Turtle Survival

FE ATURE
Restoring Cambodia’s
Wild Populations of
Southern River Terrapin
Sitha Som , Sarah Brook, and Sovannara Heng
A female Southern River Terrapin with attached transmitter,
allowing the released individuals to be monitored.
PHOTO CREDIT: THIDA LEIPER/WCS
the headstarting facility until ready for release.
Currently there are 225 hatchlings, juveniles and
sub-adults at the facility.
Som Sitha (foreground) and the team release captive-reared Southern River Terrapins into the soft-release enclosure.
PHOTO CREDIT: THIDA LEIPER/WCS
The last 12 months have been notable for the River, the effort is critical — there are perhaps
Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) in as few as 2-3 breeding females remaining within
Southwestern Cambodia. The Wildlife Conservation
Society (WCS) continues to work with 2014, a total of 35 nests have been protected by
the entire Kaong river system. From 2002 to
the nation’s Fisheries Administration (FiA) to the project, resulting in 326 hatchlings. A small
conserve this endangered species. Known locally headstarting facility was constructed in 2006
as “The Royal Turtle”, B. affinis conservation where more than 200 hatchlings have been
efforts achieved a significant milestone with the raised since then to increase chances of survival
July 2015 release of 21 sub-adult terrapins into before being released back into the wild. Surveys
the wild.
of other rivers in southern Cambodia have been
conducted during the nesting seasons, but have
A BRIEF HISTORY
not yet detected any other breeding populations.
In 2001, WCS and government agencies rediscovered
a remnant population of the Southern MORE WILD NESTS
River Terrapin in southwestern Cambodia. WCS Four clutches from at least two females were
and the FiA have since worked with local communities
to prevent egg collection and protect the ary 2015 and achieved a hatching success rate
located in the Sre Ambel River system in Febru-
species in the wild. With an average of 2-3 nests of 89%, as 59 B. affinis hatchlings emerged in
located and protected each year on the Kaong May. The hatchlings will be closely monitored at
A NEW FACILITY
The successful headstarting program has
outgrown its current facility, so a new center is
under development. The new site is adjacent to
a wildlife sanctuary within the species’ natural
range and will enable the project to increase
the number of terrapins raised. The sanctuary’s
newly expanded location will also allow for the
housing of rescued Siamese crocodiles, a species
inhabiting the same river system. Captive
breeding programs at the center will help restore
wild populations of both species. The first phase
of construction and relocation of the terrapins
began in September 2015.
PREPARATION FOR RELEASE
In late 2014, a threat assessment was conducted
within the wider Sre Ambel River system to
determine the spatial distribution and frequency
of various threats to B. affinis. Appropriate threat
mitigation strategies were developed and put into
place prior to the first release of terrapins back
into the system. Five rivers were surveyed, and
december 2015 44 turtle survival