Dr. Paul P. Calle [Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) Wildlife Health Sciences (WHS)] and Rick Hudson [Fort Worth Zoo and Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)] visited Myanmar and Cambodia between 20 and 31 August 2006. The trip was funded by WCS Departments of Herpetology, International Conservation Asia Programs, and WHS; and the TSA. The purpose of the trip was to place transponder microchips for permanent identification in hatchling Burmese (Myanmar) roofed terrapin (Kachuga trivittata) in Myanmar and giant Asian river terrapin or mangrove terrapin (Batagur baska) in Cambodia; review newly constructed facilities for captive breeding, head-starting, and rearing; review management and husbandry of the hatchling turtles; and training and capacity building.

The Yadanabon Zoo in Mandalay, Myanmar, currently houses the only potential captive breeding group of Burmese (Myanmar) roofed terrapin (Kachuga trivittata) in the world. This species had not been reportedly seen alive since the 1930’s and was rediscovered in a temple pond in Mandalay in 2002; another specimen turned up in Hong Kong near the same time. A remnant population was also discovered on the Upper Chindwin River. A breeding program for this species was recently initiated at the Yadanabon Zoo with the turtles recovered from the temple pond serving as its’ nucleus. In addition, WCS Myanmar Program has initiated a nest protection and head-starting effort on the only known nesting beach for the species on the Chindwin River where it is estimated that only 6-8 nesting females survive. Two hundred eggs were collected, and 88 hatched. Sixteen of the hatchlings from these protected nests were transferred to the Yadanabon Zoo to add diversity to the future captive breeding population, and as a hedge against the extinction threat the remnant wild population faces. The remaining 72 hatchlings remain at the facility on the Chindwin River for immediate release to the wild or head-starting for later release. The Yadanabon Zoo also has an active and successful breeding program for Burmese (Myanmar) Star Tortoises (Geochelone platynota).

WCS Department of Herpetology and the Turtle Survival Alliance have provided funding to construct a captive breeding and rearing facility at the Yadanabon Zoo. The Yadanabon Zoo has two veterinarians, husbandry staff, and animal holding facilities. However, they lack basic veterinary and husbandry supplies and do not have access to transponders to permanently identify individuals in the rearing, head-starting, or free-ranging populations of Kachuga trivittata or the captive breeding programs for either Kachuga trivittata or Geochelone platynota.

During our visit, the Myanmar Forestry Department confiscated over 2,100 turtles bound for China. The confiscation consisted of four species [elongated or yellow tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), leaf turtles (Cyclemys sp.), and two species endemic to Myanmar, Burmese (Myanmar) flap shelled turtle (Lissemys scutata) and Burmese (Myanmar) eyed turtle (Morenia occelata)]. All were deposited at the Yadanabon Zoo, which was ill prepared to assume the financial and programmatic burden for these confiscated turtles.

Transponders and a transponder reader were provided by WCS to the Yadanabon Zoo and WCS Myanmar program staffs.

Sixteen Burmese (Myanmar) roofed terrapin (Kachuga trivittata) hatchlings at the zoo were permanently identified through subcutaneous placement of transponders.

The Yadanabon Zoo veterinarians Dr. Tint Lwin and Dr. Thaw Thaw Lin were trained in transponder techniques, and performed most of the procedures. They will later travel up the Chindwin River to the Kachuga nest site and head-starting area to transponder the remaining 72 hatchlings. They are also available to transponder any free-ranging adult or subadult turtles that are found.

Duplicate blood samples were obtained from the 8 adult and subadult Kachuga at the zoo. These will eventually be exported (once permits are obtained) for genetic analysis.

The Yadanabon Zoo veterinarians were trained in chelonian venipuncture techniques, and collected some of the samples for future genetic analysis.

Plans and construction for a Kachuga breeding, hatchling rearing, and head-starting facility at the zoo were reviewed. Construction was funded by the TSA, the British Chelonia Group, and the WCS Department of Herpetology and has progressed well with the facility in very good condition and progressing according to plans.

The confiscation provided an opportunity to train Yadanabon Zoo staff in principles of triage, health assessment, crisis management, and chelonian housing options. Due to housing limitations at the zoo, the breeding group of Kachuga had to be relocated to another temporary enclosure to separately and safely accommodate the confiscated turtles.

The Minsontaung Wildlife Sanctuary was also visited, a facility that has a very successful captive breeding program for Geochelone platynota. The collection was in very good condition but the facility lacks a secure perimeter fence and the collection is not permanently identified.

There is a need to develop plans for future Yadanabon Zoo veterinary and husbandry support, training, materials, and assistance.

Provision of transponders and additional transponder readers is needed to enable future Kachuga hatchlings to be transpondered.

Addition of commercially produced turtle food would aid in diversifying the diet for hatchling Kachuga.

The pH of the water in the new pools for the hatchling Kachuga should be tested to verify that the there is not leaching from the concrete resulting in an increase in pool water pH.

Protocols need to be developed to properly house and care for confiscated turtles.

Disposition options for confiscated turtles need to be developed.

A recovery workshop for Kachuga needs to be developed to formulate an action plan for the conservation of Kachuga.

Burmese (Myanmar) Star tortoises at the Yadanabon Zoo should be transpondered.

Burmese (Myanmar) Star tortoises at the Minsontaung Wildlife Sanctuary should be transpondered.

A security fence is needed at the Minsontaung Wildlife Sanctuary.

The giant Asian river terrapin, or mangrove terrapin, (Batagur baska) was believed to be extinct in Cambodia until rediscovered on the Sre Ambel river in 2000. The Cambodia Department of Fisheries and WCS are actively protecting nesting beaches and nest sites. Hatchlings are removed for rearing at a newly constructed head-starting facility within the existing range for the species.

WCS Cambodia program staff were trained in techniques to place transponders.
Plans and construction of a Batagur hatchling rearing and head-starting facility, funded by the TSA and the WCS Department of Herpetology were reviewed. Construction has progressed well with the facility in very good condition, progressing according to plans, and nearly complete.

The current management and husbandry procedures and protocols were reviewed.

A diet trial was conducted with commercially prepared turtle food.

Recommendations were formulated for minor suggested facility alterations.

Suggestions were also developed for management and husbandry procedures.

Commercial processed turtle food should be incorporated into the diet and provisions have been made to transport food to the program when possible with Cambodia Programs staff or others traveling to the region.

The optimal numbers of hatchlings to be released at each age or size need to be determined.