Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Chelonian Advisory Group Regional Collection Plan 4th Edition December 2015 Editor Chelonian TAG Steering Committee 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Mission ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Steering Committee Structure ........................................................................................................... 3 Officers, Steering Committee Members, and Advisors ..................................................................... 4 Taxonomic Scope ............................................................................................................................. 6 Space Analysis Space .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Survey ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Current and Potential Holding Table Results ............................................................................. 8 Species Selection Process Process ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Decision Tree ........................................................................................................................... 13 Decision Tree Results .............................................................................................................. 14 Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 30 Species Recommendation Matrix ............................................................................................ 31 Species Management Accounts North America ......................................................................................................................... 33 South America ......................................................................................................................... 73 Africa and Madagascar ............................................................................................................ 89 Asia ........................................................................................................................................ 116 Appendix I: Animal Program Summary .......................................................................................... 182 Appendix II: Animal Program Roles, Goals, and Essential Actions Table ..................................... 187 Appendix III: Recommendation Update Table…………………………………………………….195 Appendix IV: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ status of tortoises and freshwater turtles .. 200 Appendix V: ChAG Pet Policy Statement ....................................................................................... 208 Appendix VI: ChAG Red-eared Slider Turtle Policy Recommendations ........................................ 209 AZA CHELONIAN ADVISORY GROUP REGIONAL COLLECTION PLAN Mission−The Chelonian Advisory Group Regional Collection Plan is intended to assist AZA institutions in the selection of freshwater turtle and tortoise species to be included in their collections. Selections should be consistent with an institutional collection plan, which considers the institution’s conservation mission relative to the status and conservation needs of the species. We seek to better unite the efforts of the Turtle Survival Alliance’s Turtle Survival Center as well as with qualified private breeders to help create viable assurance colonies for as many of the world’s Endangered and Critically Endangered IUCN chelonians as possible. Specifically, through a Species Selection Process we identify the priority taxa which will benefit from captive management through AZA programs. Steering Committee structure- The Chelonian Advisory Group Steering Committee consists of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and eight additional voting members. Steering committee member positions are elected for three year terms; these terms are staggered so that two or three positions are open for election every other year. The Chair and Vice Chair are standing positions. Notices announcing open steering committee positions will be posted on the Chelonian Advisory Group List Server. Any Institutional Representative may be nominated, with their permission, to serve on the steering committee. Only Institutional Representatives can serve on the steering committee and only Institutional Representatives can vote for new committee members. Steering committee members are expected to dedicate enough time to carry out the associated duties of the Chelonian Advisory Group. Duties may include such tasks as preparing, reviewing, and voting on the Regional Collection plan, reviewing and voting on studbook keeper and SSP program applicants, preparing and reviewing advisory group policies and guidelines, and other associated tasks that may arise. Voting procedure, 2/3rds approval by the elected committee members is required for a majority. If voting results in a tie, the Chair will cast the deciding vote. The steering committee advisers serve in a non-voting capacity; they include our veterinary adviser, treasurer, and general advisers. All AZA institutions are allowed to appoint an Institutional Representative to the Chelonian Advisory Group. 3 Officers and Steering Committee Members OFFICERS Michael Ogle, ChAG Chair Phone: 865-637-5331 x 1201 Zoo Knoxville FAX: 865-637-1943 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive email: [email protected] Knoxville TN 37914 Barry Downer, ChAG Vice-Chair Phone: 405-425-0671 Oklahoma City Zoo FAX: 405-425-0207 2000 Remington Place email: [email protected] Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Stan Mays, Secretary (term expires 2018) Phone: 713-533-6527 Houston Zoo FAX: 713-533-6755 6200 Hermann Park Drive email: [email protected] Houston, TX 77030-1603 Dave Collins, Treasurer Phone: 423-785-4081 Tennessee Aquarium FAX: 423-785-4074 One Broad Street Email: [email protected] Chattanooga, TN 37402 STEERING COMMITTEE Nate Nelson (term expires 2016) Phone: 316-266-8265 Sedgwick County Zoo FAX: 316-942-3781 5555 W. Zoo Blvd. email: [email protected] Wichita, KS 67212 Brad Poynter (term expires 2016) Phone: 602-286-3849 Phoenix Zoo FAX: 602-286-3843 455 N. Galvin Parkway email: [email protected] Phoenix, AZ 85008 Craig Pelke (term expires 2016) Phone: 210-734-7184 San Antonio Zoo FAX: 210-734-7291 3903 N. St. Marys Email: [email protected] San Antonio, TX 78212 Jason Bell (term expires 2016) Phone: 215-243-5319 Philadelphia Zoo FAX: 215-243-0219 3400 West Girad Ave Email: [email protected] Philadelphia, PA 19104 4 Bill Hughes (term expires 2018) Phone: 423-785-4126 Tennessee Aquarium FAX: 423-785-4074 One Broad Street Email: [email protected] Chattanooga, TN 37402 Paul Gibbons (term expires 2018) Phone: 212-353-5060 Turtle Conservancy/Behler Chelonian Center FAX: 212-353-5014 1696 McNell Road Email: [email protected] Ojai, CA 93023 Christina Castellano (term expires 2016) Phone: 801-584-1756 Utah’s Hogle Zoo FAX: 801-584-1762 2600 Sunnyside Avenue Email: [email protected] Salt Lake City, UT 84108 Andy Daneault (term expires 2018) Phone: 407-938-2368 Disney’s Animal Kingdom FAX: 407-939-6391 P.O. Box 10000 Email: [email protected] Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 GENERAL ADVISERS Rick Hudson Phone: 817-759-7177 President, Turtle Survival Alliance FAX: 817-759-7401 1989 Colonial Parkway Email: [email protected] Fort Worth, TX 76110 Dwight Lawson Phone: 405-425-0230 Executive Director FAX: 405-425-0207 Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden Email: [email protected] 2000 Remington Place Oklahoma City, OK 73111 VETERINARY ADVISERS Joe Flanagan, DVM Phone: 713-533-6628 Chief Veterinarian FAX: 713-533-6764 Houston Zoo Email: [email protected] 6200 Hermann Park Drive Houston, TX 77030 Paul Gibbons, DVM Phone: 212-353-5060 Turtle Conservancy/Behler Chelonian Center FAX: 212-353-5014 1696 McNell Road Email: [email protected] Ojai, CA 93023 5 TAXONOMIC SCOPE The scope of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Chelonian Advisory Group (ChAG) includes all tortoises and freshwater turtles of the world. The two living suborders Cryptodira and Pleurodira represent the fourteen living families of extant turtles (Turtle Taxonomy Working Group, 2014). At this time the ChAG does not include the superfamily Chelonoidea (sea turtles). The specific taxa considered in the Regional Collection Plan process as well as their IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ designations are provided in Appendix IV. Suborder Family Number of Species per Family Cryptodira Carettochelyidae (Fly River Turtles) 1 Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles) 4 Cryptodira Cryptodira Dermatemydidae 1 (Central American River Turtles) Cryptodira Emydidae (Pond, Box, and Water Turtles 53 Cryptodira Geoemydidae (Pond and River Turtles) 69 Cryptodira Kinosternidae (Mud and Musk Turtles) 26 Cryptodira Platysternidae (Chinese Big-headed Turtles) 1 Cryptodira Testudinidae (Tortoises) 60 Cryptodira Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles) 31 Pleurodira Chelidae 56 (Austro-South American Side-necked Turtles) Pleurodira Pelomedusidae (African Side-necked Turtles) 18 Pleurodira Podocnemididae (Side-necked Turtles) 8 Reference Turtle Taxonomy Working Group. 2014. Turtles of the World, 7th edition: annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution with maps,