DRAFT Workshop Report “Conservation of Rafetus swinhoei” An initiative of IUCN SSC-ASAP (Asian Species Action Partnership) and the IUCN SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG) Hanoi, Vietnam, 10-12 December 2014 Participants from Vietnam, China, USA, Austria, Australia, and the UK met in Hanoi, Vietnam on 10-12 December 2014 for an emergency-planning session on the critical status of Swinhoe’s Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), the most imperiled chelonian — only four individuals are known to science. Verified accounts/records for this turtle are sparse, with few museum records, and no photos or specimens of hatchlings. Because there are no records of hatchling R. swinhoei no one knows exactly how they can be distinguished from other closely related species. The youngest museum specimens of R. swinhoei are of approximately 30 cm straight-line carapace lengths. It is unknown how long it takes an individual to reach that size; conservative estimates are five to ten years perhaps longer, however the large turtle, the Asiatic Softshell, Amyda cartilaginea, grow rapidly and may reach that size in as few as 3-4 years (Peter Paul van Dijk, pers. comm.). For decades, R. swinhoei was misidentified as a more widely distributed softshell turtle, Cantor’s Softshell Turtle (Pelochelys cantorii). This misidentification has greatly hampered the conservation of the species, as it was not considered a priority until the taxonomy was clarified in 1988 (Meylan & Webb) and its distribution clarified in the late 1990s. In just the last few years, the number of known animals in Chinese zoos has rapidly decreased from 4-5 individuals to now just two individuals. Unfortunately, this species was never afforded the opportunity to breed in captivity as its large size and pugnacious nature, often meant that individuals were kept solitarily in small enclosures. In living memory, scientists have not seen wild specimens in China, but there are reports of isolated villagers consuming wild animals which have been tentatively identified as R. swinhoei in the last three years. DRAFT Of the four individuals currently known to be alive, only one is verified as a female. This lone female, although paired with an aged male at the Suzhou Zoo, China has been laying eggs unfertilized by the male. It is now known that the male is capable of producing sperm but has a mangled penis and appears incapable of delivering semen successfully. This has been verified by examination of the eggshell membranes that showed no presence of sperm. Compounding the problem of captive breeding is that the two other R. swinhoei are in Vietnam, meaning that to involve them in any captive breeding efforts would require international co- operation. Concerning the two animals in Vietnam, one is recognized as a male and regarded as a cultural heritage icon in Hoan Kiem Lake and is presumed to be reaching the end of its natural life span. The other is in Dong Mo Lake and its sex is unverified. Hence, finding additional wild animals to pair with the animal in Dong Mo or the female in Suzhou is of the utmost priority. The participants met for three days, with a day dedicated to visiting Dong Mo Lake. This workshop was the first time that the majority of R. swinhoei experts were able to come together to discuss the species’ conservation. Time is of the essence and immediate increases in conservation activity, and thus funding needs, must be addressed. Low levels of funding and the consequent fragmented approach have hampered previous conservation efforts for this species. RESULTS It was decided that a working group would be created as a non-exclusive group of individuals with expertise in the conservation of R. swinhoei as well as experience in the flora and fauna of Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Southern China. The working group will provide a sounding board for adaptive management of the proposed priority actions. The primary recommendation of this group was that additional individuals of R. swinhoei need to be found and captured for captive breeding and that this needs to be of the highest priority amongst global chelonian conservation. Reflecting the sparse knowledge base and limited work to date, several key issues went unresolved by the end of the 3-day meeting. The primary issue that could not be resolved was that participants could not agree on how best to move forward with surveys, even though all agreed that finding additional individuals was of the highest priority. Some felt that all available techniques, including the novel use of environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques should be used in conjunction with DRAFT traditional interview surveys, whereas others felt that interview surveys should be the mainstay used to locate additional animals (more detail provided below). Participants agreed that surveys should be concentrated in northern Vietnam, eastern Laos (catchments draining into Vietnam), and Yunnan, China. It was generally agreed that because several years of small-scale interview searches have not confirm any additional R. swinhoei that current interview surveys need to be modified (e.g., more intensive and better targeted) rather than ‘more of the same’. There was no consensus on how best to trap animals. There was debate over the use of seine nets versus submerged box traps with chimneys to the surface. It was discussed there was a dire need for additional surveys for R. swinhoei in China as there remains the strong possibility of an additional R. swinhoei individual(s) along the Red River in Yunnan, China. Reports indicate that there is a large R. swinhoei-like animal that has been seen multiple times by locals but the positive identification of the turtle has not been verified (although from reports, the turtle holds its head out of the water similar to other R. swinhoei individuals, a characteristic behavior different from other softshells). It was also discussed that the turtle in Dong Mo Lake does not have adequate permanent measures in place to ensure that it does not escape again. In 2010, a flood allowed the animal to pass over the dam impoundment and a fisherman caught it downstream; the information network in place was able to intercept this turtle and return it to the lake. Agreement was unanimous on the need to improve the security of the lake so that the turtle does not escape again. However, the group could not come to a resolution with regards to whether it be appropriate at this stage to capture the animal for both determination of its sex and collection of genetic material (more details given below). It was agreed upon that additional zoos in China be surveyed in hopes of finding more R. swinhoei. It was agreed upon that increased legal protection for R. swinhoei in China needs to be enacted. It was also agreed that better training of enforcement officers on the identification of R. swinhoei from similar looking species is highly warranted, including the establishment of a fast-response verification network to identify photos of softshell turtles. Additionally, it was agreed, that protected areas of quality habitat be set aside in hopes of use from a successful captive breeding program. Lastly, it was agreed that a plan be made for actions in the event of the death for the aged animal in Hanoi as well as the other three known turtles. The plan DRAFT would outline a wide set of aspects, including, if possible, that semen be collected and cryo-preserved for potential artificial insemination. DRAFT Topics of Discussion With General Consensus Urge- Individual/Age Appro ncy ncy x cost 1. Surveys - A comprehensive survey effort encompassing relevant parts of China, Laos, and Conservation $30K Vietnam is an immediate need. Participants agreed that current survey efforts are not at a Coordinator large enough scale, nor is the survey effort sufficient to conduct the surveys in a timely fashion (ATP/WCS/TSA) (there are perhaps hundreds of locations to survey and only a relatively few have been done to the level where they can be eliminated from further search). a. Vietnam – Expand upon the surveys initiated by the Asian Turtle Program (ATP) in 1 Timmins and $40k Red River drainage. ATP b. China - Red River, Yunnan Province, - Locals have reported a "very large softshell" 1 TSA, and Wildlife $30k frequenting an area along the Red River. For the past two years, a small-scale attempt Conservation has been made to trap this animal to bring it into captivity. These efforts need to be Society (WCS) increased in scale and frequency. Additional local counterparts need to be hired and a more continuous effort needs to occur. c. Laos - For various reasons, Laos has been relatively off the radar for all chelonian 1 Turtle Island, $20k activities. Dr. Peter Praschag made an initial survey in Jan of 2015 and indicated that ATP, and WCS there is potential to find wild R. swinhoei there. Locals have reported seeing Rafetus swinhoei within the past two years. Surveys in Laos need to be repeated and expanded in scope. Specific attention needs to be paid to tributaries of the Red River that originate in Laos (most of the country drains into the Mekong; at present searches here are not recommended). 2. More zoo surveys within China: Not all zoos, temples, turtle farms, private hobbyists, and 1 WCS, ATP, TSA $10k other non-zoo captive sources in China, Vietnam, and Laos have been adequately surveyed. A systematic survey of all zoos needs to be made, as there is a possibility there are improperly identified softshells at these facilities. 3. Improvements to Dong Mo Lake: The lake needs a proper barrier at the spill way so that the 1 ATP $25k animal cannot escape during flood events.