The TSA's goal to create a sustainbable conservation program for one of the world's most heavily exploited turtles, the Central American river turtle (Dermatemys mawii), finally saw some progress recently with the arrival of Dr. Thomas Rainwater in Belize. With funding from the Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF) and the Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Dr. Rainwater and a Tom Pop - a long-time Belize employee of the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE) - are launching a two-month survey of all major Dermatemys rivers in Belize. This is essentially a repeat of Don Moll's mid-1980's surveys and will give us a good reference for what is happening to these populations. We are anticipating serious declines due to heavy hunting pressures, as Dermatemys or "hickatee" meat is regularly offered in many Belizean restaurants.

Elsewhere throughout their range, Dermatemys has experienced catastrophic declines, especially in southern Mexico. Based on the results of this survey, the TSA expects to launch a pilot captive breeding program with the goal of defining what is required to manage this species in captivity.

 

In partnership with BFREE, the TSA envisions building a series of ponds with biological filtration - hopefully growing turtle food plants in the filtration ponds - where breeding trials can be conducted to study the effectiveness of a variety of techniques. Questions to be answered include where they lay eggs, what triggers egg laying, and optimal stocking densities. The ultimate goal is to develop a farming system that can be adopted at the community level, thereby taking pressures off of wild populations and providing stock to restore depleted wild populations.

 

Dr. Rainwater will be providing regular blog updates during his work. Read his first installment by clicking here.