Last Chance for the Yangtze giant softshell turtle?

Posted on: Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

Updated: May 5, 2008

History is being made today folks and TSA is leading the way. The last know female Yangtze giant softshell, Rafetus swinhoei, is on her way to join the last captive male in China at the Suzhou Zoo. The team left Changsha this morning about 2 AM CST, a 3 van caravan (including a PBS Nature film crew) starting the 1100 km trip. The team is led by Dr. Geradl Kuchling and includes Paul Calle, DVM (WCS), Scott Davis (TSA) and Mitch Kalmanson (Lester Kalmanson Agency) who is in chagre of insurance and transportation logistics. Vets from Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden and Ocean Park Hong Kong are also along. On Saturday Gerald inspected the modified breeding pond at Suzhou and recommended some last minute changes, then he returned to Changsha and performed a reproductiove ultrasound exam on the female. The good news is that she has not yet ovulated and has 11 pre ovulatory follicles and good fat deposits. So we appear to be moving her at the right time.

Planning this historic move has been a collaboration between the TSA and WCS through their office in Beijing. We have a $25,000 budget with most of those funds having been secured, and the rest are guaranteed. Championing this effort has been Walter Sedgwick, TSA donor and WCS Trustee; we also have received funding from the TCF ($10,000), Batchelor Foundation ($5K), matched by Walter Sedgwick, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, and Kadoorie Farm and Bot Garden.

Just wanted to give you a heads up. We are holding the press release till she safely arrives at Suzhou. Gerald will stay there to monitor the introduction to the male.

Updated: May 2, 2008

With only four specimens of Rafetus swinhoei known to exist worldwide (2 in China and 2 in Vietnam), and only one of these a female, the stakes could not be much higher. An historic effort is now underway in China to move the lone female living at the Changsha Zoo to be paired with a captive male at the Suzhou Zoo for breeding.

A collaborative effort between the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the team arrived in China May 1 to begin the process. Led by Dr. Gerald Kuchling (Universithy of Western Australia), the world’s leading chelonian reproductive physiologist, the team consists of Paul Calle, DVM (Bronx Zoo), Scott Davis (manager of the largest collection of giant softshell turtles outside of Asia), Nimal Fernando (Ocean Park Hong Kong veterinarian), Alex Grioni (Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden veterinarian), and Mitch Kalmanson who was contracted by the TSA to insure the female during transport and to handle transportation logistics.

A PBS Nature film crew will be on hand to document this incredible event for an upcoming special on efforts to breed critically endangered species in captivity. Chinese media attention promises to be intense as well.

The plan is for Dr. Kuchling and Lu Shunquing (WCS China) to inspect the recently modified breeding facilities at Suzhou Zoo; then, if approved, the female will undergo an ultrasound exam to determine her reproductive status.

A 2007 exam indicated that she would likely ovulate in mid May so the plan is to have her with the male before then. The female will tentatively be driven to Suzhou, a 620 mile trip, on Monday, May 5. The breeding pond at Suzhou Zoo has been fenced down the middle to allow the pair to see and smell each other and gauge their reaction before the introduction occurs. If mating is successful, the male will be removed and the female left alone to nest.

“I hate to call this a desperation move, but it really is,” Rick Hudson, Co-Chair of the TSA said. “The risks are certainly there, but doing nothing is much riskier.”

The TSA is growing accustomed to high pressure situations - such is the case when working with critically endangered species - but nothing of this magnitude. The planning that has been involved to get us to this point has been intensive and has produced a remarkable partnership based on the strenghts of both the TSA global network and WCS China.

This move has required major financial support - at least $25,000 which could go higher - and the following organizations are recognized for their contributions: Turtle Conservation Fund, Batchelor Foundation, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation and Walter Sedgwick.

Should this move go through as planned look for a media storm to follow. And keep your fingers crossed that this goes well. We may not get a second chance.