malaysian naturalist, sept 2018
By Chen Pelf Nyok & Chan Eng Heng, Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia
THE SOUTHERN river terrapin (Batagur affinis) is a critically endangered species of freshwater turtle that is only found in southern Thailand, Cambodia and Peninsular Malaysia. It is listed as one of the top 25 most critically endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles in the world. In Malaysia, they are listed as a Totally Protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
The decline in river terrapin populations in Malaysia is attributable to various forms of natural, accidental and deliberate destruction, overexploitation and alteration of habitat. Besides being hunted for its meat, the river terrapin, known locally as tuntung sungai, is also pursued for its eggs. Its distribution in the major rivers in the states of Kedah, Perak and Terengganu makes it a good source of income and food for the local villagers.
River terrapins are also occasionally captured in fishing nets set across rivers to catch freshwater fish. Terrapins may drown in the nets or, if caught alive, are either released or consumed. For decades, local egg collectors have harvested river terrapin eggs for their own consumption.
Considering that the river terrapin is critically endangered and its population is dwindling throughout its range, there is an urgent need for grassroots conservation action, and this prompted the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) to intensify its river terrapin conservation efforts in Kg. Mangkok, Setiu, which was started in 2004. The project was conducted over two years, from February 2011 to November 2012.
The objective of the project was to train the local community to carry out some aspects of the terrapin conservation project, such as the egg protection and incubation programme, head-starting of the terrapins and organising a terrapin release event. The monitoring of the incubation process and head-starting procedures were supervised to ensure good hatch rates and production of healthy terrapins for release. Additionally, the local community was also empowered to organise a turtle release event according to their creativity and capabilities. It was hoped that this would give the local community a sense of ownership of and belonging to the project.
THE SOUTHERN river terrapin (Batagur affinis) is a critically endangered species of freshwater turtle that is only found in southern Thailand, Cambodia and Peninsular Malaysia. It is listed as one of the top 25 most critically endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles in the world. In Malaysia, they are listed as a Totally Protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
The decline in river terrapin populations in Malaysia is attributable to various forms of natural, accidental and deliberate destruction, overexploitation and alteration of habitat. Besides being hunted for its meat, the river terrapin, known locally as tuntung sungai, is also pursued for its eggs. Its distribution in the major rivers in the states of Kedah, Perak and Terengganu makes it a good source of income and food for the local villagers.
River terrapins are also occasionally captured in fishing nets set across rivers to catch freshwater fish. Terrapins may drown in the nets or, if caught alive, are either released or consumed. For decades, local egg collectors have harvested river terrapin eggs for their own consumption.
Considering that the river terrapin is critically endangered and its population is dwindling throughout its range, there is an urgent need for grassroots conservation action, and this prompted the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS) to intensify its river terrapin conservation efforts in Kg. Mangkok, Setiu, which was started in 2004. The project was conducted over two years, from February 2011 to November 2012.
The objective of the project was to train the local community to carry out some aspects of the terrapin conservation project, such as the egg protection and incubation programme, head-starting of the terrapins and organising a terrapin release event. The monitoring of the incubation process and head-starting procedures were supervised to ensure good hatch rates and production of healthy terrapins for release. Additionally, the local community was also empowered to organise a turtle release event according to their creativity and capabilities. It was hoped that this would give the local community a sense of ownership of and belonging to the project.
Towards sustainability To ensure the sustainability of a grassroots conservation project, we needed to build the capacity of the local community in Kg. Mangkok in managing the purchase of terrapin eggs, incubation, monitoring of hatchling emergence and head-starting work. A local villager, Kazlina Mat Ali, came on board to purchase river terrapin eggs for incubation in both the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and she was able to secure 93 eggs in 2011 and 227 in the next year. |
Owing to the low nesting density, all eggs were incubated in open-air sand-nests outside Kazlina’s house. Each nest was protected with a wire mesh, and the entire area was fenced up, while Kazlina was trained to monitor the emergence of the river terrapin hatchlings. If, however, at the end of the incubation duration of approximately 60- 90 days the hatchlings had not emerged, the nests would be dug up for analysis.
To increase awareness on the importance of conserving the river terrapins among local egg collectors, the project rented an old Balai Raya in Kg. Mangkok and turned it into a free Mini Turtle Museum that had on display terrapin shells, wet and dry specimens and posters. The museum attracted the attention of the local children in the village, who frequently dropped by to read our posters, while art workshops, for example making turtle lanterns and glass bottle art, were organised.
The project also attempted to empower the local community to organise a terrapin release event. In the 2011 season, this objective could not be fulfilled as no hatchlings were produced. In the 2012 season, we took over the task of organising a small-scale release event in Kg. Mangkok because Kazlina had taken up a full-time job as a cleaner in the village to support her family.
To increase awareness on the importance of conserving the river terrapins among local egg collectors, the project rented an old Balai Raya in Kg. Mangkok and turned it into a free Mini Turtle Museum that had on display terrapin shells, wet and dry specimens and posters. The museum attracted the attention of the local children in the village, who frequently dropped by to read our posters, while art workshops, for example making turtle lanterns and glass bottle art, were organised.
The project also attempted to empower the local community to organise a terrapin release event. In the 2011 season, this objective could not be fulfilled as no hatchlings were produced. In the 2012 season, we took over the task of organising a small-scale release event in Kg. Mangkok because Kazlina had taken up a full-time job as a cleaner in the village to support her family.
Challenges
Between 2004 and 2010, the number of river terrapin eggs TCS acquired for incubation averaged 270 eggs. However, in 2011 and 2012, only 93 and 227 eggs, respectively, were collected for incubation. This could be due to a few factors, including low nesting density and decreased effort in securing the eggs owing to rainy days.
Although the river terrapin conservation programme had been carried out since 2004 in Kg. Mangkok, local villagers were still reluctant to sell the eggs to the project. Various outreach programmes that involved the egg collectors were organised, but attendance was poor. Tokens of appreciation were given to those who had contributed to the project, but this did not seem to encourage the others to follow suit. This highlights the importance of continuing awareness activities in the village to educate the younger generation on the importance of conserving the river terrapins.
The struggle continues
The project’s aims were to purchase 100% of the nests deposited, produce a maximum number of healthy hatchlings and release these hatchlings into the Setiu River; increase awareness of the local egg collectors in conserving the river terrapins; and empower the local community to organise a river terrapin release event.
Unfortunately, aside from the poor take-up by the local egg collectors (only a fraction of the eggs collected were sold to the project for incubation; others were consumed), the project also faced setbacks in incubation.
In 2011, a total of 93 river terrapin eggs were secured for incubation, but all failed to hatch due to heavy rains that led to a flood. Efforts to acquire more eggs were intensified in 2012, and 227 eggs were secured for incubation. Of these, 180 hatchlings successfully emerged from the nests (hatching success 79.3%) and were head-started for five to six months. A total of 178 river terrapin juveniles were released into the Setiu River in a simple ceremony on 3rd November 2012.
It is extremely difficult to change the mindset of the egg collectors/adults when it comes to giving up consuming terrapin eggs for conservation. This is a long and hard battle, but one that must be conquered to give the river terrapins a chance to survive.
Hence, it is important that educational activities be carried out in the village from time to time, to instill a sense of love and stewardship in the younger generation towards the river terrapin.
Between 2004 and 2010, the number of river terrapin eggs TCS acquired for incubation averaged 270 eggs. However, in 2011 and 2012, only 93 and 227 eggs, respectively, were collected for incubation. This could be due to a few factors, including low nesting density and decreased effort in securing the eggs owing to rainy days.
Although the river terrapin conservation programme had been carried out since 2004 in Kg. Mangkok, local villagers were still reluctant to sell the eggs to the project. Various outreach programmes that involved the egg collectors were organised, but attendance was poor. Tokens of appreciation were given to those who had contributed to the project, but this did not seem to encourage the others to follow suit. This highlights the importance of continuing awareness activities in the village to educate the younger generation on the importance of conserving the river terrapins.
The struggle continues
The project’s aims were to purchase 100% of the nests deposited, produce a maximum number of healthy hatchlings and release these hatchlings into the Setiu River; increase awareness of the local egg collectors in conserving the river terrapins; and empower the local community to organise a river terrapin release event.
Unfortunately, aside from the poor take-up by the local egg collectors (only a fraction of the eggs collected were sold to the project for incubation; others were consumed), the project also faced setbacks in incubation.
In 2011, a total of 93 river terrapin eggs were secured for incubation, but all failed to hatch due to heavy rains that led to a flood. Efforts to acquire more eggs were intensified in 2012, and 227 eggs were secured for incubation. Of these, 180 hatchlings successfully emerged from the nests (hatching success 79.3%) and were head-started for five to six months. A total of 178 river terrapin juveniles were released into the Setiu River in a simple ceremony on 3rd November 2012.
It is extremely difficult to change the mindset of the egg collectors/adults when it comes to giving up consuming terrapin eggs for conservation. This is a long and hard battle, but one that must be conquered to give the river terrapins a chance to survive.
Hence, it is important that educational activities be carried out in the village from time to time, to instill a sense of love and stewardship in the younger generation towards the river terrapin.