Additional Batagur Secured in Bangladesh

January 28, 2011

Turtle Survival Alliance Newsletter

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Additional Batagur Secured in Bangladesh

A female Batagur looks out from the protected nesting beach

The TSA team is still hard at work in Bangladesh, plying the markets and private ponds in search of the extremely rare Sundarbans river terrapin (Batagur baska). Their efforts were recently rewarded, as they secured another female and two additional males, bringing the total to ten males and three females in the breeding program. Working closely with the CARINAM and the Bangladesh Forest Department, Rupali Ghose is negotiating to acquire another female in the coming days. Creating a viable breeding program is crucial for the conservation of this species, one of the rarest river turtles in Asia.

The turtles in the program are being released into two protected ponds in a National Park near Dhaka. The ponds have been excavated and a sand nesting beach has been constructed with the assistance of officials from the Forest Department. Funding was provided by Pat Koval and WWF Canada.

Google Groups Launched

To facilitate networking and communication, we have launched Google Groups for TSA members! This is a group where members can post messages and receive feedback on any turtle-related questions or issues including husbandry and conservation. You can select the frequency at which you receive message from this listserv in your inbox and can unsubscribe at anytime. To visit the group page, click here. You must be a member to post, so join today! (You can download an instruction sheet here to help you with the process.)

For those that remember or may still be using the TSA Listserv that has been run through Yahoo, this will replace that listserv effective February 15. Google Groups offers the TSA a better fit at this time. In addition, there are a lot of new faces in the organization that have not had the opportunity to interact with one another in a message board or listserv forum. By launching Google Groups, we are hoping to breathe new life into the networking within the TSA membership. We hope that you'll join the conversation!

Questions or problems signing up? Email Heather with questions.

Rescued Temple Turtle Lays Eggs

The temple turtle pond in Florida

The group of yellow-headed temple turtles (Hieremys annandalii) that was recently rescued from a confiscation in Hong Kong and imported by the TSA seems to be settling into their new Florida home quite nicely. One of the females recently laid eight eggs in the pond! Kenan Harkin, who is serving as the steward for this group, discovered the eggs right away and removed them from the water to an incubator. Five of them have banded, so we are hopeful that they are viable and will keep you posted on their progress. Thanks again to the Columbus Zoo and all of the other donors who helped make this rescue possible!

Flooding Devastation in Australia

Special thanks to TSA member Marilyn Connell (Tiaro and District Landcare Group) for submitting this article on January 19.

Searching for turtle nests along the inundated banks of the Mary River

Many of you may have heard in the news of the Australian devastating floods. Monsoonal rains have drenched many catchments in Queensland, with floods reaching historical highs causing enormous damage to property, people's lives and our wildlife. It is estimated that these floods have affected 5,000 km5 of Queensland.

The home of the endangered Mary River turtle, Elusor macrurus, has peaked at 18.6m; the usual height for this time of the year is about 2-3m. Since early December, the river has had 3 floods over 9m. Over half of our annual rainfall fell during the first 2weeks of January. Every nesting bank has been flooded just as hatchlings would have been starting to emerge. Some have been underwater since early December. It is unfortunate as we had protected more nests this season than any other in the past 10years. The only recruitment this season will be from rescued clutches. Thankfully Tiaro Landcare volunteers were able to rescue and relocate some protected nests just before the floodwaters reached them.

Adult turtles have been observed congregating in backwaters and low flow gullies. However, with the velocity of floodwaters and over such a long period, many would be washed to the sea. The floods will also be impacting on their habitat and food sources.

Blogs and photos are being posted to the Landcare website: www.maryriverturtle.com

Apply for the TSA Credit Card

We've partnered with Capital One to launch our newest fundraising program, and it will help us earn money doing what you do every day! Just use our custom credit card and valuable cash donations for every purchase you make will be donated to the TSA. Plus, we'll get a $50 bonus donation when you make your first purchase. The card comes with a competitive rate, so sharing your passion-and your support-is easy and automatic. Apply today!