Dedicated to California Turtle & Tortoise Club Turtle & Tortoise Conservation, Preservation, the Tortuga Gazette and Education Since 1964 Volume 56, Number 2 • March/April 2020
Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides, the common spider tortoise, photographed in Tsimanampetsotsa National Park on the southwestern coast of Madagascar. Photo © 2018 by Charles J. Sharp Spider Tortoise, Pyxis arachnoides (Bell 1827) The Malagasy Spider Tortoise by M. A. Cohen nhabiting a narrow strip of word pyxi-, meaning a box, and the inches (13 centimeters) in length, Icoastline in southern Mada- species name arachnoides derives while the slightly smaller males av- gascar, the spider tortoise, Pyxis from the Greek root word arachni-, erage 4.5 inches (11 centimeters) arachnoides, is one of only two meaning a spider or a spider web. in length (Smithsonian). species in the genus Pyxis. The The term “Malagasy” is a noun Brown or black in background flat-tailed or flat-shelled tortoise, or an adjective that refers to an coloration, the species' carapace P. planicauda, is the other species inhabitant of the island of Mada- displays yellow or tan, radiating in the genus Pyxis, and it is endem- gascar; it is also the name of the patterning on each vertebral and ic to western Madagascar. Both Austronesian language spoken on pleural scute that resembles a Pyxis species are included on the the island. spider’s web. There is considerable World Atlas’s “The Nine Species variation in the carapacial patterns of Tortoise on the Brink of Ex- Description of the species. It is these web-like tinction,” according to the IUCN Rarely exceeding 6 inches (15 carapacial markings that give the Red List of Threatened Species. centimeters) in carapace length, the spider tortoise is the small- spider tortoise its common name. Small in size, the spider tortoise est tortoise species native to The plastron coloration and the is a species of tortoise in the Te- Madagascar. The female common range of motion of the plastral studinidae family. The genus name spider tortoises typically average 5 hinge vary by subspecies, and are Pyxis derives from the Greek root 2 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020
The Malagasy Spider Tortoise by M. A. Cohen 1 C The Tortoise Palace by Emma Baldwin 4 O Fun with Photoshop by Robert Parker 7 The Turtle’s Garden: Bougainvillea 8 N Killing gods: the last hope for the world’s rarest reptile by Jeremy L. Hance 10 T Forty-Year Captive Breeding Program for Española Tortoises Concludes 13 E The global scientific community mourns the loss of world-renowned turtle 14 N conservationist Dr. Peter Pritchard T Mike’s Turtle Net Picks by Michael J. Connor, Ph.D. 16 Meetings and Programs S Rare turtles saved from shrinking waterholes — Wildlife experts are moving rare Manning River turtles from rapidly drying waterholes 18 described in more detail in the ¶ P. a. brygooi, the northern spider 50% canopy coverage to better “Subspecies” section below. tortoise, was formally described in regulate their body temperatures The head of the spider tortoise is 1972 by Vuillemin and Domergue. (Anon, Smithsonian National Zoo). brown or black with yellow speck- It occupies the northernmost por- The species’ range, which extends ling, and its limbs and tail are tion of the spider tortoise range from coastal Madagascar to 16 typically brown. "southwest of the Mangoky River to 80 miles (10 to 50 kilometers) between Morombe, Lake Ihotry, inland, is dominated by xerophytic 1 Besides being slightly smaller than and Fanemotra Bay" (Naturalis spiny vegetation, primarily suc- the female, the male spider tor- Biodiversity Center). culents and shrubs, coupled with toise has a longer, thicker tail that sparse, irregular rainfall. features a more pronounced ter- The plastron of this subspecies minal spine. is yellow with some dark blotch- Natural History ing, and its anterior hinge lacks Because it has not been well-stud- Subspecies mobility. ied, the life cycle of P. arachnoides Biologists currently recognize ¶ in the wild is largely unknown. Ac- three subspecies of Pyxis arach- P. a. oblonga, the southern spider tortoise, was described by cording to Pyxis authority Ryan C. noides based on their geographic J. Walker, "P. arachnoides has, until variations. British zoologist John Edward Gray (1800-1875) in 1869. It occurs, recently, been almost completely ¶ ✦ P. arachnoides arachnoides, as its common name implies, in overlooked by the scientific and the common spider tortoise, was the southernmost portion of the conservation community." scientifically described by English species range “along the southern In the absence of hard evidence, zoologist Thomas Bell (1792- coast of Madagascar from La Linta biologists estimate that the spe- 1880) in 1827 and was the only to Lake Anony“ (Naturalis Biodi- cies lives some 70 years. recognized species of P. arachnoi- versity Center). des for over 40 years. P. arachnoides is primarily active The plastron of P. a. oblonga is during the wet season which, in Having the largest range of the yellow with some dark pigmenta- Madagascar, occurs from Novem- three subspecies, the common tion and a mobile anterior hinge ber to April. During the dry season, spider tortoise "occurs along the that allows the tortoise to close roughly May to October, the spe- southwestern coast of Madagas- its plastron to its carapace for cies will typically enter a period of car in the vicinity of the Onilahy self-defense. summer dormancy called estiva- River, which virtually splits its Range and Habitat tion when they commonly burrow range into northern and southern into the sand in their habitats. portions" (Naturalis Biodiversity Inhabiting the arid, deciduous, Center). tropical forests and the coast- The term 'fecundity' refers to the al sandy regions of Madagascar ability to produce an abundance The plastron of P. a. arachnoides “from the Mahajamba River south- of offspring. With the onset of the is solid yellow in color and features ward around Cape Sainte-Marie wet season, spider tortoises be- a mobile anterior hinge that the almost to Fort-Dauphin” (Naturalis come active and set out to search tortoise can close to meet its car- Biodiversity Center), the three 1 apace, affording the animal some spider tortoise subspecies usu- xerophyte ['ze-roh-fyt']: a botanical protection against predators. term describing a type of plant that ally occur in locations with 30 to requires very little water. 3 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020
to spider tortoise pop- Union have signed on. ulations. Researchers The CITES agreement grew out of surmise that some a resolution adopted in 1963 at a 80% of spider tor- meeting of the International Union toise habitat has been for the Conservation of Nature compromised. (IUCN), a global organization that The northern subspe- assesses the status of the natu- cies, P. a. brygooi, is ral world. The IUCN maintains the considered the most Red List of Threatened Species, threatened of the in which P. arachnoides is catego- three subspecies. The rized as Critically Endangered, the Two spider tortoises. The heavily spined plant on the right side northern subspecies last category before Extinct in the of the image is the trunk of a species of Pachypodium, a genus of does not live in legally Wild. succulents native to Madagascar and southern Africa. The Pachy- protected areas (i.e., Nationally, since 1960 Madagascar podium is typical of the xerophytic vegetation that occurs in spider parklands or wild- tortoise habitat. Public domain. has a law protecting spider tor- life reserves) so it is toises from exploitation. Several particularly suscep- for mates. Researchers charac- protected areas and reserves exist tible to habitat loss and human in country. A breeding center run terize the spider tortoise as being exploitation. a species of low fecundity. The by the French non-governmental female usually lays a single egg per Although spider tortoises are pro- organization Village des Tortues clutch but the number of clutches tected under Malagasy law, they at Mangily-Ifaty that seeks to per breeding season is not known. are illegally hunted and harvested protect both radiated and spider The species' eggs incubate for for food locally, for the Asian tra- tortoises (Astrochelys radiata and ditional medicine markets, and for P. arachnoides), both occurring in some 220 to 250 days prior to hatching. the international exotic pet trade. the breeding-center area. Foods consumed by spider tortois- Conservation References es include both young and dried In 2005 P. arachnoides was uplist- Anon. International Union for the Conservation of Nature. [online]. Available from: https:// leaves, fallen fruits and flowers, ed to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endan- www.iucn.org plant roots, insects, and the dung Anon. What is CITES?. [online]. Available from: gered Species of Wild Fauna and of larger animals that often con- https://www.fws.gov/international/cites/ tains insect larvae. At least one Flora (CITES). Appendix I is part what-is-cites.html subspecies, P. a. arachnoides, has of an international agreement Leuteritz, T. and Walker, R. (2014). Spi- der Tortoise. [online]. Available only been observed eating during between signatory counties that restricts commercial trade to from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ the warm, wet season (Walker, species/19035/50987297#habitat-ecology varying degrees in listed fauna and et.al 2008). Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Turtles of the flora in an attempt to ensure spe- World. [online]. Available from: https:// Threats cies survival in the wild. Currently turtles.linnaeus.naturalis.nl/linnae- Beginning in 2014, P. arachnoides 182 nations and the European us_ng/app/views/species/nsr_taxon. is categorized as Critically En- php?id=8139&epi=11 dangered on the IUCN Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Red List of Threatened Biology Institute. Spider Tortoise. [online]. Available from: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/ Species. This desig- animals/spider-tortoise nation resulted from Walker, R. C .J. (2009). The spider tortoise several factors that (Pyxis arachnoides): Madagascar’s for- adversely affect spider gotten species. [online]. Available from: B. tortoises. C. G. Testudo Walker, R. C. J., Woods-Ballard, A.J. and Rix, Habitat destruction, C.E. (2008). Population density and degradation, and frag- seasonal activity of the threatened Mada- mentation because gascar spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides) of the southern dry forests; of "conversion for South West Madagascar. [online]. Avail- agriculture, charcoal able from: African Journal of Ecology production, human-in- Zoological Society of London. Edge of Exis- A spider tortoise photographed on Île Sainte Marie, a small island off tence. [online]. Available from: http:// duced wildfires, and the east coast of Madagascar that is now known as Nosy Boraha, This alien invasive plants" www.edgeofexistence.org/species/ individual is more than likely a captive, as the species is not native to Nosy spider-tortoise/ pose significant threats Boraha. Photo © 2018 by JialiangGao 4 4 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020
Story by Emma Baldwin,The Primary Wildlife Tortoise Rehabilitation AnimalPalace Care Keeper, The Living Desert Photographs by Emma Baldwin except as noted Desert tortoises waiting to be ad- behind the zoo’s wild- opted just got an upgrade to their life hospital and can temporary housing! The Living house up to six tor- Desert’s Native Wildlife Conser- toises. It is surrounded vation Program (NWCP) received by tall brick walls, with a $2,500 grant from the California a natural desert dirt Turtle and Tortoise Club to help floor and an open-air fund renovations to an existing top. There is a large outdoor space. The vision was to palo verde tree in the create a more suitable habitat for middle of the yard. Four the tortoises. of the six tortoise pens surround the tree, while the other two pens are located on Members of AmeriCorps Gold 2 group pose in the tortoise yard. the side of the Photograph by Dr. James Danoff-Burg. yard. The yard is equipped top of the high summer tempera- with a hose and concrete tures (115°F), and staff worried pad for cleaning trays and that the tortoises could over-heat, dishes. even in their burrows. Prior to renovations, the The new design features six yard had five long, nar- rectangular pens, four 12’ x 10’ and row tortoise runs, each two 10’ x 8’. The walls around and of which had an artificial between pens are constructed burrow made of a plastic of 3-foot-tall Ondura corrugated tunnel leading into a modified irrigation box. Shadecloth was clipped over the front of each The tortoise yard, prior to renovation, featured five long burrow to provide addi- runs. A large palo verde tree (Parkinsonia florida = Cercidium tional shade. The walls floridum) spans the tortoise yard. between runs were The Living Desert Zoo and Gar- made from corrugated panels dens is located in Palm Desert, which were wired to garden California and is accredited by the stakes. Association of Zoos and Aquari- Renovations addressed a few ums (AZA). The NWCP is the Zoo’s known issues with the original wildlife rehabilitation program, design. The walls between the and it includes the Desert Tortoise pens were not buried in the Adoption Program. The Low Desert ground, so sometimes a tor- Chapter of the California Turtle toise would dig into its neigh- and Tortoise Club (who provided bor’s pen. It is important to the grant) and the NWCP collab- keep individuals separated so orate to care for and adopt sur- there is no chance for captive rendered pet desert tortoises to breeding or fighting between qualified individuals or families. tortoises. Also, the shadecloth Healthy adult tortoises that meet did not provide adequate shade adoption criteria live in the outdoor or cooling for the tortoises. yard, unofficially called the “Tor- The brick walls surrounding the Artificial burrows were installed prior to setting pen toise Palace.” The yard is located yard hold in additional heat, on walls. 5 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020
desert) and are turned off and placed wall panels and fence when the humidity exceeds posts, moved dirt to fit the burrows 30% (rare for the desert). and tunnels, and helped level out With misters running on a the pens once digging was com- hot day, the area surround- plete. Zoo maintenance staff was ing the burrow is kept sig- instrumental in ordering, cutting, nificantly cooler, so tortois- and organizing building materials es don’t risk overheating! and helping AmeriCorps volunteers The irrigation box burrows get everything into place. The from the original design grant from the CTTC funded mate- were upgraded to a more rials and the total project cost was heavy-duty model of water $4,681 including labor. meter boxes, to which NWCP staff is thrilled with the maintenance staff added lid outcome! The “Palace” was com- handles for ease of access. pleted just in time for brumating Strong corrugated plastic tortoises to awaken and enjoy their tubes that had been donat- new living space. The renovated ed to the zoo were used as yard has been used for one sea- new tunnels into the boxes. son (March-November 2019) with The tubes are 16” and 18” great success. The tortoises seem wide and the boxes are 20” comfortable and use their burrows and 24”. The boxes were daily when the temperatures rise. AmeriCorps volunteers start digging the trenches for the pen cut to nicely rest the tubes They are cool to the touch even on walls. inside. Approximately half the hottest days and several walk asphalt panels attached to fence of the tube and box are through the misters regularly. They posts. Approximately one foot of buried below the dirt to help with rearrange dirt inside their burrows, the panel is buried beneath the insulation. The boxes are posi- but do not attempt to dig between dirt, while the rest of the panel is tioned slightly behind each roof so pens, or out of their pen. above ground. Staff and volunteers that staff and volunteers can easily The opportunity to improve animal step over the walls to clean the access tortoises in their burrows, housing is always exciting, and pens. The top portion of the panels or clean/replace the dirt inside. NWCP staff is happy to provide are reinforced with metal tubing Each pen has ample room to add support. There have been for a tortoise to roam no issues with tortoises digging around, with options for under the walls now that a portion direct sunlight and shade. is buried below the dirt. Staff has room to service A new feature to each pen is the each pen and the addition addition of a roof over the burrow. of a second garden hose Each roof is a 5’ x 4’ panel of Ondu- in the yard allows the easy ra corrugated asphalt secured to provision of soaking dishes. redwood posts. The roof covers a Staff gardeners added 3’ corrugated tube that leads into native plants to each pen the burrow, as well as the space in and the tortoises regularly front of the tube. The shadow from receive enrichment items the roof also shades the burrow to further stimulate their box during the heat of the day. A lives. Favorite enrichment PVC mister system runs along the includes whiffle balls with wooden frame under each roof, dandelion greens and prick- offering additional cooling on warm ly pear pads. days. The pens have individual mis- None of the renovations ter controls, so water is not wasted would be possible without if any pen is not being used. Mis- the hard work of a group ters are generally set to run for the of AmeriCorps volunteers! hottest six hours of any day that From March 19-21, 2019, is above 95°F (most days in the A close up view of the modified water meter box serving as this group dug trenches part of the artificial burrow. 6 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020 better and safer habitats for this amazing species! Foothill Chapter A special thank you to the Low Desert Chapter of the Annual Plant Auction CTTC, Dr. Andrea Good- night, the conservation April 24 at 7:00 p.m. department, and mainte- A wide variety of plants and trees nance and gardens staff will be available at the annual plant for your support of this auction! Donations for the auction project. The NWCP would come from various plant nurseries, be happy to share more pond plant gardens for aquatic details of the project with turtles, and horticulture/agriculture anyone who is interested. schools. Members will also provide If you have any questions their specialty homegrown plants. or comments, please email [email protected] Plant donations will consist of a large variety of California native For more information and direc- plants,”tortoise friendly” plants, cacti tions to The Living Desert Zoo and and other succulents, exotic plants, Gardens, please visit its website: hard-to-find plants, trees, shrubs and https://www.livingdesert.org pond plants for aquatic turtles.
The four largest tortoise pens, post-renovation, featuring roof This is a Foothill Chapter fundraising structures over the burrows. event so that we may continue our mission to care for and find forever t A desert tortoise enjoys homes for our “shelled friends,” as the sunshine in its new well as providing education/outreach temporary home. programs to the public.
The annual plant auction will take place in the Palm Room at the Los An- geles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California 91007.
Questions? Contact Robin Robb, Foothill Chapter president, at (951) 359-3003 or send an email to [email protected]
u A desert tortoise enjoys the cooling shade provided by the roof structure over its burrow. 7 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020 Fun with Photoshop images created by Robert Parker Founding member and current president of CTTC’s Ridgecrest chapter, Robert Parker displays his creative skills in these origi- nal images produced with Adobe Studio’s digital imaging program Photoshop.
p A sulcata tortoise dwarfs the Trona Pinnacles rock for- mation east of Ridgecrest, CA. The Trona Pinnacles have been used for filming Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, Land of the Lost, and lots of other sci-fi has been done there.
p A desert tortoise takes a sunset stroll past the Kerr McGee Center in Ridgecrest, CA.
p A diamondback terrapin observes the clouds while wading through floodwaters on Balsam Street in Ridgecrest, CA. Balsam Street often floods when heavy thunderstorms occur in the region.
u A tarantula stalks a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) crew surveying for bats at an proposed mine restoration site. The crew members are Pat Brown Berry, a leading bat expert in the western U.S., Lisa Lavelle, a biologist who is the part time Naturalist at the DTNA, and Shelley Ellis, who was a biologist at BLM. 8 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020 the Bougainvillea species Turtle s Bougainvillea arden lantin or chelonian by M A Cohen he extravagantly colorful Tvines of the bougainvillea species are a spectacular addition to gardens in equatorial, subtrop- ical, and even temperate-region gardens worldwide. The genus name Bougainvillea de- rives from the surname of an admi- ral in the French Navy named Louis Antoine de Bougainville (1729- 1811) who circumnavigated the globe in the 18th century. During Bougainvillea blossoms. Brightly colored, papery, petal-like bracts in colors of yellow, red, and pink surround clusters of three white, inconspicuous true flowers. Photo © 2014 by Mokkie that extensive voyage, de Bou- gainville and his crew discovered inconspicuous, creamy-white true plant will survive the occasional the vine that was subsequently flowers, the other component of cold snap during which freezing named Bougainvillea in the region the “blossom.” temperatures are short-lived, i.e., now known as the South American several hours. Once all danger of nation of Brazil. The vines of bougainvillea are densely covered in evergreen frost has passed, hard-prune the While there are well over 200 spe- leaves that are somewhat heart- damaged vines to encourage new, cies of Bougainvillea worldwide, shaped, medium green in color, and healthy growth. the genus is known to hybridize some 2.5 inches (6 centimeters) in While the bougainvillea is not freely in the wild and in cultivation. length (Brenzel, ed. 2012). finicky about the texture of the Horticulturists have developed the soil, its ideal soil would be a loam modern, commercially available Located at the base of each leaf, sharp thorns make pruning the (equal parts sand, silt and clay). varieties from a hand full of natu- Added humus (organic matter such rally-occurring species. bougainvillea a bit tricky. Coating each thorn is a toxic substance as compost) will benefit the plant, Description that can cause contact dermati- providing nutrients at the root A fast-growing, rambunctious, tis if it pricks the skin. Thornless level as the humus breaks down. woody vine, bougainvillea grows 15 cultivars such as ‘Miss Alice’ and Ample water after planting aids to 40 feet (5 to 12 meters) de- ‘Silhouette’ are available for sale. the bougainvillea in becoming pending on the variety. Dwarf and Bougainvilleas attain peak bloom established in the garden. Once shrub-like cultivars, many ±5 feet in summer in most areas. Where this is accomplished, usually after (2 meters) in height and spread, winters are mild, the species will one season of growth, the vine are also available commercially for bloom from spring through fall and becomes quite drought-tolerant, smaller gardens and containers. even into winter. and horticulturists recommend The bougainvillea “blossom” is moderate to average watering Cultivation only. Too much water can cause composed of two elements. Bracts, Bougainvillea species typically re- which are actually modified leaves, yellow or tan spots on the leaves, quire full sun and well-drained soil and possibly the loss of leaves. are the three comparatively large, for best performance. White- and paper-like components of the bou- yellow-flowering varieties general- Apply a balanced fertilizer (equal gainvillea “blossom” that provide ly benefit from some light shade in parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and its vibrant colors. Ranging from areas with the hottest summers. potassium) at one-half the label pure white to pink, lilac, apricot, strength once a month during the yellow, orange, red, magenta, and Bougainvillea thrives in areas in season of active growth (Spen- purple, the bracts surround three which winters are mild and freez- gler). ing temperatures are unlikely. The 9 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020 Any time of year, tip pinching will sive pruning and training needed keep the bougainvillea compact. for bonsai and topiary creations. More extensive pruning should Landscapers advise against be done when flowering has planting bougainvillea near slowed down or ceased, or when swimming pools or in high-traffic all danger of frost has passed. areas of the garden to prevent Although the bougainvillea plant injuries from its thorns. Alter- is considered non-toxic, the natively, conscientious pruning, coating on its thorns can cause keeping the vines well above the contact dermatitis if the thorns heads of adults, will keep both pierce one’s skin. When perform- people and pets out of harm’s ing a heavy pruning, gauntlet way. gloves that cover the forearms Bougainvillea is often planted are useful to protect the skin along the perimeter of a proper- Close-up of a bougainvillea blossom’s magenta bracts and against injury. If the skin is ty for security purposes, as its creamy-white flowers.Photo © 2006 by Marina Jacob scratched or pierced, cleanse the thorns are an effective deterrent wound and apply a hydrocorti- during establishment before the to intrusion. sone cream to reduce pain, itching, vines become stiffened with woody and swelling (Reed). References tissue. Without support, the spe- Brenzel, ed., K.N. (2012). Sunset western garden Because it grows without ten- cies grows as a sprawling ground or book. New York, NY: Time Home Entertain- drils, flexible stems, or any other ment. bank cover. Reed, C. The Danger of Bougainvillea Thorns. means of climbing, Bougainvillea Dwarf varieties of bougainvillea [online]. Available from: https://www.hunker. requires attachment to a building are suitable for smaller gardens, com/13426412/the-danger-of-bougainvil- wall, strong fence, heavy trellis, lea-thorns. containers, and hanging baskets sturdy arbor, or the like for training Spengler, T. Bougainvillea Care. [Online]. Available (Brenzel, ed. 2012). Additionally, upward. It is necessary to fasten at: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ the dwarf and shrub-like varieties ornamental/vines/bougainvillea/ bougainvil- the vines to the support structure adapt especially well to the exten- lea-garden-care.htm 10 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020 Killing gods: The last hope for the world’s rarest reptile written by Jeremy Leon Hance and posted on Mongabay.com on 7 January 2020 m After decades of dams, God and named the spot “The Lake across the border in Laos. We just overhunting and pollution of the Returned Sword,” or Hoan need to find the survivors, catch the Yangtze giant soft- Kiem Lake. them, and bring a breeding pair to- shell turtle is down to three While the last turtle god of Hoan gether, before the situation really known individuals. Kiem perished in 2016 (“It was like becomes too late. m But conservationists say if losing part of our culture,” Hoang “The possibilities for recovery are they can just located a male Van Ha, a conservationist with the quite high,” McCormack tells me as and female, survival for the Asian Turtle Program, or ATP, told we drive through the manic Hanoi world’s biggest freshwater The New Yorker), the species is not traffic. He says a female can lay 30 turtle is still possible. wholly gone — just almost. to 40 eggs in one clutch, and more m The plan would be to cap- than one clutch a year. ture the animals and keep With just one healthy them in a semi-wild captive pair, and a bit of luck, state, but more funding and the global population resources are needed to could go from three move forward. to more than 50 in 12 Eighty-eight-year-old Le Huy Ho- months’ time. anh stands up from his bench and Dong Mo Lake carefully poured tea in rural Viet- Just an hour outside nam, and mimes for us how he used Hanoi’s bustles lies to kill gods. With his long spear quiet Dong Mo Lake, a and a net flanked in cruel hooks, scenic, sprawling body Hoanh was known for decades in of water in the shadow his little village as an able hunter of of the heavily forested the Yangtze giant softshell turtle A Yangtze giant softshell turtle in Vietnam. Image by Phuongcacanh Ba Vi Mountain. Dong (Rafetus swinhoei). via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Mo isn’t really a lake Hoanh looks spry and healthy for at all, but a 1,400-hectare (3,460- Today, scientists know for sure acre) reservoir, created when the an octogenarian, speaking ani- of three animals: one in captivity matedly in Vietnamese. It’s not Red River was dammed more than (male) and two in the wild (sex 40 years ago. difficult to imagine him as a young- unknown), but not inhabiting the er man, catching and killing the same lake. The only known female The dam is how McCormack and world’s biggest non-marine turtle, died in captivity in April of last his team suspect the turtle god weighing upward of 200 kilograms year, making the search for anoth- found its way here. McCormack (440 pounds) — now perhaps the er female paramount. and his team believe that Yangtze most endangered animal on the giant softshell turtles, as the name planet. Still, Tim McCormack, the head of suggests, aren’t really lake turtles; the ATP headquartered in Hanoi, they’re river and wetland turtles. In Vietnamese mythology, the isn’t despairing. He says there’s Yangtze giant softshell turtle is Historically, they inhabited the still a chance to save this species Yangtze River in China and the Red also the living representative of — if we act quickly. the Great Turtle God, Kim Qui. The River in both China and Vietnam, story goes something like this: With only three known animals as well as adjacent wetlands. In Kim Qui’s master, a deity called still alive, time is of the essence. their natural habitat, the turtles the Dragon King, gave Emperor Lê The captive male, in China, may be probably migrated through the Lợi his legendary sword, known as incapable of breeding. In Vietnam, rivers and nested on sandbanks in “Heaven’s Will.” With it, Lê Lợi freed there has long been an individual wetlands. Vietnam from a thousand-year rule in Dong Mo Lake, but in 2018, the McCormack believes that when by the Chinese. After his success, ATP confirmed another animal in the dams were built, several tur- he was approached by Kim Qui, the wild: one in Xuan Khanh Lake. tles became stranded in lakes and who asked for the sword back for And McCormack suspects others reservoirs like Dong Mo. These the Dragon King. Lê Lợi handed over may still be hiding in Vietnamese water bodies may be suboptimal the legendary sword to the Turtle lakes and rivers, and maybe even habitat — we don’t know — but 11 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020 they’ve certainly made it impossi- built, villagers were forced to move Here, the ATP used a different ble for turtles in different lakes to to a new spot on the edge of the strategy to find the turtle: after meet and mate. reservoir. reports and photos of the animals At the same time the turtle pop- Chop tells me via a translator that proved inconclusive, they turned ulation crashed. As people built he remembers many turtles in the to environmental DNA, or eDNA. dams, dumped pollution and over- area when he was very young. Now, Taking samples of the water, they fished East Asia’s great waterways, there is likely just the one here, but were able to finally prove a Yangtze we killed the once great river tur- Chop knows this individual very giant softshell turtle lives here. tles off. And as humans destroyed well. One could say he’s become But eDNA has its limits in the the wetlands, largely for rice attached. search for more turtles: McCor- paddies, they routed the turtles “If he goes to work and he doesn’t mack says the technology is not even further. Survivors probably see it that day, sometimes he feel the “silver bullet” they’d hoped. succumbed to hunters. a bit sad — which turns out to be They’ve discovered that eDNA We take a boat onto the lake, many days,” the translator tells me. may give many, many potential heading toward a large island. The false negatives, likely due to trying On average, Chop sees the turtle to get the DNA of a single animal chances of actually seeing this about two to three times a month. turtle god are slim, I’m told repeat- from a large body of water. In other If the villagers don’t see it for a few words, it turns out getting DNA for edly, but everyone on the boat still months, McCormack says, “they keeps a keen eye out. the Yangtze giant softshell turtle start to worry.” is like finding a needle in a hay- The Yangtze giant softshell turtle With the presence of conserva- stack or, you know, a single turtle is undeniably a strange-looking tionists here, the villagers have in a massive body of water. god: its long flat carapace and come to see the animal as one of This means that although the squishy body make it look, at times, their own. like rolled-out, forest-green dough, team has deployed eDNA in other the biggest weighing a stunning “All the people in the village and water bodies — and only gotten 150 to 220 kg (330 to 485 lb). It all the fishermen now know this negatives — they still can’t rule out has a long neck, capable of peri- Rafetus species in here [and] very other turtles. scoping like an otter, a mottled rare. They want to keep it for long Instead of going out on a boat, we snout, goggly eyes, and a pig nose time for all students in the village talk a short walk, in the heat of the — its countenance not unlike an can see it in the future,” Chop says afternoon, around a small portion alien out of Star Wars. via the translator. “They maintain it of Xuan Khanh, within sight of for, yes, future generations.” But its oddity and rarity is what where the turtle mostly resides. As brought me here. The species To this end, sections of the lake in Dong Mo, no turtle god appears, is number 20 on the Zoological have become no-fishing zones. but according to DNA, at least, it’s Society of London’s EDGE list of Meanwhile, the team tells me that there, just below the surface. reptiles, which ranks species based whenever any of the village’s more But with only three animals, can on a combination of their genetic than 50 fishermen see the turtle, anything be done? Yes, says distinctiveness and how imper- they call Chop. McCormack. There are two next iled they are. The Yangtze giant We head up the island and visit a steps: one is to figure out the sex softshell turtle has one living close recently constructed bamboo hut of the two turtles in the lakes. The relative: the Euphrates softshell for Chop’s convenience, so he has a other is to ramp up the search for turtle (Rafetus euphraticus), which shelter to sit in while watching for more individuals. is currently listed as endangered the turtle of Dong Mo to make its The confirmation of one female by the IUCN and clocks in at 59 on appearances. It doesn’t during our could make all the difference. If the EDGE list. short visit, but that’s to be expect- this happens, big decisions would After a short ride, we reach the ed of this shy god. have to be made: whether breeding island and meet Nguyen Van Trong, Xuan Khanh Lake should be attempted in the wild or known by the nickname of “Chop.” About 20 kilometers (12 miles) in captivity. In his sixties and a former fisher- northwest of Dong Mo sits anoth- “I think each has pros and cons,” man, Chop is now a full-time turtle er lake: Xuan Khanh, smaller and McCormack says. watcher. Before the Red River was less picturesque than Dong Mo, dammed, this island was actually but, as of 2018, the known home Currently, he says, the most likely his home; it was the site of the to another Yangtze giant softshell plan would be to attempt breeding original village. When the dam was turtle. in a captive situation but on site. 12 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020
This would allow conserva- Now demand for Chinese tionists and veterinarians traditional medicine the ability to closely mon- means that turtle bones itor the process, but keep can be worth a small the animals out of the windfall. Hoanh tells us public eye (unlike, say, at that poachers sold the a zoo) and allow the staff bones of one turtle for 45 to use local water from million Vietnamese dong the lakes. If other turtles — nearly $2,000. are found, they could be “This is when people brought to the same site. started realizing they To date, there is no facility were rare,” McCormack built for this, but McCor- adds. mack says a number of sites are being considered, The Turtle God, Kim Qui, and the Restored Sword, Hoan Kiem However, the massive including the island on A depiction of the legend of the Kim Qui and the Restored Sword on a mural animals are not easy to Dong Mo. rendered in ceramics found in the Hoan Kiem temple located in Hanoi, Vietnam. catch. Not only can old Photo © 2008 by Rdavout turtles weigh more than Along with the ATP, the two men combined — a current proposal involves learned how to hunt the turtles single bite from their beaked numerous conservation groups, from his father and grandfather. mouth can rip a person’s flesh including the Wildlife Conservation When he was around 12, hunt- clean off. Hoanh describes them as Society, Global Wildlife Conser- ers went out in groups of four on “very fast,” telling us how during vation, Turtle Survival Alliance, small boats and used a spear or one escapade a turtle managed to Indo-Myanmar Conservation, the harpoon to try and kill the animals, capsize the boat of hunters and Hanoi University of Science, and, of almost like a miniature version of escape. course, Vietnamese officials. the whalers of old. But increas- ingly, hooks and lines were used I ask Hoanh, via the translator, But McCormack says what’s need- what the giant tastes like? He ed most is funding. as an easier, less perilous option. The hunting appears to have been responds with, “It tastes just like “It’s amazing — the species is so largely a village sport, with many soft-shelled turtle.” rare but if you look at funding and men taking part, but the spe- As I listen, I think about how resources available it’s quite limit- cial hunters were those skilled in Hoanh’s stories resemble those ed. If you look at tiger conservation spearing. of mythic dragon hunters or or elephant, you’re talking about 19th-century whalers: a kind of millions of dollars being put into Over a hunting career that spanned around six decades, Ho- struggle of man versus beast, a it. For these species, there’s very sprinkle of legend. But in this case, little in comparison.” anh says he caught six large tur- tles in Suoi Hai Lake and 17 in the the beast in question is already Most of the money currently Dam Long wetlands. Many smaller heading toward possible extinc- comes from grants and zoos, espe- animals may have been caught tion. cially Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in too. In the 1940s, Hoanh says, the After our interview, Hoanh shows the U.S. Red River broke its banks, sending us the long spears used to kill But to build a facility, McCormack many Yangtze giant softshell tur- the giant turtles, and the nets, says, “we need a lot more funding.” tles into Dong Mo Lake, where they deployed with hundreds of sharp The hunter were for a short time as common curved hooks, deployed to entrap Le Huy Hoanh, the former turtle as “chickens in the garden.” Nearly them. hunter, lives in a comfortable rural all of these animals were caught Hoang caught his last turtle in setting in a village not far from the as food for the village, often eaten the 1990s and sold it to a tour- lakes we visit. The proud father with rice wine. ism company. No one knows what of 10 grown children, he makes “The softshell turtles didn’t sell for happened to it. Hoang says he us tea and tells us about the old anything different in the market. kept attempting hunts for another days, when Yangtze giant softshell They were just butchered and few years, but most of the animals turtles were still abundant and consumed locally, most of them,” were gone by then. He estimates adventure was high. McCormack says. “It’s only recent- the last animal he tried to hunt Hoanh, growing up in the 1930s, ly when they became rare [that] weighed 400 kg (880 lb) — almost there’s more demand for them.” twice the size of any known Yang- 13 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020 tze softshell turtle. It got away. here, the American War. Finally, re- capable of breeding. Just one nest Perhaps it was the final giant of his unification and independence. And would give the species a chance. A career. Or a myth, as good as a god. now the giants he once hunted are few healthy animals could lead to a Vietnam has changed much since nearly a thing of the past, more population in the hundreds in just a Hoang was a child. He was born un- myth than reality. few years. der French rule; Japanese occupa- But the story of the turtle god, Kim Perhaps one day, the animal could tion came next. There was the rise Qui, doesn’t have to end here. It’s even be brought home to its “Lake of Ho Chi Minh, the fall of France, possible — with the proper re- of the Returned Sword” in Hanoi. and the Vietnam War (when Hoang sources, maybe even likely — that A myth reforged. A god resurrected. was in his forties), or as they call it conservationists may find a pair
Galápagos Conservancy News — press release Forty-Year Captive Breeding Program for Española Tortoises Concludes 10 January 2020—Ecuador’s Envi- 2019 and all the data available have allowed the repatriation of ronmental Ministry has decided to since 1960 — both of the island tortoises to their natural habitat end the 40-year captive breeding and its tortoise population — we since the program’s inception in program for Española tortoises developed mathematical models the mid-1960s. This week, these with different possible scenar- breeding individuals began a quar- ios for the next hundred years. antine process to eliminate risks of The conclusion was that the seed dispersal from plants that are island has sufficient conditions not typical of the island. The plan to maintain the tortoise pop- is to release them back to Españo- ulation, which will continue to la, their island of origin, in March grow normally — even without 2020. any new repatriation of juve- This group of tortoises includes niles,” said Washington Tapia, the famous Diego, the male who director of the GTRI. spent 30 years at the San Diego “In addition to the recovery of Zoo before being recruited to the giant tortoise population, contribute to the captive breeding which went from 15 to 2,000 program. Diego, who is over 100 Diego, an Española Island Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis thanks to this program, the years old, will return to his home hoodensis) at the Charles Darwin Research Station in Santa Cruz, Galapagos. Some 40% of the tortoises management actions imple- island almost eight decades after repatriated to Espanõla Island are likely descendants of mented for the ecological being extracted from it. In recent Diego. Photo © 2019 by Kaldari restoration of the island — years, Diego has become a symbol including the eradication of of the Galápagos conservation, as following an ecological evaluation introduced species and the regen- approximately 40% of the tortois- of Española Island, conducted eration of cacti through Galápa- es repatriated to Española Island by the Galápagos National Park gos Verde 2050 project — have are estimated to be his descen- Directorate (GNPD) and Galápagos helped to ensure that the island’s dants. Conservancy as part of the Giant ecosystems currently Tortoise Restoration Initiative have adequate conditions (GTRI). The evaluation demon- to support the growing strated the recovery of habitat population of tortoises,” conditions and of the tortoise added the Director of the population that it hosts, thanks to Galápagos National Park, the captive breeding program of Jorge Carrión. the Chelonoidis hoodensis species; The closure of the Es- the breeding program was thus pañola tortoise captive deemed to have met the resto- breeding program will entail ration objectives for which it was the return of the 15 unique created. breeding adults (12 females “Based on the results of the last and 3 males) originally census conducted at the end of found on the island, which Diego at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Photo © 2019 by Kaldari 14 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020 Orlando, along with the global scientific community, mourns the loss of world-renowned turtle conservationist Dr. Peter Pritchard Orlando, Florida.— 26 last year, he and I had February 2020 — known each other for Orlando resident and 40 years. If you are world-renowned tur- lucky enough to have tle and tortoise con- known one great man servationist Dr. Peter in your lifetime, you C.H. Pritchard died are lucky enough.” yesterday evening. Dr. Pritchard devel- His life was marked by oped the concept of a 50-year legacy of conservation without global conservation. confrontation, finding Dr. Pritchard was best common ground with known as an author- local communities ity on the biology and governments and conservation of through mutual ed- turtles and tortois- ucation to establish es. Founder of the Dr. Peter Charles Howard Pritchard (1943-2020). Photographer credit is currently lasting environmental unavailable. Chelonian Research changes. He applied Institute (CRI) in of having dual expertise in sea these techniques Oviedo, Florida, his work took him turtles and tortoises and fresh- both in Florida and around the to more than 100 countries where water turtles resulted in being the world and was invited by the gov- he conducted extensive field work only industry figure to be awarded ernments of nations ranging from with turtles on all continents and both the prestigious John Behler Trinidad and Tobago to Papua, New many remote islands. He estab- Award for turtle conservation and Guinea to develop socially sensi- lished a permanent field station the Lifetime Achievement Award tive programs for wildlife conser- for turtle conservation in north- from the International Sea Turtle vation. In Mexico in the 1980s, he western Guyana. Four species of Society. In 2017, he was presented engaged in a series of dialogues turtle are named after him – a the Archie F. Carr medal from the with the proprietor and owner of snakeneck turtle from New Guinea, Florida Museum of Natural Histo- a major marine turtle slaughter- a pond turtle from northern Bur- ry at the University of Florida. He house and international industry in ma, a giant fossil sideneck turtle was fluent in Spanish and French turtle products who was identified from Colombia and an adult male and is published in both of those by many as being beyond the con- green turtle from the Carr Refuge languages. He authored 14 books, servation ethic. These exchanges in Florida. He was recognized as most notably “The Encyclopedia of resulted in the individual leaving a “Champion of the Wild” by the Tur tles.” the industry and ultimately to the Discovery Channel and as “Hero of closure of the operation. the Planet” by TIME Magazine. He “Peter Pritchard and I were within 6 days of sharing the same birth- He is credited with the rescue of was also declared “Floridian of the Kemp’s Ridley species of turtles Year” by the Orlando Sentinel and day. More importantly, we shared a passion for all manner of turtles in Mexico, resulting in a 20-year “Hometown Hero” by the Orlando increase of the species’ popula- International Airport. including sea turtles, terrapins and tortoises,” said Chelonian Re- tion. He created the first nesting Dr. Pritchard was a recipient of the search Institute Board Chairman beach patrol effort, which later Turtle Conservancy’s Conservation and longtime friend Rob Truland. was adopted and expanded by Achievement Award; a Southeast “Peter was the scholar, the ex- the Mexican government and US Regional Sea Turtle Hall of Fame plorer, the collector and author conservation agencies. inductee; and a recipient of the whereas my role was to support Dr. Pritchard also worked with Sea Turtle Society’s Kemp’s Ridley his endeavors. Through the Che- the Arawak people of Guyana Research Award for his exten- lonian Research Institute and for many years, instilling a more sive research on this endangered the loyal support of their gener- protective attitude toward the species of sea turtles, considered ous board, Peter’s influence and wildlife species, especially marine the smallest sea turtle species in projects stretched globally. As of turtles, upon which they depend. the world. His industry distinction 15 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020
This project attracted interna- genera and about 95% of living tional attention and was described species being represented. The in the National Geographic book Institute operates without sac- Three turtle species are named in Hidden Worlds of Wildlife. It was rifice of live animals. He resided honor of Dr. Pritchard: also featured in a special for the in Oviedo, Florida, in the Orlando Chelodina pritchardi, a snakeneck Paris television network Canal Plus area, and is survived by his wife Si- turtle from New Guinea; (shown widely in Europe). The Guy- bille Hart Pritchard, two adult sons, ana conservation program resulted Sebastian and Cameron, and was Mauremys pritchardi, a pond turtle in Dr. Pritchard being selected as preceded in death by son Dominic. from northern Burma, a featured conservationist for the “For 50 years, Peter has been Podocnemis pritchardi, a giant fossil Canadian television series Cham- my partner, my strength and my sideneck turtle from Colombia. pions of the Wild, shot on-site in soulmate,” said his wife Sibille An adult male green turtle, Chelonia Guyana, and aired extensively in Hart Pritchard. “The influence mydas, from the Carr Refuge in Florida Canada, the UA, and the UK. As a he’s had on colleagues, students is also named after Dr. Pritchard. continued credit to his influence in and friends is a testament to his § § § Guyana, Dr. Pritchard obtained the brilliance as a scientist and his support of then Prime Minister, the kindness as a man. The lives he Dr. Pritchard is the author, coauthor, Honorable Sam Hinds, in the con- touched and the difference he and translator of various books and servation effort and established an made in the world of environmen- publications, including: on-going partnership with the Ar- tal conservation made our home Living Turtles of the World (1967) awak community for conservation here in Florida a global gathering education. Both he and the prime place where people from all over Marine Turtles of Micronesia (1977) minister became patrons of the the world became part of our lives. The Encyclopedia of Turtles (1979) Sea Turtle Protection Society in Together, we’ve had an amazing Leatherback or Leathery Turtle (Der- Guyana. This project is one of the journey, raised three incredible mochelys Coriacea) (1980) longest-standing sustainable con- men and shared experiences of a servation programs in the world. lifetime.” Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida He became a board member and Volume One Through Six (1982) co-patron with the prime minister Manual of Sea Turtle Research and and other influential professionals Conservation Techniques (1983) of the Guyana Marine Turtle Con- servation Society. He also main- Turtles of Venezuela (1984), with tained projects in Vietnam and coauthor Pedro Trebbeau China, focused on conservation Saving what's left: A citizens' guide of the world’s largest and rarest to the need, process, and politics of softshell turtle. environmental land acquisition in He is best known for his work in Florida (1994) the Galapagos Islands and was fea- The Alligator Snapping Turtle: Biology tured extensively in a BBC4 televi- and Conservation (2006) sion production about the area and its giant male Pinta Island Tortoise, Turtles of the World written in French Lonesome George, the last known Dr. Pritchard photographed by a US Geological by Franck Bonin, Bernard Devaux, and Survey staffer. Public domain. individual of the subspecies, noted Alain Dupré; translated into English by Peter C. H. Pritchard (2006) as the rarest creature in the world. He established and immense Dr. Pritchard was among the first legacy and leaves family, friends, Tales from the Thébaïde (2007) scholars to discover the tortoise; a global community of scientists, Rafetus, the Curve of Extinction was the only industry professional researchers and turtle enthusiasts (2012) with rare video footage of it in its to honor the indelible impression habitat; and as a member of the re- he’s made on the world through his search team, facilitated its discov- life’s work. ery in the Galapagos Islands. A date will soon be announced for a To learn more about Dr. Pritchard, CRI’s collection of turtle and tor- tribute celebration. please visit the Chelonian Research toise specimens contains 14,500 Institute's web page entitled specimens, the most comprehen- — Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research About Dr. Peter Pritchard sive in existence, with 100% of press release 16 Tortuga Gazette 56(2) • March/April 2020
Mike’s Turtle Net Picks by Michael J. Connor, Ph.D. A varied selection of recent articles, stories and sites on the Web that some of you may find as interesting as I did. This list is also posted at tortoise.org/turtlenetpicks/turtlenetpicks.html
Peter Pritchard, RIP Descendants of Two “Extinct” Galapagos Yoshi, Long Distance Swimmer Peter Pritchard, turtle conservationist Tortoises Found A loggerhead sea turtle from Australia has extraordinaire, passed away February 25, After a 10 day search, biologists have re- officially left all other long-distance swim- 2020. covered tortoises with Floreana and Pinta mers in her wake after swimming 22,000 Island genetic backgrounds from Isabela miles in two years! Over 18,000 Commenters Oppose Build- Island’s Wolf Volcano - descendants of ing Highway Through Red Cliffs Reserve tortoises left there by whalers. Oil Spills and Sea Turtles New study documents the effects of Over 18,000 commented on Northern Diego the Giant Tortoise to be Released Corridor highway in defense of Red Cliffs oil spills on sea turtles, and provides Back to the Wild recommendations related to oil spills for Reserve. This proposed highway would After participating in a breeding pro- go through the most important desert managers, researchers, and conservation gram for almost eight decades, Diego, groups around the world. tortoise habitat on the preserve. a 100-year-old Galapagos tortoise, will be released back on his native Española Sea Turtle Successes Desert Tortoise Genome (Hood) Island in March. New draft desert tortoise genome assem- Five sea turtle conservation success stories of the 2010’s. bly is yielding interesting results. Largest Ever Fossil Turtle At 2.40 meters (7.5 feet) long, a recon- African Sea Turtle News Genotyping Protocol for Mojave Desert structed fossil Stupendemys geographicus Tortoise Scat Read the latest African Sea Turtle News- from Venezuela is the largest turtle ever letter. Biologists have developed a genotyping found. protocol that can identify individual tor- The published paper is open access. CTTC’s Turtle And Tortoise Listserve toises from their poop! https://advances.sciencemag.org/con- CTTC’s Turtle and Tortoise list has now Galapagos Status tent/advances/6/7/eaay4593.full.pdf moved to io.groups. If you want to talk If you are curious about current conditions with other turtle and tortoise fans in a Important New Fossil Turtle From France friendly atmosphere just send an email to: in the Galapagos, a new website lets you Laurasichersis relicta, a newly discovered check climatic conditions and volcanic
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Rare turtles saved from shrinking waterholes — Wildlife experts are moving rare Manning River turtles from rapidly Classified Advertisements drying waterholes to help save the ancient species. Classified advertisements run for one issue at $500 for New South Wales, Australia — 3 world-first 'insurance population' up to four lines. Ads are accepted at the discretion of the February 2020 — Department of for the Manning River turtle, Editor. Classified ads are available to members and sub- Planning, Industry and Environ- where three turtles rescued scribers only and are run as a service to our members. ment (DPIE) spokesperson, Kylie from the waterholes have been California Turtle & Tortoise Club is not responsible for Yeend, said she was pleased ex- taken into care for conservation merchandise placed for sale in the Tortuga Gazette. pert teams have begun moving and breeding. Please make your check payable to the California Tur- these precious animals to larger "The 3 collected turtles are the tle & Tortoise Club. waterholes to help them get first founders of the insurance Please send ad fee to: CTTC Tortuga Gazette, attn Trea- through the drought. population. By March this year, surer, P. O. Box 7300, Van Nuys, CA 91409-7300. "The Barnard River is one of the 12 turtles will be collected from Mail fee with ad copy to the Tortuga Gazette mailing waterways in the Manning River across its range, for genetic rea- address; OR, mail fee to the postal address above, and sons, to complete the insurance Valley which is home to these email the ad copy to the Gazette Editor. rare turtles that have been population," Mr Faulkner said. around for 50 million years," Ms Ms Yeend said we are now in a California Turtle & Tortoise Club: a Society Dedicated to Turtle & Yeend said. position to intervene and protect Tortoise Preservation, Conservation and Education since 1964. "The Barnard River is now largely Manning River turtles from Promoting and Facilitating the Care, Rehoming, and Adoption of dried up with only a series of extinction. Native and Nonnative Turtles and Tortoises. small, shrinking waterholes left "We can all do our bit in these The Tortuga Gazette (ISSN 1073-1334) is owned by the Califor- for the Manning River turtles unprecedented situations by and other aquatic wildlife. nia Turtle & Tortoise Club Executive Board, which is incorporated going down to rivers and wa- in the State of California as a Not-for-Profit Corporation and is "Our experts are taking urgent terholes affected by drought to tax-exempt under IRS code 501(c)(3). action, working with Aussie Ark check for sick or dying turtles," All material is copyright © CTTC unless otherwise attributed. to monitor and relocate turtles Ms Yeend said. CTTC policy permits reproduction of articles by other not-for- profit groups and educational institutions when permission is from small waterholes into larger The public should not take ani- ones until rainfall replenishes requested. Permission is granted on a case-by-case basis and mals out of the environment but CTTC must be cited as the source of the material. the waterways.” report anything significant to Views expressed in the Tortuga Gazette are those of the con- Director of Aussie Ark Tim Faulk- the Enviroline on 131 555. tributors and not necessarily those of the Editor or the California ner said they have established a — New South Wales government Turtle & Tortoise Club. press release
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