The Piku Project: Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta ...

The Piku Project: Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta)
community led conservation in the Kikori region of Papua
New Guinea
Carla C. Eisemberg, Mark Rose, Yolarnie Amepou, Arthur Georges

Pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelyidae)
• Australia and New Guinea
• Kikori River

Kikori
Pig-nosed turtle
– Important source of protein
– Especially during the nesting season
Krista Nash, 2011

Aims and objectives:
Piku Project 2012
• Phases:
– 1 st phase: January and February
– 2 nd phase: April
• Cement in place a long-term community-led monitoring program
for the markets and target villages.
• Protect the main pig-nosed turtle nesting area in the Kikori River
and use it as an example to bring interest to other sand bank land
owners.
• Bring awareness about conservation and management of wildlife:
– “Piku on Radio” program
– Children’s book “The Adventures of Piggy on the Kikori River”

Building Capacity
• Graduate students
• University students
• Kikori Secondary students
• Workshops
• Field experience
Future master student Kikori students

Market Monitoring
• Meat and eggs
• 5 students from Kikori Secondary
• 10 pig-nosed turtles sold
• Kibeni, Veraibari, Apeowa and
Wowou Villages
• Delta and coastal villages
• 90 eggs sold – Feb. to April
• Waira Village
• Upstream

Number of eggs
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
Village Monitoring
Kopi
Waira
1981-1982 2007-2008 2008-2009 2011-2012
Nesting season

Sand Bank Protection
• Wau Creek
• Protected for 30 days - Jan 17 to
Feb 15
Nest fate (%)
Between years (Wau Creek)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2008-2009 2011-2012
Nesting season
Hatched
Predated
Harvested
Unknown

Sand Bank Protection
Results
Number of nests
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Between areas
Flooded Hatched Predated Removed Unknown
Nest fate
Harvested?
Inside
Outside

Other activities

Next steps

Tanikiu bada herea!
• Exxon Mobil staff
– Stephen Whisker, Valentina Kaman, Eurelia Paine, Dylan Soondrawu, Justin
Ondopa, Alphonse Nao, Serah Kende and Sisa Kini
• PNG Department of Environment and Conservation
– Dr Colin Filer (ANU) and Jim Robins (NRI)
• From Kopi Camp
– Floyd Robinson, Florence Sabo and Steve Dekene.
• CDI Foundation staff
– Cathy Alex, Peter John, Wapi Ekali and John Aitau
• People from Kikori villages
– Waira, Kopi, irimuku, Ero and Apeowa.
• Frank John and his family for the protection of Wau creek and assistance
in the field.
• Students from Kikori Secondary School
• The Papua New Guinea Institute of Biological Research.