connected to a lake and We thank the Suzhou Zoo, the Chelonia Enterprises, 154 Bagot Road, Subiaco, channel system in Suzhou in which Changsha Zoo, and the China Zoo Western Australia 6008, Australia. the water quality is dubious. Due to Society for facilitating the breeding Email:2 [email protected] the chemicals used to treat the water, program and for their collaboration. WCS-China Program, c/o East China Normal University,3 Shanghai 20062, China. the water in Suzhou might not be The 2010 breeding attempt College of Life Sciences, Room 516, Sichuan suitable for raising baby softshell was again funded by the Turtle University, 24 South Section 1, Yihuan Road, turtles. Currently, we are planning Survival Alliance, with generous Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China. 74to install TSA AUGUST reed bed 2010 filters in both financial support from the Turtle Range CMountryalaysia Updates

Southern River Terrapin Research and resort islands of Terengganu to the Conservation in Terengganu museum, where they can learn about the conservation of local turtles. Eng-Heng Chan1 and Pelf-Nyok Chen1 A small grant is being requested from the TSA to further develop the exhibits and produce outdoor posters for display in the compounds he second half of 2009 through submitted to the State Department of the house. May of 2010 has been an of Wildlife and National Parks for Since the inception of the TCCs eventful time for Chan and Pelf of the evaluation. project at Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) In the interim, the TCC rented the Setiu River in 2004, 1,814 eggs Tin Terengganu, Malaysia. Initially a house in the village of MangkukBatagur have been incubated and 1,181 named the Turtle Institute with affinisto use as a base for the ongoing hatchlings produced. A total of 920 tentative operations under the Sultan Southern River Terrapin ( Southern River Terrapins have been Mizan Foundation, the TCC will likely ) research and recovery project headstarted and released into the be established as an independent at the Setiu River. A mini turtle Setiu River, ranging from newly- body that seeks patronage from the museum is being assembled in the emerged hatchlings to three-year old Sultan of Terengganu, the current house, featuring shells and skeletons individuals. The growth and survival King of Malaysia. The location of the of various species of freshwater and of these terrapins is being monitored center will also change, in view of marine turtles, stuffed hatchlings through a fortnightly sampling pending developments in the Setiu emerging from sand-nests, preserved program that includes help from area. specimens, and posters depicting local fishermen. Recapture rates of In September of 2009, a TSA the current projects at the TCC about 18.7% have been attained, and team comprising of Rick Hudson, and showing the various species of the information gathered on capture Bill Zeigler, and Lonnie McCaskill freshwater, marine, and terrestrial locations is providing a better arrived in Malaysia to brainstorm on turtle species found in Malaysia. Life understanding on the distribution the physical facility requirements exhibits of Southern River Terrapin of terrapinsBatagur after their borneoensis release. The for the TCC. Designs were also made hatchlings will also be displayed, simultaneous capture of Painted for breeding and headstarting ponds with a program for adopting one- Terrapins ( ) for the government-run Terrapin year old terrapins for the purpose of that share the same habitat with Conservation Centre at Bukit Paloh, release. The objective of the TCC is the Southern River Terrapins will inLeft: Terengganu, Pelf and Chan andputting these up the were TCC logo outsideto of draw their basetourists in Mangkuk returning Village, from Setiu. the Right: Theenable centerpiece a determination of the mini turtle of themuseum. e. h. chan k. f. chang k. f.

AUGUST 2010 TSA 75 edi e. h. chan

Top left: Measuring, weighing, and preparing our first clutch of Southern River Terrapin eggs in 2010 for incubation. Top right: Local e. h. chan e. h. chan children are ready observers as we weigh and measure the terrapins. Bottom left: Gerald using laparoscopy to determine the sex of a 10-month old terrapin. Bottom right: Malek Yunus, a villager who has assisted in head- starting terrapins.

th October 25 of 2009, the website was visited intensely (863 visits and 45,000 hits) when we organized a 24-hour Turtle Blogathon to raise awareness and funds for the TCC. Turtle-related blog posts appeared population size and structure of with local fishermen in seven river on the website every hour, and these this species, by use of the mark and systems in Terengganu, assess the have been archived on the website recapture technique. To date, a total threats to the turtles, determine the for future reference (http://www. of 172 Southern River Terrapins feasibility of initiating egg protection turtleconservationcentre.org/ and 256 Painted Terrapins have programs, and provide a turtle category/turtle-blogathon-2009). been captured and monitored. awareness camp in selected schools Future research activities on Collaborative work on Temperature along the rivers. A strategy for the the turtles of this region will likely Sex Determination (TSD) with conservation of the Southern River intensify, as Pelf has expressed an Gerald Kuchling continues, and Terrapins in Terengganu is the goal interest in pursuing a Ph.D. degree, in May of 2010, 66 one-year-old of this project. focusing his studies on the Southern Southern River Terrapins were A website for the TCC has River Terrapins and Painted sexed. These terrapins hatched in been established (http://www. Terrapins in the Setiu River. Outreach outdoor sand nests where incubation turtleconservationcentre.org), in activities will also continue, as we temperatures had been monitored. addition to a Facebook Fan page. Our understand the need to educate Subsequently, the terrapins were objective is to make the website a the local people so we can recruit head-started with the help of Malek one-stop portal for information on as many ambassadors as possible Yunus, a local villager. Malaysian turtles, and it presently in our effort to save the terrapins In 2010, additional work on the contains write-ups on research and from extinction. We will be seeking population status of the Southern conservation projects at the TCC, funding, the most critical factor in River Terrapin will be extended to all as well as educational materials, the development of the TCC and the other river systems in Terengganu fact sheets, a bibliography, and organization’s crucial conservation where the status remains unknown. a directory of turtle volunteer work1 on the terrapins. A grant of $30,000 (USD) secured programs in Malaysia. The website Turtle Conservation Centre, 56-2/1, Pangsapuri from the project from the U. S. Fish also features a frequently-updated Cerong Lanjut, Jalan Cerong Lanjut, 20300 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. and Wildlife Service will allow us blog that is used as a means of E-mail: [email protected] 76to conduct TSA AUGUST in-depth 2010 interviews communicating with the public. On Range CambodiaCountry Updates

Turtle Conservancy and Behler Chelonian additional kitchen building. The Center Annual Report 2009–2010 water supply was improved with the construction of a new and deeper well, and the installation of a solar pump and water tank. The water he Sre Ambel project is working The hatchling center focuses on tank has a capacity of 3,000 liters, to conserve Indochina’s last rearing turtles to a size where the and has been installed on a tower known populationBatagur affinis of the Critically likelihood of mortality is lowered, that allows the water to flow freely Endangered River Terrapin, or and it has received significant through a system of pipes above the Batagur ( ), in the support from the TSA since its holding tanks. Water flows into the TSre Ambel and Kaong rivers of construction in 2006. Hatchlings tanks continuously, with overflow southwestern Cambodia. The project are raised from eggs collected on pipes allowing excess water to drain activities are designed to protect nesting beaches by the patrol staff, from the tanks. The solar pump is wild populations of the Batagur, and these are grouped in a number powered by two 87 watt solar panels, through guarding nesting beaches of tanks according to age and size and the well has been dug to a depth and implementing law enforcement class. Support from the TSA in 2009 of 12 meters to ensure that water patrols in the two rivers, as well funded infrastructure improvements is available throughout the year, as rearing a captive population in at the hatchling center, including including during the dry season. a conservation hatchling center. improved water and electricity Further improvements to the This program is administered by supply and the construction of an hatchling center, however, will soon the Wildlife Conservation Society’s be necessary, as the population of

(WCS) Cambodia program, with gately mark animals continues to increase. Two technical and financial support nests were located and protected provided by the TSA. byFar projectleft: New rangerswater tanks during at the theSre Ambel 2010 Hatchling Center. Left: Hatchlings at the center, from the 2010 nesting season.

mark gately mark Bottom: Two additional holding tanks installed at the center. mark gately mark

AUGUST 2010 TSA 77 brian d. horne brian d. horne brian d. horne

Left: The nesting beach on the Sre Ambel River is guarded 24 hours per day during the nesting and hatching seasons. Pictured here is the guard coming to shore to transport biologists to the nesting beach. Middle: New solar panels will serve to power pumps for moving water from the well to water storage tanks, where the water will be gravity fed into the headstarting facility. Right: Three wild caught River Terrapins (Batagur affinis), some of the last of their kind in Indochina, held in captivity for over 10 years at a facility in Koh Kong. These turtles represent valuable genetic additions to the captive program. Major improvements at the Sre Ambel faciity are required before these turtles can be moved.

nesting season; one nest contained a total of 11 eggs, of which 10 brian d. horne individuals hatched in early May, and the second a total of five eggs, although only one individual hatched, in early June. Thus, there are 11 new arrivals at the center, in addition to the 118 animals that were already held (47 hatchlings from 2006, 47 hatchlings from 2007, one animal estimated at four years of age captured by a fisherman and handed to the conservation team in early 2008, and 23 hatchlings from 2009). Protecting a Batagur nest on the Sre Ambel River, the only known nesting site for this species Two new plastic tanks have been in Cambodia, through the use of chicken wire. Ten turtles hatched from this nest in 2010. purchased to increase the capacity of the center in the short term, but a new and larger facility will likely 1 have to be constructed over the next throughout Southeast Asia to protect Fisheries Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, 12 to 18 months, if a suitable site can populations of Critically Endangered Forestry and Fisheries, Norodom Boulevard, Phnom be located in the vicinity of the Sre chelonians. Additional financial Penh,2 Cambodia. Ambel River. support has been provided by the WCS, P. O. Box 1620, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Email: [email protected] This program represents another Turtle Conservation Fund and the outstanding example of the WCS/ Critical Ecosystems Partnership 78TSA TSA partnership AUGUST 2010 that is working Fund. Range CountryBelize Updates

Catalyzing Conservation Action in Belize (2) survey other areas not included for Central America’s Imperiled River Turtle in previous surveys, particularly in southern Belize, (3) train Belizean Thomas Rainwater1, Tom Pop2, Octavio Cal3, team members in basic survey and Steve Platt4, and Rick Hudson5 data collection techniques so they could return and conduct more intensive surveys, and (4) work with the Belizean government and non- Dermatemys mawii governmentalDermatemys organizations (NGOs) he Central American River and that the level of harvesting to stimulate a countrywide interest Turtle ( ) is was not sustainable (Polisar, 1992, inTop: Belizean team conservation.member Tom Pop holds found along the coastal lowlands 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997; Polisar and an adult Dermatemys captured in the Temash of southern Mexico, northern Horwich, 1994). As a result, in 1993 River, southern Belize. TGuatemala, and Belize (Alvarez del the Belize Fisheries Department Bottom: Thomas Rainwater displays two Der- Toro, 1979; Iverson and Mittermeier, drafted nationwideDermatemys comprehensive matemys shells. The turtles were harvested 1980; Iverson, 1986; Ernst and legislation for the protection and from the Belize River around Easter of 2010. Barbour, 1989; Lee, 1996) and is the management of that lone surviving representative of the included year-round possession family DermatemydidaeDermatemys (Iverson limits, a brief closed (non-hunting)Dermatemys and Mittermeier, 1980). Throughout season, a complete prohibition on thomas ishim its restricted range, selling and purchasing , has been intensely harvested for its and a series of protected zones in meat and, to a lesser extent,Dermatemys for its the major waterways of northern eggs and shell (Moll, 1986; Polisar, Belize (Polisar, 1994, 1995, 1997; 1994, 1995). As a result, Polisar and Horwich, 1994). Surveys has been virtually eliminated from Dermatemysconducted in north-central Belize much of its former range in southern in 1998 and 1999 suggested that Mexico, whileDermatemys its status in Guatemala was still common to remains unclear (Polisar, 1994). abundant in some remote localities, Currently, is considered but that the species was still declin- one of the world’s most heavily ing in more developed areas (T. Garel exploited turtles and is classified as Dermatemysand D. Collins, unpublished). Critically Endangered by the IUCN, Since that time, the status of listed as Endangered under the U. S. in Belize remained un-

Endangered Species Act, and listed examined until April of 2010, when thomas rainwater on Appendix II of CITES (CITES, the TSA initiated a countrywide Dermatemys2009; IUCN, 2009; USFWS, 2009). survey to assess the species’ current In Belize, a countrywide survey of status in what is believed to be its (locally known as “hick- last stronghold. The core survey atee”) conducted in 1983 and 1984 team included Thomas Rainwater found that the species was still com- (TSA) and two Belizean research- mon to abundant in areas sparsely ers, Tom Pop (Belize Foundation populated by humans, but declining for Research and Environmental in more developed areas where the Education; BFREE) and Octavio Cal turtles were more accessible to hunt- (Ya’axché Conservation Trust). The ers (Moll, 1986). Additional research primary objectives of the survey conducted in north-centralDermatemys Belize were to: (1) re-survey localities from 1989 through 1991 indicated previously surveyed in the early that the exploitation of 1980s so that general comparisons persisted in more populated areas, of turtle abundance could be made, AUGUST 2010 TSA 79 at these localities, were both much reduced compared to previous

thomas rainwater surveys. In addition, interviews with fisherman and hunters indicate that the laws and regulationsDermatemys enacted in 1993 for the protection and management of are largely ignored by locals, as broad- scale enforcement is difficult to impossible.Dermatemys For example, multiple individuals contend that hundreds of adult are still taken from relatively small sections of the Belize River each year, and that continues to be served in rural village restaurants around the time of Easter.Dermatemys On a more positive note, the Survey team members Tom Pop and Octavio Cal (from left) and local fisherman display adult occurrence of at Dermatemys captured in the Belize River. multiple, previously unsurveyed localities in southern Belize is encouraging.Dermatemys More comprehensive Surveys were conducted during north of the country. As in the mid- surveys of these and other areas April and May, which in Belize is 1980s, a wide range of habitats was where populations generally the peak of the dry season. surveyed, including estuarine rivers appeared to be secure during During this period, turtles are easier (brackish to fresh water sections); the 2010 survey will be vital in to locate because the water levels brackish rivers, creeks, and lagoons; developing new conservation are low, water bodies are relatively inland (fresh water) rivers, creeks, strategies, potentially including clear due to reduced turbidity from lagoons, and ponds; a mountain prioritization of areas for more rain and high flow, and turtles (foothills) river, and a coastal intensive (and enforceable) are more concentrated in smaller bay (Moll, 1986). The associated protection. In addition, the areas (Polisar, 1995). Consistent topography and vegetation varied interest and support the survey with previous surveys (Moll, 1986; widely among these habitats, team received from the Belizean Polisar, 1995; T. Garel and D. Collins, from coastal mangrove swamps to government, as well as several unpublished), the team employed evergreen broadleaf forest along the NGOs, villages, and individual multiple survey methods, including lower slopes of the Maya Mountains conservationists, guides, and nocturnal spotlight searches, (Stafford and Meyer, 2000). fishermen, was outstanding and trammel netting, and diving (free The team surveyed approximately ensured the success of the project. and scuba). When possible, the team 30 localities, including 18 areas DermatemysThe level of local knowledge, also interviewed hunters, fishermen, previously surveyed during the concern, and enthusiasm regarding and other knowledgeableDermatemys individuals earlyDermatemys 1980s (Moll, 1986). Overall, is regarding the natural history and the results of the survey indicate promising, and plans to bring these local occurrence of , the that is heavily depleted interested parties together to discuss hunting methods employed, and in most of Belize, but healthy an updated national conservation the levels of exploitation (Platt et populations remain in a few remote Visionplan are for currently a Long-term underway. al., 2004). Each turtle captured was areas, especially those receiving Conservation Strategy measured, permanently marked, and some level of protection. While its location was noted before being this mirrors the trend observed in Dermatemys released at the point of capture. surveys conducted during the 1980s Since 2004, the TSA had From 12 April through 31 May, and 90s, the current findings are prioritized for the team traversed more than 6,200 particularly alarming in that the immediate conservation action and km of Belize, surveying localities number of localities where turtles tried to launch a program in Mexico, 80from TSA the AUGUST deep south 2010 to the extreme were seen, and the number of turtles first in Tabasco and then in Veracruz. Unable to sustain momentum there, from a Batchelor Foundation grant to believe that this survey work will a decision was reached to shift the TSA. prove to be catalytic, not only in focus to Belize, one of the species’ The program would generate Belize but for the region, and we strongholds. Recently, one of us (RH) hatchlings that can be headstarted Dermatemyslook forward to bringing together traveled to Belize and met with Mr. and released to help restore the various groups interested in Jacob Marlin, the co-founder and depleted wild populations. Once the to begin discussing an director of the Belize Foundation husbandry techniques are worked overall recovery strategy for this for Research and Environmental out, and the species can be reliably highlyAcknowledgments. threatened and unique turtle. Education (www.bfreebz.org), to reproduced in good numbers in discuss the possibility ofDermatemys establishing captivity, the project could then be — This project a pilot program to test the feasibility expanded. The ultimate goal is to would not have been possible of breeding and rearing take pressures off local populations. without the support of George in outdoor ponds. Mr. Marlin is very The conservation potential of this Myvett and James Azueta of the interested in the project and pledged initiative, if implemented over the Belize Fisheries Department. We his support. The pilot study would long-term, is exciting and provides also thank the following groups be conducted on BFREE property, a vision that this can developDermatemys into and individuals in Belize for their which encompasses 1,200 acres a model program and, ultimately, a support during this project: Alton of forest at the base of the Maya sustainable future for . Jeffords and Oceanic Society Mountains in central Belize and is Not surprisingly,Dermatemys the Belize Fisheries Expeditions; Benjamin Cruz; Bill surrounded by two protected areas. Department, under which the Hasse; Bruce and Carolyn Miller; This pilot studyDermatemys would be a low purview of resides, has Bruce Cullerton (Rainforest maintenance operation focused on endorsed this concept and offered Mechanic); Karl Tillett; Celia generating food plants encouraging support (G. Myvett, Mahung, Elmar Requena, Santiago (Moll, 1989), while working out such pers. comm.). Indeed, the idea to Cucul, Luis Ishim, Chris Hamley, and husbandry details as egg laying and build the TSA captive management the Toledo Institute for Development incubation (Polisar, 1996). Currently, component upon wild survey and Environment (TIDE); Chrissie various pond designs are being results — just completed by Thomas and Anita Tupper; Clifton and Nancy discussed so as to provide multiple Rainwater and his local team — was Bailey (Manatee Lodge); Derrick management options. Filtration first advanced by Fisheries. Hendy and the Belize Audubon will likely be passive and biological, This initiative is exciting for the Society; Dion Andrews; Doyle utilizing plants that can be fed back TSA, and we are encouraged by the Forman, Egbert Valencio, Thomas to the turtles. Aeration will require outpouring of support and interest Ishim, Narco Nakin, and the Sarstoon solar power. Start up funds for this by the conservation NGO community Temash Institute for Indigenous phase of the operation are available in Belize. Looking forward, we Management (SATIIM); Eddie Adult male (left) Dermatemys from the Belize River, and an adult female (right) from Irish Creek in north-central Belize. Male Dermatemys characteristically display yellow (although sometimes cream or reddish-brown) coloration on the dorsal surface of the head, whereas the heads of females are typically uniform brown, olive, or gray. thomas rainwater thomas rainwater

AUGUST 2010 TSA 81 Dermatemys Iverson, J. B., and R. A. Mittermeier. 1980. Romero (Programme for Belize); , . Catalog of Elma Kay (University of Belize); American Amphibians and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles 237: 1–4.

thomas rainwater Frank Mazzotti; Geraldine and Lee, J. C. 1996. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Lionel Fermin (Community Baboon the Yucatán Peninsula. Comstock Publishing Sanctuary); Giovanni Fernandez Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. and Black Rock Lodge; Graham Dermatemys Moll, D. 1986. The distribution, status, and level of mawei Sampson; Isabelle Paquet-Durand exploitation of the freshwater turtle (Galen University); Jacob Marlin in Belize, Central America. Biol. Conserv. 35: 87–96. and BFREE; Jan Meerman; Jerry Dermatemys mawei Moll, D. 1989. Food and feeding behavior of the Larder and Nikki Buxton (Belize turtle, , in Belize. J. Herpetol. Bird Rescue); Kevin Andrewin; 23: 445–447. Lloyd and Walter Cassosola; Platt, S. G., Kalyar, and T. R. Rainwater. 2004. Inle Leonard Myers; Marcelo Windsor, Lake turtles, Myanmar with notes on Intha and Pa-O ethnoherpetology. Hamadryad. 29: 5–14. Andre Lopez, Rasheeda Sampson, Polisar, J. 1992. Reproductive biology and Dermatemys mawii and the Belize Forest Department; exploitation of the Central American River Turtle Marga Miller, Anna Zabrowksi, and in Belize. Unpublished M. S. thesis, University of Florida, Gainesville. Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary; Dermatemys mawii thomas rainwater Polisar, J. 1994. New legislation for the protection Mark Howells, Ruben Arevalo, and management of in Belize, and Lamanai Outpost Lodge; Nick Central America. Herpetol. Rev. 25: 47–49. Polisar, J. 1995. River Turtle reproductive Wicks, Ginny Fuhs, Lee McLoughlin, demography and exploitation patterns in Belize: and Ya’axché Conservation Trust; implications for management. Vida Silvestre Paul Walker (Wildtracks), Percy Neotrop. 4: 10–19. Polisar, J. 1996. Reproductive biology of a flood- Flowers, Jr.; Reynaldo and Sergio Dermatemys mawii season nesting freshwater turtle of the northern Gorosica; Richard and Carol Foster; Neotropics: in Belize. Chelonian Conserv. Biol. 2: 13–25. Robin Brockett; Sharon Matola Dermatemys mawii and the Belize Zoo; Steve Usrey; Polisar, J. 1997. Effects of exploitation on populations in northern In Tamara Sniffin (San Pedro Sun); Belize and conservation strategies for rural Tony Garel (Belize Herpetarium and riverside villages. Pp. 441–443 J. Van Abbema Aquarium Park); Udell Forman; and (Ed.), Proceedings: Conservation, Restoration, and Management of Tortoises and Turtles: An Vince and Cherie Rose (American International Conference, 11 to 16 July 1993, Crocodile Education Sanctuary State University of New York, Purchase, New

thomas rainwater [ACES]). Finally, we are grateful to York. Bronx, NY: New York Turtle and Tortoise the Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF), Society. Polisar, J. and R.H. Horwich. 1994. Conservation Dermatemys mawii the Mohammed bin Zayed Species of the large, economically important turtle Conservation Fund, and the Delta in Belize. Conserv. Biol. 8: Foundation for generously providing 338–342. USFWS. 2009. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) financial support for this project. Endangered Species Program. (http://www.fws. gov/Endangered/wildlife.html).

Literature Cited

Alvarez del Toro, M., R. A. Mittermeier, and J. B. Top: A sign posted along the Río Grande, Iverson. 1979. River Turtle in danger. Oryx. 15: 1 in southern Belize, indicating the legal size 170–173. Contract Biologist, Turtle Survival Alliance, 619 limits and hunting season for Dermatemys. CITES. 2009. Convention on International Trade in Palmetto Street, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464. Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Email:2 [email protected] Middle: Survey team members Octavio (CITES). (http://www.cites.org). Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Cal (left) and Tom Pop (right) weigh a Ernst, C. H., and R.W. Barbour. 1989. Turtles Education (BFREE), P. O. Boc 129, Punta Gorda, Dermatemys (in bag) captured in the Río of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, Toledo3 District, Belize. Bravo, northwestern Belize. Washington, D. C. Ya’axché Conservation Trust, P. O. Box 177, Punta IUCN. 2009. International Union for Nature Gorda,4 Toledo District, Belize. Bottom: Octavio Cal (left) and Tom Pop and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Department of Biology, Sul Ross State University, (right) collect shell measurements from an Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. (http:// Alpine,5 Texas 79832. adult Dermatemys captured in the Río Bravo, www.iucnredlist.org). President, Turtle Survival Alliance, Fort Worth Zoo, northwestern Belize. Iverson, J. B. 1986. A Checklist with Distribution 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas 76110. Maps of the Turtles of the World. Paust Printing, Richmond, Indiana. 82 TSA AUGUST 2010 Range CountryBrazil Updates

Field Methods for Studying Freshwater offices, field stations, or NGOs, equipped Turtles: Research, Management, and with the necessary information to advise their own students, write grant Conservation in the Brazilian Amazon proposals, review permit requests, and edit papers dealing with turtles. Richard C. Vogt, Ph.D.1 One of these people, Tibisay Esculenta, became a post-doctoral student with Nicole Valenzuela; Olga Castano became the director of Federico Medem’s lab initiated efforts to protect and Melanosuchusin Colombia; and, Ronis de Silviera manage somePodocnemis of the most important went on to become one of the leading nesting beaches used by turtles of experts of the world and the genus . This project a Professor at the Universidade Federal has grown to become the largest for do Amazonas (Federal University of freshwater turtles in the world, and Amazonas) in Manaus. In total, over 350 each year from two to four million students have attended the course since hatchlings are released. Because most its inception. of the people initially involved with I taught the course annually, this project were forest engineers migrating back and forth from Mexico, The Enigma, a 24 m boat, is used as a base of operations. and few biologists were on the staff, until I moved to Manaus permanently another purpose for my involvement in 2000 and became the curator of was to provide these people with the amphibian and reptile collection training. at INPA. I have taught the course at n 1988, the Instituto Nacional de The following year, I began working the following field sites: Trombetas Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA; as an outside advisor to this project. Biological Reserve (6 years), São National Institute of Amazonian In time, however, I became more of an PhrynopsLuís Maranhão, hogei Rio Doce in Minas Research) extended me an invitation to inside advisor due to my understanding Gerais (where Glaucia Moreria [of spend my sabbatical year in the jungles and management of conservation fame] was captured), Iof the Amazon. The purpose for my visit practices on a shoestring budget. Today, Rio Negro, Rio Tapajós, Mamirauá was to provide guidance to Master’s a few people from IBAMA participate Sustainable Development Reserve (8 students with an interest in turtle in the courses, as well as graduate years), Reserva Ducke, and Balbinas ecology, and to teach a course on field students from INPA and other Brazilian Hydroelectric Dam Project. methods used to study aquatic turtles. universities, and from other South We now have a boat for teaching the Back then few professionals in Brazil, American countries. A few graduate course, the Enigma, and a permanent and particularly in the Amazon region, students from Australia, Canada, and base at the biological station of the Rio were interested in turtle ecology, and the United States have also participated. Trombetas. Although from time to time the researchers who had published the I taught the first course, in 1989, I offer the course in other areas, the most about Amazonian turtles lived in with financial assistance provided by Rio Trombetas station has proven to be São Paulo (Paulo Vanzolini) or Brasília the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and optimal because of the amount of turtle (Cleber Alho). two of my students completed their Peltocephalusdiversity in the dumerilianus region, which incluides For centuries, freshwater turtles in Master’s theses on the topic of turtles. expansathe PleurodiresP. sextuberculata () P. unifi- the Amazon have played an important Some students continued their careers lis , role in the economy of the region, and by studying turtles, but those that did , , and their demand eventually caused many not gained an understanding of the , and justP. erythrocephala outside of the reserve, on populations to become extirpated from techniques needed to conduct basic the way back to Manaus, we canscorpio- also many areas and placed others on the ecological research with aquatic turtles, idesobserve . Additionally, verge of extinction. Thus, in 1975, the where to find the literature, and what punctulariatwo Cryptodires, Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente could be done with a little perseverance. () and (IBAMA: the Brazilian equivalent of the Later, many of these students dispersed (Geoemydidae), occur in United States Fish and Wildlife Service) to other universities, government the area. The course, AUGUST however, 2010 TSA revolves 83 richard c. vogt richard c. vogt richard satya caldenhof

Left: Rosana, a Master’s student at INPA, checks the trammel nets for a long-term study on the demography of Podocnemis unifilis at Lago Erepecu on the Trombetas Reserve. Center: Dick Vogt shows technicians from INPA and IBAMA how to calibrate Pesola scales to weigh turtles. Right: Hatchling Podocnemis expansa are released with the help of local school children and other people along the river as part of a hand’s-on environmental education program.

around the podocnemids because of Technological Development), IBAMA, students from Southeast Asia should their abundance and time of nesting, INPA, Mineração do Rio Norte (MRN; a come to Brazil to work with turtles, and and the ongoing research on these mining company in Brazil), the TSA, the return to their home countries and ap- species at this site for over two dec- Turtle Conservation Fund, Conservation ply what they have learned. The course, ades. The infrastructure at the reserve International, the Chelonian Research however, would not be able to exist includes a lecture room, a laboratory, Institute, the Chelonian Research without the financial support provided wireless internet, dormitories, a dining Foundation, the Wildlife Conservation by the TSA and other foundations. room, and a location opposite one of the Society, Mamirauá, Maurice Rodriguez, The course is registered for four nesting beaches on the Rio Trombetas. Brett Stearns, and the first year from graduate credit hours in the depart- A smaller field station also near nesting the WWF. The TSA, through the enthu- ments of Ecology and Aquatic Biology at beaches, at Lago do Erepecu (Erepecu siasm of Rick Hudson, has been a strong INPA. Its purpose is to focus the general Lake), contains a laboratory, dormitory, supporter of the course for the last six biology and ecology of freshwater tur- dining room, and kitchen. In addition, years, and Conservation International, tles and the methods used to conduct IBAMA has another large (30 m) region- through the generous support of Russ field and laboratory research, so stu- al boat, aluminum boats with outboard Mittermeier, has also helped out an- dents will be able to design and imple- motors and canoes, and experienced nually. Brian Horne has attempted to ment field or laboratory projects to de- regional turtle technicians available to run a similar field course in Southeast termine management plans, conserva- assist with the course. Asia, but he explained that it is a dif- tion strategies, and basic research. The Over the years, funding for the ficult challenge to accomplish because idea is for students to learn first-hand course has been provided by the Con- enough turtles cannot be located in a the use of techniques and equipment in selho Nacional de Desenvolvimento couple of weeks to demonstrate the the field, rather than from books. The Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq; The various trapping methods or marking course consists of two days of lectures National Council for Scientific and techniques. Thus, he suggested that on board the Enigma, a 24 m boat with Left: A female Podocnemis expansa, equipped with a transmitter and data logger, is about to be released along with the hatchlings to record their migration patterns and temperature preferences. Center: Camila Ferrara, on board The Enigma, just after collecting data on a Podocnemis erythrocephala in 2009. Right: Juvenile Podocnemis expansa exhibit two color phases, depending on their age. Paler individuals blend in with the lighter sand on the beach and in shallow water, but darken after about a week in captivity. In nature, the darker color allows them to blend in with the rotting leaves on the flooded forest floor. This rapid ontogenetic color shift is a good reason for releasing the hatchlings immediately. richard c. vogt richard c. vogt richard c. vogt richard

84 TSA AUGUST 2010 with miniature VHF transmitters, and along with people from local communi- richard c. vogt richard c. vogt richard ties, also participated in the release of thousands of hatchling turtles. Finally, students accompaniedP. graduateexpansa student Camila Ferrara as she recorded under- Thewater 21st vocalization Year of thein Course .

Left: Graduate Student Paulo Andrade lectures on the advantages and disadvantages of transplanting nests of Podocnemis sextuberculata. Right: Hatchling Podocnemis expansa, equipped with This year, the course will be taught transmitters, are about to be released. at the Trombetas Biological Reserve, Para, Brazil, from 27 September to 6 Oc- tober. Although the course is designed primarily for graduate students at INPA, air-conditioned cabins for sleeping, a and provides information on conserva- it is open to anyone who wishes to lecture room, and lab facilities, which tion-related research projects through- participate. Students wishing to obtain travels downstream from Manaus to the out the world. Currently, two former official graduate school credits from Rio Trombetas. In addition to the two students are working for Conservation INPA must register as a special student. field stations in the reserve, we use the International and five for IBAMA. More space is available for the course boat as a base of operations. In 2009, students had an opportu- in December than in October, and the Topics covered in the lectures and nity to participate in the course both dates are more flexible in December. A discussions include and during the nesting season in October total of 18 people can participate in the evolution, distribution, economic and and the hatchingPodocnemis season in December. course, which starts on the boat leaving cultural importance, biology (physiol- During October,expansa studentssextuberculata collected the from Manaus. With regard to fees, INPA ogy, anatomy, and embryology), and unifilisthree species of common to covers the cost of its registered gradu- ecology (life tables, reproduction, feed- the area ( , , and ate students; the fee for students from ing, , growth, movements, ), using trammel nets or captur- Latin America and other parts of the and predation,). Laboratory techniques ing the females while nesting. We used third world is $500US; that for students include egg incubation, ethology, anato- these turtles to practice different meas- from Australia, Europe, and the United my, stomach content analysis, digestive uring and marking techniques, stomach States is $1,000 US; and, professional efficiency, and blood extraction. Field flushing, blood extraction, and the participants are charged $1,500 US. techniques include collecting methods induction of oviposition with Oxytocin. The fees help offset the costs associ- (traps, trammel nets, basking traps, We placed temperature data log- ated with operating the boat, including baited traps, and fyke nets), mark- gers in nests, and transferred some of salaries for the crew, food and lodging, ing methods (notching, drilling holes, the nests to protectedP. expansa areas. Students and boat repairs. Groups interested in toe clipping, numbered tags, painted had the opportunity to see, first hand, specific turtle courses are welcome to numbers, photos, and pit tags), the use the recapture of through the contact me. Rental of the boat is also of radio-transmitters, data loggers for use of satellite transmitters (after four available for any course or excursion in recording nest temperatures and adult years) and a VHF transmitter (after the Amazon Basin, but times must not core temperatures, oviposition induc- one year). Photographs show that after conflict with courses or research expe- tion with Oxytocin, the incubation of the transmitters had been placed for ditions. eggs in the laboratory and in nature, un- four years, no erosion or damage was To date, the TSAs support for the derwater sound recordings of turtle evident on the carapace of the turtles. course is its only conservation project vocalization, and blood collection. Transmitters can be easilyTurbolit removed by in South America. Because the course For turtle conservation, the main sliding the blade of a Swiss Army knife reaches so many students, however, it benefit of the course is in training between the hardened (a bond- is an excellent way to broadly impact students and project managers to con- ing material that can dry underwater turtle conservation in the region. duct field research and to analyze the and is used to fix holes in ocean-going 1 various conservation and management ships) and the carapace.P. Students expansa also Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians, National Institute measures being used. The course also attached VHF and temperature data for Amazonian Research (INPA), Caixa Postal 478, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil 69083-000. makes students aware of the problems loggers on adult female , and Email: [email protected] associated with turtle conservation, in- followed them. In December, students troduces them to the current literature, were able to follow hatchlings equipped AUGUST 2010 TSA 85 RangeP Chilippinesountry Updates

Husbandry Guidelines for the Philippine Forest result of a number of confiscations Turtle, Siebenrockiella leytensis (Taylor, 1920) in the Philippines, several rescue centers in the country now house Sabine Schoppe1 S.this leyt species.ensis Due to the limited distribution of , its rarity, and the fact that it was only recently rediscovered, very little is known about its biology, ecology, and husbandry. I obtained individuals of this species before the Wildlife Act was implemented; these are now registered with the authorities, and for the past eight years I have maintained them in outdoor enclosures in . Furthermore, the KFI maintains an assurance colony consisting Hatchling (left) and juvenile (right) Forest River Turtles. This species has not been reproduced in of individuals confiscated since captivity. ALL PHOTOS © KATALA FOUNDATION, INC. 2007. Herein, I provide some of the information known for this species, leytensis in an effort to improve husbandry conditions in places where it is ince 2009, the TSA has supported , is one of the least known already maintained; however, I work by the Katala Foundation, freshwater turtles in the world discourage the acquisition of new Inc. (KFI), towardSiebenrockiella the conservation of (Diesmos et al., 2005). This species individuals, since no legal source leytensis.the Critically Endangered Philippine is listed as Critically Endangered by is available where they can be SForest Turtle, IUCN (2010), and its international Synonymsobtained. In 2007, the KFI established trade is regulated under Appendix Heosemys leytensis the only range-country assurance II of CITES (CITES, 2009). The Geoemyda leytensis colony of this species in Narra, Philippine Forest Turtle has never (Taylor 1920), Palawan. The captive husbandry of been bred in captivity, and as Taxonomy (Mertens 1934). this species has proved challenging, early as 1994 the Philippine CITES Heosemys leytensis and the TSA is working with the KFI Management Authority had banned to improve its captive facilities. In the export of wild caught individuals. was described February of 2010, the TSA granted Then, in 2001, the collection of this by E. H. Taylor in 1920. A morpho- the KFI financial support to construct species other than for research logical and molecular phylogenetic An adult male Siebenrockiella leytensis. a water treatment/filter system to purposes was prohibited under the improve its water quality, and, in Philippine Wildlife Act (Anonymous, An adult male Siebenrockiella leytensis. March of 2009, the project received 2001). Accordingly, all captive counter financing from the Turtle individuals that appeared in the Conservation Fund (TCF). A report commercial market and in zoos on the progress of this project is soon after its rediscoveryS. leytensis in 2004 scheduled to be made as it reaches were collected illegally. In fact, the a more advancedS. leytensis stage, so in this illegal collection of for the paper I intend to focus on the general international pet market constitutes Introductionhusbandry of . the main threat to most populations. Siebenrockiella leytensis The Philippine Forest Turtle is Heosemys widely maintained by hobbyists, (Taylor, herpetoculturists, and zoos inside 861920), TSA formerly AUGUST 2010known as and outside of the country. As a leytensis study showed that is theSie- the day on land and the night in other objects for the turtles to hide benrockiellasister lineage to the previously water, whereas hatchlings and juve- under should be placed in the water. monotypic Sundaic turtle genus niles may be fully aquatic (Schoppe, On land, a dark tunnel or den-like (DiesmosS. leytensis et al., 2005).S. 2006). Philippine Forest Turtles hide structure should be placed for the crassicollisNonetheless, high genetic divergence in retreats and do not bask during turtles to use as a retreat during the exists between andPany- the day, but they eventually expose day. The land area should be densely aenemys , hence Diesmos et al. themselves on logs at night (D. vegetated to provide shade and (2005) erected the Acosta, pers. comm.). In its habitat, darker areas. The entire enclosure, S. leytensis to accommodate the distinct this species occurs in streams that however, should be shaded to avoid Philippine lineage. No subspecies of contain water temperatures ranging direct sunlight. Male Philippine For- Conservation are currentlyStatus recognized. from 23.3 to 26.7°C, with the lower est Turtles are sexually aggressive water temperatures preferred (S. and continuously pursue females, Schoppe et al., unpublished). Stream so plenty of furnishings and hiding IUCN 2010 Red List: Critically water pH ranges from 7.4 to 9.1, spaces (logs and a den) in the water Endangered (A2d, B1+2c); CITES alkalinity (as CaCO3) from 40 to 220 are necessary to allow females places Appendix II (CITES 2009); Philippine mg/l, and hardness (as CaCO3) from to escape. Republic Act 9147 or Wildlife Act 17 to 154 mg/l. Juveniles can be maintained in Distribution(Anonymous, 2001). High intra-specific aggression aquaria. An aquarium of about 0.5 Siebenrockiella leytensis occurs in the Philippine Forest × 1.2 m with a water depth of about Turtle, especially among the males 15–20 cm can house, depending is (Schoppe and Fernando, 2009), and on their size, a maximum of four endemic to the Philippines and is no more than one male and one to to six individuals. No land area is restricted to the Palawan group of three females should be housed in an necessary, just some driftwood for islands in the western region of the enclosure with a size of about 2 × 2 the turtles to hide. The substrate can Naturalarchipelago. Habitat and Captive Housing m. For proper housing, adults must be sand or small gravel; they prefer Siebenrockiella leytensis be provided with areas of land and mud, but it produces turbid waters. water (see Yuyek, 2004). The water The water in the aquaria and ponds inhabits area (or pond) should measure about should be filtered or completely lowland forest at elevations from 1 × 2 m, with a minimum depth of changed on a weekly basis. near sea level to about 300 m 0.5 m, and contain a slope on at least Individuals larger than 12 (Diesmos et al., 2004 a, b). Although one side. Rough surfaces must be cm in carapace length should be the primary habitat of this species is avoided, since the plastron and nails maintained in outdoor enclosures. pristine lowland forest, it also thrives of the turtles can easily get abra- Intra-specific aggression develops in in disturbed and fragmented forests. sions that may result in infections larger juveniles or young sub-adults, This species is nocturnal, secretive, and shell rot. Keeping the pH at 8 at which time males should be and does not bask (Schoppe, 2006). or lower appears to be crucial. A separated from each other and kept Adults are semi-aquatic and spend substantial amount of driftwood or only with females. Left: Siebenrockiella leytensis inhabits streams in lowland forest. Center: The distribution of Siebenrockiella leytensis is restricted to southern Leyte and Palawan Province in the Philippines. Right: A tunnel or den-like structure should be made available for the turtles to hide during the day.

AUGUST 2010 TSA 87 Left: Captive Siebenrockiella leytensis should be provided with plenty of hiding space. Center: Siebenrockiella leytensis is especially fond of snails. Pictured here are snails passed in their feces. Right: Philippine Forest Turtles feed on a variety of fruits.

Diet

but individuals can get used to Sub-adult individuals (150–170 mm The Philippine Forest Turtle is feeding from a plate placed along CL) start to develop external sexually an omnivorous, but predominantly the water’s edge, which will prevent dimorphic characteristics. Males herbivorous species. Juveniles, contamination of the water. Food develop a slightly concave plastron S.however, leytensis appear to be more should be provided at dusk, since the and a longer and thicker tail, and are carnivorous in nature.Macrobrachium In the wild, animals will not feed during daylight Healthgenerally issues larger than females. preys upon fish, crabs, hours, and leftover food items should shrimp (genus ), be discarded the following morning. and freshwater gastropods of the I recommend feeding the turtles Under stressful conditions, such family Thiaridae (Schoppe, 2006). animal protein only once a week, the as poor water quality (like a high It also feeds on algae and wild fruit, day before the water is changed. In pH), the overstocking ofS. male leytensis especially on ripe figs (DiesmosPomacea et addition, fruit should be offered once individuals, high temperatures, and al.,canaliculata 2008). This turtle may also feed a week and leafy vegetables once a lack of hiding spaces, on Golden Apple Snails ( or twice a week. No food should be is prone to bacterial and fungal ), an invasive alien pest Reproductionprovided on the remaining days. infections that can lead to shell rot species found in rice fields, as well or respiratory infections. To avoid as on saprophytes and decomposing S. leytensis nematode infestations or other wood. The reproductive biology and internal parasites, the turtles should In captivity, hatchlings and small natural history of remains be de-wormed twice a year with juveniles can be easily raised on a poorly understood, andS. leytensisthis spe- FenbendazoleAcknowledgments (Panacur ®). diet of turtle pellets and/or small cies has never been reproduced in Siebenrockiella slices of fish, shrimp, meat, and captivity. The eggs of leytensis . — The shellfish. Adults accept various are brittle-shelled, oblong, and pale assurance colony of fruits (e.g., apples, bananas, papaya, pink in color (Diesmos et al., 2004b). maintained in Narra, and watermelon), vegetables Nineteen eggs laid in captivity had Palawan, by the Katala Foundation, (e.g., kangkong and cucumber), a mean length of 49.6 mm, a mean Inc., is financially and technically gastropods, fish, shrimp, meat, width of 26.5 mm, and they weighed supported by the European dry dog food, and hard boiled an average 24.0 g (A. C. Diesmos et Association of Zoos & Aquaria eggs (Schoppe, 2006). They also al., in progress). Hatchlings and juve- (EAZA) Shellshock Campaign, the feed on avocados, cashews, guava, niles have been encountered in the Loro Parque Fundación, the North earthworms, crabs, and they are wild during the dry months (Wid- of England Zoological Society especially fond of freshwater or land mann et al., 2004; Schoppe 2006, Chester Zoo, the Zoological Society snails. The latter should be crushed 2008). The growth rate decreases for the Conservation of Species slightly to allow small individuals to with increasing body size (Schoppe, and Populations, Conservation also have a bite. Additional calcium 2006, 2008). The age at maturity is des Espèces et des Populations should be supplied by providing unknown, but it is estimated to be at Animales, ZooParc de Beauval, the cuttlebone or a commercial calcium least eight years when the animals IUCN Turtle Survival Alliance, the supplement. The Philippine Forest are ≥ 200 mm in carapace length Turtle Conservation Fund, the Turtle Turtle88 TSA prefers AUGUST to 2010 feed in the water, (S. Schoppe et al., unpublished). Conservancy, the IUCN Tortoise and

of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 5. (http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/ cbftt/). IUCN 2010. 2010 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. (www.iucnredlist.org; viewed 1 February 2010). Siebenrockiella leytensis Schoppe, S., 2006. Notes on the biology of the

Philippine Forest Turtle th (Taylor, 1920). Poster presentation, 15 WCSP Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium, Legend Hotel Palawan, Puerto Princesa City, Left: A Philippine Forest Turtle feeding on banana. Right: Placement of the food dish along the Palawan, 4–8 April 2006. bank of a pond will prevent the water from becoming contaminated. Schoppe, S., 2008. Erste Informationen zum Siebenrockiella leytensis Wachstum der Philippinischen Waldschildkröte ( ). Marginata, 18, 5(2): 52–57. Diesmos, A. C., R. V. Sison, M. dG. Pedregosa, and Ma. Schoppe, S., and N. Fernando. 2009. A range country Heosemys leytensis Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, J. C. Cenisa. 2004b. The of colony for the Philippine Forest Turtle. Turtle Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden Taylor, 1920. A project report Survival Alliance 2009: 96–97. Taylor, E. H. 1920. Philippine turtles. Philippine J. Hong Kong, and Ocean Park in (31 pp.), , Philippines. Diesmos, A. C., J. F. Parham, B. L. Stuart, and R. Sci. 16: 111–114. Aberdeen, Hong Kong. The KFI also M. Brown. 2005. The phylogenetic position Widmann, P., K. Lachenmaier, I. L. Widmann, S. Heosemys leytensis wants to acknowledge the support of of the recently rediscovered Philippine Forest Schoppe, R. M. Dumalag, J. D. Matillano, D. F. Villafuerte, S. H. Diaz, and M. local partners like the Department of Turtle (Bataguridae: ). Proc. California Acad. Sci. 56: 31–41. Cervancia, 2004. Wirbeltiergemeinschaften in Environment and Natural Resources, Diesmos, A. C., R. M. Brown, A. C. Alcala, and R. Rotsteisskakadu-Habitaten in Nord-Palawan. especially its Protected Area and V. Sison. 2008. Status and distribution of non- ZGAP Mitteilungen 20(2): 3–7. Yuyek, M. 2004. A Perilous Life. The natural history Wildlife Bureau and the Environment marine turtles of the Philippines. Chelonian Heosemys leytensis and ecological status of the Philippine Forest Management Bureau, the Palawan Conserv. Biol. 7: 157–177. Diesmos, A. C., J. Buskirk, S. Schoppe, M. L. L. Turtle, from Palawan, with Siebenrockiella leytensis Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Diesmos, E. Y. Sy, and R.M. Brown. In Progress. emphasis on care and feeding requirements in In Center, the Palawan Council for (Taylor, 1920) – captivity. Animal Scene 4(7): 80–82. Sustainable Development Staff, the Philippine Forest Turtle. A. G. J. Rhodin, P. C. H. Pritchard, P. P. van Dijk, R. A. Saumure, K. A. 1 Katala Foundation, Inc., Puerto Princesa City, Provincial Government of Palawan, Buhlmann, J. B. Iverson, and R. A. Mittermeier, PH-5300 Palawan, Philippines. the local government of Narra and R.A. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater E-mail: [email protected] Antipuluan, and the Philippine Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project Associate of Wildlife Veterinarians, A pair of Siebenrockiella leytensis copulating in the water. Inc. I especially thank Diverlie Acosta for sharing her observations on the species, and the Doguiles couple for taking a significant part in the maintenance of my turtles at home.

Literature Cited

Anonymous. 2001. Republic Act 9147. An act providing for the conservation and protection of wildlife resources and their habitats, appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes. Republic of the Philippines, Congress of the Philippines, Eleventh Congress. CITES 2009. Appendices I, II, and III valid from 22 May 2009. (www..org). Diesmos, A. C., G. V. A Gee, M. L. Diesmos, R. M. Brown, P. J. Widmann, and J. C Dimalibot, Heosemys leytensis 2004a. Rediscovery of the Philippine Forest Turtle, (Chelonia; Bataguridae) from Palawan Island, Philippines. Asiatic Herpetol. Res. 10: 22–27.

AUGUST 2010 TSA 89 Chelonian Natural History

Nesting Behavior of the Red-necked Pond conjunction with a yellow head stripe Turtle (Mauremys [Chinemys] nigricans) in (Fig. 2). The females nested naturally in Captivity their enclosure. Here, we discuss obser- vations on the captiveM. nigricans nesting behavior, nest characteristics,M. nigricans and the results of Andrew M. Grosse1, Kurt A. Buhlmann1, and Cris Hagen1 egg incubation in . The female constructed Maur­ Mauremys their nests at night, during rain events emys Chinemys nigricans from 22 May to 4 August 2006 (Fig. he Red-necked Pond Turtle ( referred to in the genus , 3). During mornings following noc- [ ] ) is a based on the work of Honda et al. turnal rain events, we found partially small, semi-aquatic turtle known to M.(2002) nigricans and Spinks et al. (2004). constructed and abandoned nesting occur in southern China (Guangdong A breeding population of 15 adult attempts, as well as completed nests. Province) and perhaps in extreme has been maintained at the We observed one female digging a nest Tnorthern Vietnam (Bonin et al., 2006; Savannah River Ecology Lab (SREL), at night on 25 June 2006. We discovered Fig. 1). This species is found in a variety located on the Upper Coastal Plain of and excavated several completed and of habitats, including “watercourses in South Carolina, where for several years covered nests, measured the nest cham- hills and mountains, up to 1,200 m alti- the turtles were housed in an outdoor ber characteristics,M. nigricans and transported the tude, as well as in calm, mud-bottomed pond system. The pond is plastic-lined, eggs to indoor incubators. waters and sometimes fast-flowing, rectangular (30 × 15 m), and with water Female apparently clear torrents” (Bonin et al., 2006). depths ranging from 0.1–2.2 m. The edg- search for suitable nesting sites after Despite being featured in the pet trade es of the pond contained emergent veg- emerging from their aquatic habitat and Asian food marketsM. for nigricans many years, etation, with the bottom sediment deep during nocturnal rains. They preferred little natural history information has with muck and log and stick debris. We the north-facing slope (< 20%) of the been documented for . As a used well water to maintain a constant pond, and used areas of red clay soil result of its relativelyM. nigricans restricted range, water level. The pond was fenced and surrounding the pond for digging. On ongoing exploitation, and a lack of natu- the turtles had access to a terrestrial 25 June 2006, we observed a female ral history data, is listedMaur ­ perimeter area that ranged from 4.5 removing the surrounding vegetation emysas Endangered nigricans on the IUCN Redlist of to 7.5 m in width. The substrate of the with her hind limbs, and she began Mthreatenedreevesi species (IUCN 2009). terrestrial area was predominately red digging with her hind feet. The nesting Chinemys and its sister species, clay, with sparse ground M.cover nigricans consist- female a two egg chambers simultane- . , were originally placed in ing of grass clumps and pine straw. ously. She used her left hind limb to theRange genus of the Red-Necked but Pond hereby Turtle ( Mauremysare The male and female remove dirt from what would be the left nigricans) (Buhlmann et al., 2009). differed in size and coloration. The nesting chamber, and then alternated to adult male (N = 9) mean carapace use the right hind limb to dig the right length (CL) was 150 mm (range = nesting chamber. This pattern contin- 133–172 mm), and the mean plastron ued until she created two adjacent egg length (PL) was 122 mm (range = chambers. 110–139 mm). The adult female (N For eachM. nigricans of five nests discovered the = 6) mean CL was 195 mm (range = day subsequent to night-time nesting, 187–200 mm), and the mean PL was female had distributed the 163 mm (range = 154–170 mm). The clutch among both egg chambers (Fig. female mean weight was 955 g (range 4c–e). On 4 August 2006, however, one = 828–1091 g), while males averaged female deposited four eggs in just one 452 g (range = 363–594 g). The head of the two available chambers (Fig. 4f). coloration for males and females The separation between the adjacent differed. Females tend to have a pale nest chambers averaged a distance of yellow stripe down the side of their 77 mm (range = 60–110 mm, N = 7 heads, and males tend to have bright nests; see Fig. 4). The nest chamber 90 TSA AUGUST 2010 red or orange beaks, heads, and legs, in depth was 80 mm and 100 mm, M. nigricans M. nigricans respectively, for two chambers we emerged. At the SREL, we hatched 48 chambers. Secondly, will measured. that measured an average dig both nest chambers simultaneously, The mean clutch size of these five of 31.7 mm PL (range = 26.3–36.5 mm; while M.spp. nigricans will dig each nest nests was 4.4 eggs. The mean egg length SD = 2.04 mm), 37.9 mm CL (range = chamber separately (Ernst and Lovich, measured 39.1 mm (range = 37.4–40.6 32.2–43.2 mm; SD = 2.34M. nigricans mm), and 2009). Although is not the mm), the mean egg width 22.6 mm weighed 10.4 g (range = 7–14 g; SD = only turtle species known to dig multi- (range = 20.1–23.9), and the mean egg 1.93). As hatchlings, have chambered nests, to our knowledge, it is mass was 11.9 g (range = 10.0–13.6 g). uniquely-colored red plastrons that the first to be documented digging two The female camouflaged the nest site remain vibrant for approximately one equivalent nest chambers simultane- after egg deposition was completed, year, after which they begin to darken to ously, one with each hind limb. although an oval pattern was still a drab black color (Fig. 2). The evolutionary reasons for using visible on the ground. Following the Nesting strategies in which more satellite nests are currently unknown, completion of the nest by the female, than one nest chamber is excavatedPseudemys although it was initially thought that we excavated the known nests and in- concinnahave been suwanniensis observed in other turtle spe- these nests acted as predator “decoys” cubated the eggs indoors; however, we cies.P. f. floridanaThe Suwannee Cooter ( to keep the main nest chamber from also found two hatchlings in the pond P. f. peninsularis ), Florida Cooter being depredated (Carr, 1952). Cople the following autumn, indicating that ( ), and Peninsular Cooter and Pilgrim (1993) suggest, however, some nests escaped our observations ( ) have all been docu- that the satellite chambersM. nigricans provide and that the eggs had hatched outdoors. mented digging multi-chambered nests little protection for eggs in the primary We artificially incubated all of the (Carr, 1952; Franz, 1986; Jackson, 1988;M. nest chamber. For , their eggs collected in Styrofoamo incubatorso nigricansAresco, 2004; Ernst and Lovich, 2009). construction of adjacent two-holed set at a temperature of 82 F (28 C), us- Two aspectsPseudemys of the two-hole nests of nests may simply represent a unique ing a medium of vermiculite. Although Pseudemys, however, set them apart from digging methodology, rather than for M.we nigricans could not find any data in the litera- the three taxa. First, al- evolved predator deterrence. The width M.ture reevesii for egg incubation temperatures in though spp. will dig multiple between the chambers is likely corre- , Du et al. (2006) incubated nests, the main nest chamber is much lated with the size of the nesting female.

(a known TSD species)o deeper and more distinct than the side Further studies of these unusual turtles at temperatures from 24 to 33 C and chambers or satellite nestsPseudemys (Carr, 1952; are warranted, and captive populations found that more females were produced Franz, 1986). Additionally, although can shed light on ecological behaviors at higher and more males at the lower it is not uncommon for that are difficult to observe in the wild temperatures,o but that temperatures spp. to lay one or two eggs in the side for Acknomany wledgmentsAsian turtle species. of 27–28 C produced equal sex ratios. chambers or satellite nests, the majority The incubation times varied, but they of each clutch is typically found in the . — The animals averaged 69 days (range = 62–75; N = primary nestM. nigricans chamber (Carr, 1952; used in this study were provided by 4). We measured the midline carapace Franz, 1986; Ernst and Lovich, 2009), the Tewksbury Turtle Institute and are and plastron lengths (mm) and weighed whereas generally deposits part of Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) (g) the hatchling turtles once they the eggs equally between the two Assurance Colony Programs. The SREL Vibrant red plastron of hatchling Red-necked Pond Turtles (M. nigricans; left) and differences in male (center) and female (right) head markings.

AUGUST 2010 TSA 91 A B C

D E F

(a) An unfinished two-holed nest 4( June 2006) with chambers 60 mm apart; (b) a covered two-holed nest (4 June 2006); (c) excavating a two- holed nest (4 June 2006) with chambers 90 mm apart, one egg in left chamber and three eggs in right chamber; (d) excavating a two-holed nest (10 June 2006) with chambers 110 mm apart, two eggs in left chamber and three eggs in right chamber; (e) an excavated 2-hole nest (4 June 2006) with chambers 60 mm apart, two eggs in left chamber and three eggs in right chamber; and (f) a two-holed nest (4 August 2006) with all four eggs in the right chamber.

(a) Female Mauremys nigricans on nesting Pseudemys floridana peninsularis foray, and (b) finishing covering a two-holed allowed us to use their facilities for . Florida Sci. nest, 25 June 2006. this project. Tracey D. Tuberville 56(Supplement 1): 32 (abstract). Du, W.-G., R.-Q. Zheng, and L. Shu. 2006. The influ- provided helpful comments on the ence of incubation temperature on morphology, locomotor performance, and cold tolerance of manuscript. Other funding support Chinemys reevesi was provided by the U. S. Depart- hatchling Chinese Three-keeled Pond Turtles, A . Chelonian Conserv. Biol. 5: ment of Energy’s Financial Assist- 294–299. ance Award DE-FC09-96SR18546 to Ernst, C. H., and J. E. Lovich. 2009. Turtles of the United States and Canada. The Johns Hopkins the ’s Savannah Pseudemys floridana peninsularis University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. River Ecology Laboratory. Franz, R. 1986. (): Egg Predation. Herpetol. Literature Cited Pseud- Rev. 17: 64. emys floridana scripta Honda, M., Y. Yasukawa, and H. Ota. 2002. Phylog- Aresco, M. J. 2004. Reproductive ecology of Mauremys eny of the Eurasian freshwater turtles of the and (Testu- Maure- genus Gray 1869 (Testudines), with dines: ) in Northwestern Florida. J. mys japonica Chinemys reevesii special reference to the close affinity of Herpetol. 38: 249–256. with . J. Zool. Syst. Bonin, F., B. Devaux, and A. Dupre. 2006. Turtles of Evol. Res. 40: 195–200. the World. The Johns Hopkins University Press, IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Baltimore, Maryland. Version 2009.1. (www.iucnredlist.org; viewed Buhlmann, K. A., T. S. B. Akre, J. B. Iverson, D. Kara- 23 July 2009). B patakis, R. A. Mittermeier, A. Georges, A. G. J. Jackson, D. R. 1988. Reproductive strategies of Rhodin, P. P. van Dijk, and J. W. Gibbons. 2009. A sympatric freshwater emydid turtles in northern global analysis of tortoise and freshwater turtle peninsular Florida. Bulletin of the Florida State distributions with identification of priority Mus. Biol. Sci. 33: 115–157. conservation areas. Chelonian Conserv. Biol. 8: Spinks, P. Q., H. B. Shaffer, J. B. Iverson, and W. P. 116–149. McCord. 2004. Phylogenetic hypotheses for the Carr, A. 1952. The Handbook of Turtles: The Turtles turtle family Geoemydidae. Mol. Phylogenet. of the United States, Canada, and Baja California. Evol. 32: 164–182. Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell Univer- 1 sity Press, Ithaca, New York. University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Lab, Cople, P. E., and M. A. Pilgrim. 1993. The effects of Building 737-A, Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina satellite nests on predation in artificial nests of 29802. Email: [email protected] 92 TSA AUGUST 2010 donor recognition

Thank you for your support! Supporters donating 2010 Conference Sponsors $2,500 $7,499

– The TSA gratefully acknowledges the Conservation International, ZooMed/ following donors and organizations Columbus Zoo, Detroit Zoological Gary Bagnall, Brett and Nancy for their generous support over the Society, San Diego Zoo, Metro Stearns, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, past year (July 2009–July 2010): Toronto Zoo, Jay Allen/Aquarium Victoria’s Zoos, John Iverson, Bryan Supporters donating Innovations, Pat Koval, Los Angeles Zaher, Andy Sabin Family Foundation, $200–$499 Zoo, Robert Martin (on behalf of the Behler Chelonian Center/Turtle HATZH Donation Fund). Conservancy, Chelonian Research Supporters donating Foundation, Council, $7,500 $19,999 and David Shapiro. Mr.and Mrs. R. D. Hudson, 2010 Behler Award Sponsors Guundie Kuchling, Central Illinois – Herpetological Society, Clarence Abercrombie, Nancy Moysiuk, Peter Brian Bolton, Taste of Thai, Reed, Emily Rhine, Gerard Salmon, Walde Research & Environmental Chelonian Research Foundation, Robin DeBled, and Joseph Johnson. Consulting, Cleveland Zoo Society/ Behler Chelonian Center/Turtle Supporters donating Wade Foundation, and Turtle Conservancy, Deborah Behler, $500 $2,499 Conservation Fund. Chelonian Research Institute, World Supporters donating Chelonian Trust, Conservation – $20,000 or more International, Wildlife Conservation ASociety, special and thanks Brett to and Sheena Nancy Koeth Stearns. Sedgwick County Zoo, Woodland for selling merchandise on behalf Park Zoo, Delta Foundation, Knoxville of the TSA, which resulted in more Zoo, David Shapiro, Houston Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, Beneficia than $5,000 in funds raised for turtle Ray Moser (on behalf of the HATZH Foundation, Nature’s Own, Pat conservation. Donation Fund). Koval/WWF Canada, and Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.

AUGUST 2010 TSA 93 Behler Award

Bernard Devaux Receives the 5th Annual Astrochelys radiata2007. A bilingual monograph on the 2010 Behler Turtle Conservation Award Madagascan Tortoise ( ) is about to be published, a species that he studies and protects hermanni on the south of the island. The IUCN/SSC Tortoise and to study and protectVillage the desHermann’s Tortues Bernard is a great believer Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group Tortoise ( ). He in globalizing conservation. By and the Turtle Survival Alliance are then created the developing a worldwide network of pleased to announce that the 2010 (Turtle Village) in Gonfaron in specialists, enthusiasts, and those Behler Turtle Conservation Award southern France in 1988, with the who work tirelessly to protect will be presented to Bernard Devaux idea to finance conservation by turtles, we can combat trafficking, from SOPTOM, Gonfaron, France. opening a visitor center that was not collecting, and the removal of turtles Bernard is a leading turtle only scientific but also accessible and tortoises from their natural conservationist whose work in to the public. Spurred on by the habitats. With this aim, he has France and around the world has success of the concept, he opened the organized and sponsored several been inspirational for many, as he first Turtle Clinic in Europe (1989) international chelonian conferences has created a series of educational followed by other Turtle Villages in and symposia on conservation (1995 “turtle villages” around the world Corsica (at Moltifao in 1992), Senegal in GonfaronEmys orbicularisand 2003 in Senegal), and worked tirelessly for the (at Noflaye in 1995), and Madagascar pathology (1992), the European conservation of wild populations of (at Ifaty in 2003). Testudoturtle (1999), and turtles and tortoises. He is essentially Through making films about the palearctic tortoises of the genus a self-taught naturalist, as well as reptiles, as well as holding (2002).Emys In October orbicularis 2010, he a traveler, writer, and film director. conferences and meeting other will co-sponsor the fifth European He believes that a new way of tortoise and nature enthusiasts such Symposium on thinking is needed to better protect as David Stubbs, Ian Swingland, (in conjunction with the Swiss the world’s turtles and tortoises, Gerald and Lee Durrell, and Peter association, P.R.T.). by disseminating information and Pritchard, Bernard became a fierce To encourage the creation of a raising awareness among children protector of Europe’s tortoises, worldwide chelonian conservation and the general public, starting then of tortoises in other French- network, he visits and assists centers with the premise that tortoises are speaking countries, and finally all and programs around the world not creatures to be kept in a garden over the world. He uses a variety (Australia, China, Costa Rica, , or an aquarium, they are not toys of media in France and abroad Malaysia,La Tortue Spain, and South Africa) for children to play with, nor are (television, radio and films, as well and keeps specialists informed via they trophies for collectors — they as specialized and general press) to his magazine, which is are wild animals that should be raise as much public awareness as distributed in 25 countries (three protected in their naturalStation habitats. possible regarding the fate of our issues a year, in French but with d’Observation In 1986, Bernard et de Protection created the des planet’s turtles and tortoises. He has a small English supplement). He TortuesSOPTOM et association de leurs Milieux ( written overEncyclopedia 10 books on of tortoises,Turtles of firmly believes that globalizing skills theboth World specialized and generalized, as and consciences is the only way ; Station well as an (thanks to the internet, and powerful for the Observation and Protection of (1996), in four languages, organizations such as the IUCN, CI, Turtles and their Habitats) in order in conjunction with two other WWF, and TSA) to act quickly in order naturalist photographers, Alain to prevent major turtle and tortoise TSA: Working to secure CentrochelysDupré and Franck sulcata Bonin. He is a sites from being destroyed, such as a future for turtles. specialistDipsochelys on the African dussumieri Tortoise, in in 2005 and in the Mary gigantea, and the Aldabra River in eastern Australia in 2009. Tortoise, (= His ambition is to put an end ), and wrote to the turtle and tortoise trade, two monographs in French and and to see every country restore 94 TSA AUGUST 2010 English on these species in 2000 and its territory’s biotopes and chelonian populations. He also hopes that other information and conservation centers similar to the Turtle Villages will be opened in several countries, encouraging the desire to protect local chelonian populations efficiently. In addition, he hopes that young herpetologists, environmentalists, and biologists will fiercely devote themselves to much- needed chelonian conservation on tortoisesour planet. have He been often on reminds our planet us for(as 230P. Pritchard million years, and J. butBehler we havesaid): a responsibility now, in the 21st century, to make sure they do not disappear!

The IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group and Turtle Survival Alliance established the Behler Turtle Conservation Award in 2006, a major annual award presented jointly by these groups to honor leadership and excellence in the field of tortoise and freshwater turtle conservation. The award honors the memory of John L. Behler, previous Chair of the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group and Curator of Herpetology at the , Wildlife Conservation Society. The Award includes an honorarium of $3,000, and co- sponsors this year are Chelonian Research Foundation, Conservation International, Chelonian Research Institute, Behler Chelonian Center, World Chelonian Trust, Wildlife Conservation Society, Deborah Behler, and Brett and Nancy Stearns. Previous Behler Award honorees Bernard Devaux with a Radiated Tortoise have been Ed Moll, Whit Gibbons, (Astrochelys radiata). Peter Pritchard, and Gerald Kuchling. often tireless and dedicated efforts In addition to honoring the life- made by all these these individuals time achievements of senior turtle is important, and the Behler Award and tortoise conservationists, the hopes to provide some inspiration Award also honors conservation and reward for those who have efforts by younger individuals who demonstrated excellence and make major contributions to the leadership on the front lines of global field. Recognizing and valuing the turtle conservation efforts. AUGUST 2010 TSA 95

photo by brian d. horne

The burgeoning illegal trade in Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) is leaving many Publication individuals as refugees in their own country. Those lucky enough to be intercepted by Supported by: the wildlife authorities might end up in the Village des Tortues rescue facility at Ifaty, in southwestern Madagascar. Although these tortoises are released into protected areas, they still face an uncertain future.