Turtle Survival

of animals needed to maintain sustainable captive
populations over several generations, and
describes breeding strategies to be employed in
maintaining long term, viable turtle populations
at the TSC. The final section outlines the enclosures
currently available to maintain the collection
and evaluates operational needs to meet the
demands of the future collection and effectively
plan annual budgets.
The Striped Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle (Chitra chitra) would be a high priority species for a TSA Indonesia
program. PHOTO CREDIT: DOUG HENDRIE
GROWING IN-RANGE PARTNERSHIPS
Though the AM plan primarily defines the
TSC collection, it also identifies species recommended
for in-range captive management that
would not be appropriate or feasible for TSC
holding. For example, river terrapins (Batagur)
and large, softshell turtles (Chitra, Nilssonia,
Pelochelys) are best managed in the tropics
where they live rather than in temperate South
Carolina. When a species is eliminated from AM
consideration, they move over to the Field Conservation
(FC) decision tree for assessment.
From the original list of 65 species, Colin
Poole, Chairman of the FC Committee, highlighted
45 for continued or future investment
by the TSA with three criteria: 1) Large riverine
or wetland species, 2) Forest species for which
sufficient habitat still exists, and 3) Lesser
known African species. The process specifically
recommended strengthening existing programs
in India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Madagascar,
while developing partnerships to launch
new initiatives in Indonesia, China, Vietnam,
Malaysia and Cambodia. Africa, with a variety
of emerging, market-driven threats, demands
our attention, as well. The FC Plan’s success will
center on our ability to build new partnerships
along with the funding to support them.
The Home’s Hingeback (Kinixys homeana) was recently elevated to critically endangered status (IUCN Red List), and
has been targeted for management at the TSC. PHOTO CREDIT: CRIS HAGEN
Once each species had been run through the
decision tree, 32 were selected for TSC management
based on a number of criteria, including
these five critical factors: 1) species currently
without effective range country protection and
management programs in place, 2) those species
that do not have a well-managed, long term ex
situ population, 3) species able to thrive outdoors,
year-round at the TSC for at least 8 months; or
have climate controlled, existing, specialized
facilities available for them, 4) are available
for acquisition, and 5) currently have, or have
planned, facilities for them at the TSC.
From this rigorous analysis, a comprehensive
105-page Animal Management (AM) Plan
emerged presenting an estimation of the number
THE PLAN TO AVOID EXTINCTION
Merging the species evaluation process for
Animal Management and Field Conservation has
resulted in a sound, pre-emptive strategy that
ensures no species will slip through the cracks.
For each CR ranked species, there are objective,
transparent, and defensible recommendations for
specific conservation actions.
For some species, such as the Nubian softshell
(Cyclanorbis elegans), we don’t have enough information
and survey work is needed. For others,
such as the endemic Chinese Cuora, collecting
pressures are simply too intense for management
of wild populations exclusively, and we must depend
on ex situ captive breeding, both in and out
of range. Twenty-two species will require both in
situ and ex situ actions.
december 2015 50 turtle survival