A

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A Coordinated Response to a Conservation Crisis

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The Asian turtle trade is measured in tons of
turtles per day and is clearly unsustainable
3
An international Asian turtle workshop hosted
by the Fort Worth Zoo in January 2001 led to
the formation of the IUCN Turtle Survival
Alliance (TSA)
4

• TURTLE SURVIVAL ALLIANCE (TSA)
• An IUCN Partnership Network for Sustainable
  Captive Management of Freshwater Turtles and
  Tortoises
• Preserving Options for the Recovery of Wild
  Populations.
•  
• A Task Force of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and
  Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group

5
Transforming passion for turtles into effective
conservation action through a global network of
living collections and recovery
programs. Committed to Zero Turtle Extinctions
6

• Diverse assemblage of organizations, institutions
  and
• individuals representing
• Zoos and Aquariums
• Universities
• Veterinarians
• Private breeders
• Field Biologists
• Research Scientists
• Conservation NGOs
• 250 dues paying members
• Core strength lies in partnerships

7
Initial focus solely on ex situ captive
populations Some of the worlds most critically
endangered turtles are being bred and managed by
TSA Partners
8
May 2005 TSA announced the largest single gift
100,000 in their 4 ½ year history.
Potential impacts on turtle conservation and the
TSA were substantial. Expands TSAs global
network and involves us in seven hotspot
countries critical to turtle conservation
9

• Impact of the Batchelor Foundation grants
• Direct conservation action for 14 species ranked
  IUCN critically endangered
• Leveraged an additional 30,000 for facility
• construction from WCS, EAZA Shellshock and BCG
• (Cambodia and Myanmar)
• New projects initiated in seven countries
• (Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh,
  Indonesia, China, Madagascar)
• Existing programs expanded in five countries
• (India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mexico)

10

• The 2007 Batchelor Foundation grant was 122,000
• continues most of the programs from the 2005
  grant India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Mexico, Seed
• Grants, Asian Scholarship Program, and Range
  State
• Assurance Colonies
• New programs include
• Rafetus in China
• Ploughshare tortoises in Madagascar
• North American component - Alligator snapping
• turtle reintroduction in Oklahoma and
  yellow-blotch
• map turtle in the Pascagoula, MS

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• From Captive Breeding to Capacity Building why
  the shift in emphasis?
• TSA established in 2001 with captive breeding as
  
• primary goal. Organizing principle was the Asian
  
• Turtle Crisis
• Recognizes that while ex
• situ captive breeding will
• play an important role in
• the conservation of some
• Asian turtles, it is not the
• answer for all

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• Recognizes that the battle to save Asias
  turtles will be won or lost in the range
  countries where they occur
• Recognizes that empowering
• local people and building
• capacity in range countries to
• save turtles is a better
• investment than building ex
• situ infrastructure.

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The TSAs niche is in supporting range -country
programs with a captive component. Shift in
focus to capacity building began in 2004 and
is reflected in the TSA Newsletters
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Two workshops on turtle husbandry and veterinary
care Singapore - 2004 Hong Kong - 2005
In total, 90 students from 15 countries were
trained
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• How do we assign priorities?
• IUCN Red List for Tortoises Freshwater Turtles
  of Asia 18 taxa ranked Critically Endangered,
  December 1999, Cambodia
• Batagur baska Callagur borneoensis
• Cuora aurocapitata Cuora galbinifrons
• Cuora mccordi Cuora pani
• Cuora trifasciata Cuora zhoui
• Geochelone platynota Heosemys leytensis
• Heosemys depressa Kachuga kachuga
• Mauremys annamensis Chitra chitra
• Aspideretes nigricans Chelodina mccordi
• Rafetus swinhoei Leucocephalon yuwonoi

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• Biological Prioritization of Asian Countries
• for
• Turtle Conservation
• (Bryan Stuart and John Thorbjarnarson, CCB 2003)
• Countries ranked according to 3 criteria
• Species Richness
• Endemism
• Threat Level

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• Summing the ranks of those criteria results in
  this overall country order
• China ranks highest in all 3 categories
• Vietnam
• Myanmar
• Indonesia
• India

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Of the top five countries, China and Indonesia
currently appear to have the lowest potential
for collaborative in situ program
development. The Chinese endemic box turtles
(Cuora) emerge as a high priority for ex situ
assurance colonies
Good founding numbers for all four taxa
with sporadic breeding success
19
The three Indonesian endemics also rank high for
ex situ program development Sulawesi forest
turtle, Roti Island snakeneck Forstens
tortoise

20
By supporting programs in Vietnam, Myanmar and
India, TSA can provide conservation assistance to
nearly 45 species of threatened turtles, or half
of the 90 taxa found in Asia. This includes
nine, or half of the 18 taxa ranked Critically
Endangered.
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Asian Scholarship Program
2009 the TSA started their own training
scholarship program, targeting workers from TSA
related programs. Khin Myo Myo and Kyaw Moe
from Burma
ASP empowers young turtle biologists to take
action in their home countries
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• Seed Grants for Turtle Conservation
• to support small focused initiatives to be
  carried out by range state nationals
• to generate interest and expertise in turtle
  conservation
• to empower biologists
• to become effective advocates
• for turtle conservation

23
TSA Seed Grants funded projects for two species
ranked CR by the IUCN Red List
Black softshell turtle, Bangladesh
(above) Philippine forest turtle (right)
24

• Building Sustainability into Range State
• Management of Captive Operations
• Critical need for technical support and
  training
• Goal to improve the quality of captive
  management,
• husbandry and veterinary care
• Rescue centers
• Captive breeding facilities
• Headstart programs

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Mangrove Terrapin facility at Sre Ambel, Cambodia
Partnership with WCS and EAZA Shellshock
Campaign, 14,000 total cost
26
Star tortoise breeding facility
Minsontaung Myanmar, 5,000
Partnership with WCS EAZA Shellshock
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• Vietnam
• - 23 species, ranks 5th in Asia
• 2 endemic
• 5 IUCN Red Listed Critically Endangered

28

• Turtle Conservation Center
• Cuc Phuong National Park
• renown program considered a model for the region
• generous donor support from the international
  zoo community with emphasis on training
• supported a new visitor interpretation center

29

• TCC embraces a five-pronged approach to
  conserving Vietnams turtles including
• - public awareness and education
• rescue/rehab of confiscated turtles
• research on ecology and trade of local species
• training wildlife officials
• captive breeding of priority taxa

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• A wide range of captive habitats and support
  facilities exist
• Hospital
• Juvenile rearing
• Incubation
• Office

31
Field surveys to confirm the existence of the
Yangtze softshell turtle, Rafetus swinhoei, in
Vietnam 1 new wild specimen found
Recognized as the worlds largest and most
critically endangered freshwater turtle There
are 4 known living specimens, all in captivity,
in China and Vietnam TSA supported a WCS
organized workshop for stakeholders in China,
September 2006
32
Rafetus in China Gerald Kuchling began working
through WCS office with TSA funding
Male at Suzhou Zoo is at least 100 Female
located at Changsha Zoo 2006
33
After intense negotiations, decision made to
bring pair together at Suzhou in 2008 for
breeding. Facility modifications at Suzhou to
accommodate introduction and nesting
Females reproductive cycle determined via
ultrasound to determine optimal time for male
introduction late April 2008.
34
Transport team sent to China included Dr. Gerald
Kuchling, Dr. Paul Calle, Dr. Scott Davis and
Mitch Kalmanson (insured for 44,000). w/
veterinary support from Kadoorie Farm Botanic
Garden and Ocean Park Hong Kong
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The Picture Seen Round the World
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Courtship interactions and breeding attempts were
gentle and non- aggressive
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1st clutch 45 eggs w/ high degree
fertility 2nd clutch larger with half broken
due to thin shells 100 total in 2 clutches
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All eggs both those incubated naturally and
artificially died during development.
Attributed to poor nutrition of female from
calcium deficient diet.
Hatch Rite media courtesy of ECO
40
Commemorative print for sale on TSA web site
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• Collaborative effort between TSA and WCS China
  office
• 38,000 raised with funding support from
• Turtle Conservation Fund - 10K
• British Chelonia Group 1.8K
• Kadoorie Farm Botanic Garden - 3.8K
• Ocean Park Hong Kong - 3.5K
• Batchelor Foundation - 5K
• Private donors - 10K

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• India
• 27 species
• 3 endemics
• 3 IUCN Red Listed
• Critically Endangered

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• A strategic partnership for the conservation of
  Indias endangered freshwater turtles and
  tortoises
• Madras Crocodile Bank Trust
• training
• coordinate
• logistics
• budget mgt.
• facilitate
• oversight

44

• Two croc centers in the north are being revamped
  to improve capacity for turtle conservation work
  (egg collection, hatching, headstarting, release)
• Deori at Morena
• Kukrail in Lucknow
• Abundance of
• unused infrastructure
• being
• renovated
• by TSA

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• The Indian Turtle Conservation Strategy developed
  
• during an October 2005 workshop
• Prioritized species for
• conservation action
• 10 Species specific
• management plans
• Provides basis for
• matching donors with
• projects

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Painted roof turtle Batagur kachuga - is the
primary focus of the India turtle conservation
strategy
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Nesting on the Chambal River
Thousands of eggs collected for incubation at in
situ nursery
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Newly hatched painted roof turtles
Nursery pond for head- starting turtles
at Garhaita, Etawah UP
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New facility at Deori A new green facility
design using solar powered pumps for filtration
and circulation is under construction no more
dump and fill TCF and BCG funded
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Batagur kachuga - one year growth on primarily
puffed soy pellets. Goal is to get them to 2 kg
so they can be fitted with sonic acoustic
transmitters and released
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Brian Horne working on a 5 year postdoc with
CRES San Diego Zoo investing heavily and pouring
major resources into project
4 age classes of Batagur kachuga
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New Chitra indica project Cleveland Zoo funding
ask
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Shai conducting workshops on egg collection and
handling
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Turtle poacher conversion putting former
trappers to work for turtle conservation.
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• Donors and supporters
• British Chelonia Group
• San Diego Zoo
• EAZA Shellshock Campaign
• Detroit Zoological Society
• Beneficia Foundation
• Natures Own
• Batchelor Foundation
• Walter Sedgwick
• Turtle Conservation Fund
• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
• Sedgwick County Zoo

Shai received one of Disneys 2008 Wildlife
Conservation Hero Awards
59

• Major 2008 grants from Beneficia Foundation -
  25K and DWCF 18K, will fund new initiatives
  for
• community education center
• poacher conversion
• alternative income for those dependent on
  fishing/trapping
• Sunderban Batagur rescue

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Sunderban Batagur is the true B.baska and is
genetically distinct. Near extinction. 8.3
living at the West Bengal Forestry Station,
since 1990s
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• Myanmar
• 27 species
• 6 endemics
• 4 IUCN Red List Critically Endangered

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• Burmese roofed turtle one of the most at risk
  species in the world
• rediscovered in temple pond, 2002
• group of 8 adults is established at the
  Yadanabon Zoo in Mandalay
• Facility expansion
• for successful captive
• breeding to occur

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New breeding pond and juvenile headstarting
facilities

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• Total costs 18,000 US
• Funded by BCG, TSA and WCS
• Opening ceremony December 2006.

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• WCSs Myanmar turtle program
• supports recovery efforts for the last wild
  population on the upper Chindwin River
  threatened by dam construction

5 year timeline dictates a sense of urgency
67
Nest location and protection, nest relocation,
hatchling collection are part of field efforts
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Hatchlings are headstarted at two locations
the Yadanobon Zoo briefly on the Upper
Chindwin
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163 juv trivittata being headstarted at Yadanabon
Zoo from 2006 2008 wild nests
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Species Recovery Plan workshop - January
2009 To draft a conservation strategy, both for
the captive and wild population, given the
immediate risk posed by dam construction on
Chindwin River
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August 2007 72 Manouria e. phayrei seized
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Total zoo effort with all staff involved

• ponds for soaking
• shade structures
• separation barriers
• veterinary
• feeding

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• BCG Annual Conservation Campaign
• 10K request for TSA
• New facilities for Heosemys
• depressa and Manouria emys
• at the Yoma Elephant Range
• Forestry Station in Rakhine State
• (located in natural range of both)

80
Improving security and juvenile rearing
facilities for star tortoises at Minsontaung
Wildlife Sanctuary is a priority
81
Star tortoise breeding facility
Minsontaung Wildlife Sanctuary, Myanmar
Partnership with WCS EAZA Shellshock
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New star tortoise facility at Minsontaung WS
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New Star tortoise facility for Yadanobon Zoo -
9K Batchelor Foundation and TSA funds
New facility provides much improved husbandry,
nesting habitat and environmental conditions
84
560 star tortoises in captivity in Myanmar in
three Government-run Forestry Dept
facilities Goal is to microchip all
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Trade workshop January 2009 Developing an
integrative strategy for handling turtle
confiscations in Myanmar
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Majority of wild caught turtles in Chinese
markets now are Burmese in origin Batagur
trivittata left Heosemys depressa
below
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• Workshop to address what happens to turtles after
  they are confiscated.
• veterinary care, rapid health assessment, triage
• basic husbandry, transport and handling
• release strategy
• To address the following problems
• turtles being released into inappropriate
  habitats or into areas where they are easily
  poached again
• turtles being released that may be sick or
  carrying potentially
• contagious diseases that pose a risk to native
  populations
• mishandling of high priority species that should
  be retained for captive management and assurance
  colony development
• placement of turtles in facilities unsuitable
  for their survival

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• Deliverables
• flow chart or decision tree that clearly
  outlines the steps
• that should be taken for each species
• prioritized list of turtle species that are
  important for special care and treatment, and
  that are important for incorporation into
  assurance colonies
• An identification guide to turtles likely to be
  encountered by frontline enforcement staff
• A Needs Assessment of each of the five Forestry
  Department facilities
• A model or blueprint for handling confiscated
  turtle shipments that can be used throughout the
  region
• A list of suitable release locations for turtles

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Instructors G. Kuchling, S. Platt, B. Horne,
Kalyar, P. P. van Dijk, B. Holmstrom, B.
Raphael, D. Emmett all have worked in Burma
previously Sponsors Turtle Conservation Fund,
Batchelor Foundation, Frank Kate Slavens,
Cleveland Zoo Organized by TSA and WCS
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Setiu River Terrapin Conservation Program with
Malaysia University of Science Technology Dr.
Chan Eng Heng
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• Callagur / Batagur headstarting/release -
  Malaysia
• State-run programs involving egg collection,
  hatching, headstarting, captive breeding
• and release of 1000s of turtles

Basic science is lacking and wild population
recovery is not occurring
92
TSA sponsored turtle biologist Gerald Kuchling to
sex terrapins via laparoscopy to verify TSD
patterns.
bringing much-needed science to both the Callagur
and Batagur recovery programs
93
Softshell turtle facility at Kanchanaburi,
Thailand
Operated by Ministry of Fisheries
Focus on Siamese narrow-headed giant softshell
turtle, Chitra chitra, IUCN Red List Critically
Endangered
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• 800 hatchlings produced
• in three years, 2002- 04,
• from 2 breeding females
• Mortality has been high
• and only 250 survive

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• 10,000 in Batchelor Foundation funds helped
• determine the causes of high juvenile mortality
  - coccidia
• address heavy male sex bias in hatchlings -
  incubation
• improve husbandry and vet care
• provide improved facilities

96
Shannon Ferrell, DVM (left) collects blood from a
Chitra.
Gerald Kuchling, PhD (rt.) performs ultrasound
exam to determine reproductive status of a male
Chitra.
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After a 3 year breeding hiatus, a Chitra female
laid 25 eggs in February 2007 TSA provided 3
incubators for TSD trials Eggs are set up at
29, 31, and 33 C New juvenile rearing
facilities will be built to allow better water
circulation goal is to reduce reinfection of
coccidial oocysts
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• Mexico
• Central American river turtle, Dermatemys mawi
• catastrophic declines in Southern Mexico
• populations in Belize Guatemala are under
  intense pressures
• IUCN Red List
• Critically Endangered

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• May 2006, TSA team visit
• development of floating aquaculture style
  modules
• for rearing Dermatemys in situ
• planning model Dermatemys breeding/rearing
  facilities at
• La Mancha, Veracruz (INECOL)

Both programs closely linked with community-based
ecotourism plans for sustainability Dallas San
Antonio Zoo funding support

100
Turtles on the Brink in Madagascar A Workshop on
Current Status, Conservation Prioritization, and
Strategic Action Planning for Madagascan
Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles.
101

• Workshop
• 14 17 January 2008
• 80 conservation specialists from Madagascar and
  12 other countries
• Goals
• IUCN Red Listing of Madagascar chelonians
• Action Plan - to identify specific interventions
  needed to ensure the survival of the five endemic
  species (7 taxa)

102

• Red List results
• All five endemics assessed as Critically
  Endangered
• For all, this represents a worsening of their
  status since previous assessment
• Represents 1/6 of the global total of chelonians
  in the CR category ( 31).

103

• Angonoka- less than 200 in wild high risk of
  extinction without increased protection from
  poaching
• Captive breeding recognized as essential to
  survival
• Recommendations
• Expansion of
• captive program in situ
• Monitoring camps
• Continued reintroductions
• Ex situ captive program

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Has literally vanished from vast portions of
their former range Hunting of adults for food
juveniles for pet trade Tortoise Brigade
recommended to monitor and control
trade Increased local community involvement at
village level Repatriation of confiscated
torts Protected areas
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Narrow band of coastal habitat populations
extremely vulnerable to poaching. Distribution
is spotty hotspots with major breaks in range
due to habitat alteration and over collection.
Protected areas needed Better understanding
of distribution Captive breeding a priority
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Fortunately most planicauda habitat is within
protected forest areas much more difficult to
collect. Captive breeding programs both in and
ex situ recommended
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Erymnochelys in serious trouble with recent local
population extinctions documented Only one
population Ankarafantsika is protected
additional sites needed Only one in situ captive
population Amphijora headstarting and finally
captive breeding in 2008 Survey work needed
very little since Kuchling in mid 1990s Ex situ
- 60 in US
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• 300,000 pledged in total on last day
• TSA Commitment to Madagascar
• 16K to establish monitoring camps at Cape Sada
  to protect wild A. yniphopra (Angonoka) against
  poachers (Batchelor Foundation)
• 10K annually for 5 years to A. yniphora captive
  breeding facility at Amphijora (Natures Own year
  1)
• 5K to captive Pyxis facilities at Village des
  Tortues at Ifaty (assurance colonies for 3 taxa)

109

• Sustainable revenue to
• Madagascar tortoise conservation
• Pyxis sales - 200 per tortoise
• goes to TSA Madagascar
• restricted account
• nearly 4K from handpainted
• Pyxis sculptures sold on TSA
• web site

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• radiata and yniphora
• coming soon

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TSA Madagascar Program with major funding support
from Natures Own - 15K unlimited onyx
sculptures donated with all sales going to
Madagascar available on TSA site LA Zoo -
2,000 for new Pyxis enclosures at Village des
Tortues at Ifaty
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Pyxis a. oblonga at Cap St Marie Also 1.0.1 near
Faux Cap
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Typical Pyxis habitat coastal dune thorn scrub
with Euphorbia hot and dry
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25.18.7 found over 2 days from Anakao to
Beheloka Peak activity periods 630 930
AM 430 630 PM 30 34 C
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Aberrant rayed pattern Pyxis a. arachnoides
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Robust populations in the pristine condition
contain all age classes. Benchmark to gauge
populations that have been heavily collected.
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Pyxis a. brygooi from Ifaty 3.9.8 found in AM in
30 mins Hinged specimen (left)
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Village des Tortues at Ifaty is an extension of
Bernard Deveauxs SOPTOM in France and Senegal
440 radiata 802 Pyxis, most brygooi All 3
ssp of Pyxis breeding here
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Located near Tulear, many confiscated radiata
and Pyxis are placed here
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Natural enclosures set in spiny forest
TSA funding new Pyxis enclosures to allow
improved husbandry and reproduction
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TSA Presents 7th Annual Symposium on
Conservation and Biology of Freshwater Turtles
Tortoises Aug 5 8, 2009 St Louis, MO
Sept 2008 Conference in Tucson generated over
20,000 for turtle conservation
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Were serious about saving turtles! www.turtles
urvival.org