AUGUST 2009 TSATURTLE SURVIVAL ALLIANCE Transforming passion for turtles into effective conservation action through a global network of living collections and recovery programs WWW.TURTLESURVIVAL.ORG The Northern Spider Tortoise, (Pyxis arachnoides brygooi) See Cover Story on p.5 Peter Praschag, Behler Chelonian Center 1 From the President's Desk Ability to respond rapidly is what sets TSA apart s I write this letter, we have just received news that the female Rafetus has laid her first clutch of 56 eggs at Suzhou Zoo for the 2009 Aseason. After suffering last year’s disappointing news, the TSA regrouped and is giving it 100%, addressing some of the problems seen in 2008. We hope to be able to report soon that the world’s population of Rafetus has grown by fourteen-fold and to show the first photographs of a live hatchling R. swinhoei. When Dr. Gerald Kuchling’s email message arrived with this much-anticipated news, he requested that we try and find funding for a camcorder to mount over theRafetus nesting beach that would make finding eggs easier. I forwarded the email to the new TSA Board and almost immediately David Shapiro responded from Hong Kong, offering up the $1,400 requested. It struck me later what an amazing example this was of the TSA network’s strength, and our ability to respond to turtle conservation issues around the globe. No other turtle conservation organization is positioned to respond as rapidly or effectively as the TSA. Another notable strength of the TSA is our global network of veterinarians that can mobilize quickly when situations demand. When a disease problem was identified in the only range country assurance colony for the endangered Philippine forest turtle (Siebenrockiella leytensis), the TSA sent Dr. Nimal Fernando from Ocean Park Hong Kong to Palawan to investigate. Later in September, a TSA team will follow up with a site visit to help design a new filtration system to improve water quality for this important group of turtles. In August, a TSA team will visit Myanmar to begin designing new turtle rescue and assurance colony facilities, and then move on to Malaysia where plans for new turtle centers are taking shape. Expertise in captive management and facility design are well represented within the TSA partnership, and these skills are becoming more in demand as captive populations become integrated into species recovery plans. Looking back on the past year, we have witnessed some significant events and made serious progress towards protecting endangered species and populations in Asia as well as Madagascar. In January 2009, we organized Team Burma that conducted workshops in Myanmar, drafting a Plan for saving the Burmese roofed turtle (Batagur trivittata) and developing an improved strategy for handling confiscated turtles and tortoises. Just prior to our arrival, staff at Mandalay’s Yadanabon Zoo found a 2008 hatchedB. trivittata in the adult breeding pond, the first worldwide captive breeding of this rare turtle. From Myanmar, a subset of Team Burma proceeded on to Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore – a five country “tour of duty” in just over a month. Watch for future news as we initiate new programs and partnerships in these countries, particularly Malaysia where the Royal Turtle Institute is being planned near Terengganu, under the direction and watchful eye of longtime TSA collaborator Dr. Engheng Chan. TSA’s new Madagascar Program is raising funds that will be directed toward protecting the last wild populations of the Ploughshare tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora). Collaboration with the Behler Chelonian Center and San Diego Zoo will direct much needed support to building a network of monitoring stations that can help guard against poachers. The TSA is also supporting captive enclosure improvements for spider tortoises (Pyxis arachnoides) at the Village des Tortues in Ifaty. This facility maintains sizeable groups of both radiated and spider tortoises (all three subspecies), and holds the largest group of the northern race - brygooi - the most imperiled of Madagascar’s dwarf tortoises. We are developing a close working relationship with Mr. Bernard Devaux - the visionary behind the tortoise village concept and founder of this important facility – and we look forward to a productive partnership as we join forces to address the needs of Madagascar’s increasingly imperiled tortoises. Finally, the TSA underwent a major restructuring in 2009 and has emerged as a full-fledged non-profit conservation NGO that now operates outside of the IUCN structure. With a new Board of Directors and expanded committees that better reflect the global composition of TSA, our new structure is at once more corporate, more accountable to donors and supporters, and more responsive to the needs of our members and the challenges of turtle conservation. The Board’s first major action was identifying funds to hire Heather Lowe full-time as TSA’s Program Coordinator and she “hit the ground running” essentially doubling our membership numbers in the first two months. To those of you receiving this at home, or if you recently joined the TSA, we thank you for your continued support in these difficult economic times. If you are joining us in St. Louis, here’s wishing you a productive and enjoyable conference. As you interact with your colleagues, and sit through presentations and workshops, take notice of how diverse the TSA network has become. This unique partnership – the alliance – continues to be our core strength that sets us apart from other organizations. We must maintain our shared vision and commitment to zero turtle extinctions and remember to always let our passion for turtles drive our work for their survival. Rick Hudson, President 2 AUGUST 2009 TURTLE SURVIVAL ALLIANCE In This Issue FEATURES 4 Introduction 5 Cover Story TURTLE SURVIVAL 13 Board of Directors 16 Staff ALLIANCE BOARD 17 Membership 19 Animal Management Rick Hudson, President 20 Significant Breedings Dwight Lawson, PhD, Vice President 22 Golden Coin Box Turtle Genetics Chuck Landrey, Secretary 24 TSA Partner News - Behler Chelonian Center Walter Sedgwick, Treasurer 28 TSA Europe Scott Davis, PhD, Executive Director 38 TSA Africa 40 TSA Partner News – TCF Bill Holmstrom 42 North America John Iverson, PhD Patricia Koval RANGE COUNTRY PROGRAMS John Mitchell Colin Poole 56 Myanmar Hugh Quinn, PhD 66 India 76 Madagascar Anders Rhodin, MD 78 China David Shapiro 82 Vietnam Frank Slavens 90 Malaysia F. William Zeigler 94 Cambodia 96 Philippines Advisory Committee EXCLUSIVES, NEWS, & ANNOUNCEMENTS Gary Ades Bernard Devaux 98 Medical Tomas Diagne 100 Behler Turtle Conservation Award Doug Hendrie 101 Donor Recognition Brian Horne Gerald Kuchling Sue Lieberman For membership information, or to contact the TSA please visit: www. TurtleSurvival.org Or send your correspondence to: Turtle Survival Alliance 1989 Bill Ninesling Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth TX 76110 Jackie Litzgus Peter Praschag Maurice Rodrigues The northern spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides brygooi) was selected as Peter Paul van Dijk the cover photo and story because it is emblematic of the TSA’s multi-faceted Dick Vogt conservation strategy for species ranked Henk Zwartepoorte critically endangered, emphasizing both field research (in situ) and captive management (ex situ). The TSA helped fund Ryan Walker’s 2009 Pyxis field surveys Program Coordinator that revealed the precarious situation that Heather Lowe this little tortoise faces in nature. In late 2008 the TSA funded new Pyxis (including brygooi) breeding enclosures at the Village des Tortues in Ifaty, home of a substantial range country assurance colony for this increasingly threatened tortoise. Finally the TSA purchased a long-term captive breeding group of 21 brygooi, thereby AUGUST 2009 TSA NEWSLETTER © 2 0 0 9 T S A doubling the size of the U.S. assurance colony. See story p.5 DESIGN & LAYOUT: JOHN BINNS WWW.IRCF.ORG INTERNATIONAL REPTILE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION WWW. TURTLESURVIVAL.ORG TURTLE SURVIVAL ALLIANCE AUGUST 2009 3 Introduction Reflections on the TSA Magazine Rick Hudson all it what you will, but our once-little newsletter has grown into a full-fledged magazine. It also serves as the nearest thing the TSA has Cto an annual report and is a useful “calling card” for potential donors. But we see this publication as much more than that. The projects described herein are not simply the work of the TSA but reflect the work of the TSA network and our many partner organizations. Yes, it is heavy on articles written about TSA programs and projects for which TSA has provided financial support. However we also like to feature news and articles from our partner organizations such as TSA Europe, the Turtle Conservation Fund and the Behler Chelonian Center. We work closely and strategically with these organizations and consider them an integral part of the “TSA Family.” All of us share a common commitment to prevent turtle extinctions. We see the TSA magazine in a much broader sense than simply a TSA PR effort - that being one that serves the larger turtle conservation community and helps publicize the good work that people are accomplishing around the globe. This year we have added by-lines at the end of each article that describes the relationship between he TSA and a particular project or organization. We hope you will continue to view this publication in this light – seen through a wide lens – as one that is truly reflective of the remarkable and selfless work that so many dedicated people are doing to help save turtles. Because in the end, who gets credit for doing the work is far less important than getting the job done. 4 AUGUST 2009 TURTLE SURVIVAL ALLIANCE Cover Story Building Partnerships to Save Madagascar’s Imperiled Tortoises Rick Hudson and Michael Ogle Southwestern Madagascar he tortoises of southwestern Madagascar Tare in serious trouble, but fortunately a remarkable duo of devoted tortoise conservationists are working on their behalf through the Village des Tortues at Ifaty.