Studbook breeding program Coahuilan Box Turtle (Terrapene coahuila) Photo: M. Jones Annual report 2007 H. Meijer, studbook coordinator ANNUAL REPORT 2007 Terrapene coahuila Contents; 1] Introduction studbook Terrapene coahuila 2007 2] Status in natural habitat: Endangered (IUCN Red List) in entire range 3] Studbook population 2007 4] Locations with Terrapene coahuila 5] Births 6] Deaths 7] Transfers 8] Husbandry of juvenile Coahuilan box turtles (Terrapene coahuila) Attachment 1 Attachment 2 9] Goals studbook Terrapene coahuila 2008 10] Publications 11] Locations Terrapene coahuila outside studbook 1] INTRODUCTION STUDBOOK TERRAPENE COAHUILA 2007 In summer 2007 I received the permission from the ESF (European Studbook Foundation) board to become the studbook keeper for the species Terrapene coahuila and to set up the studbook Terrapene coahuila . Main goal is to build, together with the studbook members, a healthy captive population of Terrapene coahuila in Europe. Because this species is threatened in the wild, a genetically healthy population in captivity is important. The ESF studbook is classified as category A, which the classification that has the highest priority. The suspicion is that there are less than 10 bloodlines or less than 100 Terrapene coahuila present in Europe, and because there are no imports it is important to be very careful with this great species in captivity, and for this reason this studbook was set up. Cuatro Cienegas (photo Troy Hibbit) 2] STATUS IN NATURAL HABITAT: ENDANGERED (IUCN RED LIST) IN THE ENTIRE RANGE In the middle of the water-scarce Chihuahuan desert is a special place: the Cuatro Cienegas valley. A unique habitat with freshwater springs, streams and wetlands. This is the only place in the world where Terrapene coahuila lives. The unique hydrological system is very delicate and each change by man has a big impact on this environment and the wildlife living there, like Terrapene coahuila . Although it is a National Wildlife Refuge in Mexico, and therefore protected, there are threats. Increased extraction of surface and ground water, for use for farmland in the surrounding area is the main problem. The spread of exotic plants/animals and illegal pet-industries are also threats because of the negative impact they have on the Cuatro Cienegas ecosystems and the Terrapene coahuila populations. Acquisition from private land is the main focus to protect the Cuatro Cienegas valley. A very important organization is Pronatura Noreste (PNE), which has been working on conservation in the Cuatro Cienegas area for more than 20 years. Pronatura Noreste has enhanced the habitat in more than 150 pools, with the surrounding wetland areas. This is the critical habitat for Terrapene coahuila. By constructing water control and raising water levels, they improve this habitat, thereby supporting the Terrapene Coahuila. Cuatro Cienegas (photo Troy Hibbitts) 3] STUDBOOK POPULATION 2007 December 31, 2007 the total studbook population existed of 14.21.4 (39) animals December 31, 2007 the total live population existed of 14.19.4 (37) animals 4] LOCATIONS WITH TERRAPENE COAHUILA There are 7 locations 2 locations in the Netherlands 1 location in Germany 3 locations in England 1 location in Austria 5) BIRTHS In 2007 births were recorded at one location. At this location 3 hatchling were born. 6] DEATHS In 2007 2 animal deaths were reported A female died suddenly from unknown causes. A female died of old age (wild caught animal imported as an adult by Hausman in 1960) 7] TRANSFERS Because the studbook only started in 2007, no transfers were reported. I would like to thank the Durrell Wildlife Conservation, for their request to become studbook members to the new owners that they found for their Terrapene coahuila in 2007. 8) INTRODUCTION TO THIS ARTICLE Seeing a lot of Terrapene coahuila in captivity and talking to owners from Terrapene coahuila, I have concluded that there is one problem in raising Terrapene coahuila . There is often a difference between the carapaces in captive-raised Terrapene coahuila , compared to those raised in the wild . A group of animals raised in captivity that I saw in 2007, however, have grown like if they were raised in nature: they have beautiful carapaces. Because we can learn from each others experiences, I asked the owner to write down his experience raising this group for the studbook. The article below is his contribution. HUSBANDRY OF JUVENILE COAHUILA BOX TURTLES TERRAPENE COAHUILA No emydid species has as restricted a natural range as does the Coahuila or aquatic box turtle, Terrapene coahuila, of northern Mexico. It is restricted to fragile spring-fed wetlands in portions of the Cuatrociénegas basin where several other endemic life forms, from fish to invertebrates and plants, endure despite anthropogenic disturbances. As the fame of this “desert Galápagos” spreads, human presence in the basin has increased, such that the casual removal of specimens has become a problem rivaling that of habitat loss. Ironically, this species has proven not only to be hardy, but prolific in captivity as well. Institutional and private breeders of the species have long reported high fertility of eggs and survival of juveniles, and F3 generations are known. It has proven difficult in the United States to find suitable placement for juveniles in some instances. There is no proposal yet to introduce captive bred specimens to re-occupy selected habitat or to launch a local recovery program to increase the species’ numbers, but should such a project come about, the importance of appropriate captive husbandry of the young is increased. The writer here summarizes his own experiences without reference to literature, nor with the intent to proclaim that his methods are faultless or superior to any others. Surely questions and criticism will arise from this account of my experiences, and I congratulate anyone who does better with regard to raising young T. coahuila. My own conclusions, implicit or explicit, concerning practices carried out by others accomplished in the husbandry of this species are simply my own opinions. BACKGROUND: On 30 September 2005, five newly hatched T. coahuila were given to me. They had been incubated in sub-saturated vermiculite at 28 - 29°C and apparently hatched synchronously. The father was wild-caught whereas the mother had been an F1 specimen. The parents, and other females (all CB) in the breeding group, had produced an undisclosed number of offspring from earlier clutches, raised by other people including the breeder. HOUSING CONDITIONS: The five neonates have been housed indoors the year round. Originally they were housed together in an opaque plastic tub measuring 57 x 36 x 15 cm into which tap water to a depth of about 5 cm was added. Rather than a land area, a piece of driftwood and broken terra cotta pots were placed to provide both underwater refuges and dry places for basking. Half an overturned dried gourd (Cucurbitaceae), of the type used as a water recipient or dipper in tropical countries, was also placed in the tub to provide an additional light-weight “cave.” Strands of java moss were placed in the water to enhance the natural appearance of an admittedly artificial set-up, and to allow another medium of concealment for the small turtles. Illumination and warmth were provided by a 60 watt full spectrum incandescent bulb suspended about 6 cm above an exposed portion of the wood. The light is not controlled by a timer but rather by only somewhat regular human agency. The artificial photoperiod has varied from about 7 to 10 hours, and is admittedly erratic. During the winter months, an electric heating pad beneath the tub was sometimes used, particularly overnight. The humidity of the room in which the T. coahuila have been kept has varied from about 50 to 85%. The tub has not been covered at night. Natural, unfiltered morning sunlight has been seasonally but irregularly available to the young turtles by opening an adjacent door when weather conditions are appropriate. Such sunlight has usually been subsequently filtered through the opaque plastic tub. During the first few weeks of life, the young were occasionally placed outdoors for 30 minutes or so in a small tub to enhance their synthesis of vitamin D3. However, any disturbance of the turtles since then by moving them about has been kept to a minimum. Not only photoperiod, but temperature variations have been considerable in this set- up. Daily water temperatures have fluctuated between 15.1° and 23.6° during the cool months of the year, the air temperatures themselves being somewhat lower and higher, respectively. The highest water temperature reached is estimated to be around 30°. The tap water used has a pH of 7.0. That in the tubs, exposed to organic compounds in the driftwood, has been as low as 6.8. The water is not filtered but is drained and replaced every 4 weeks; periodically, fecal material is removed with a dipnet. Tap water is added as needed to maintain an approximately equal water depth at all times. Even after 4 weeks without being changed, the water is not malodorous. The choice of freshwater driftwood rather than commercial cork bark or some synthetic material is based on convenience, economics, and esthetics. Not everyone has access to weathered non-coniferous, water-logged wood but wonderful pieces sometimes reward the searcher. Some of mine originated in streams inhabited by freshwater turtles. One piece leaches tannin into the water, darkening it within days, but without apparent harm to the turtles. Like the terra cotta pieces and the gourd, wood is selected which scarcely diminishes the area of the aquatic milieu, while providing both an underwater cover site and a basking platform. As the turtles began to grow, in May 2006 the three largest ones were placed in an opaque tub measuring 59 x 40 x 15 cm., kept at the original place.