Lower the threats to Painted terrapins
Conservation focus:
Painted terrapin
Scientific name:
Batagur borneoensis
IUCN status:
EDGE status:
CR (critically endangered)
Score 16.3, Rank 32 / 103 turtles & tortoises
Threatened evolutionary history:
7 million years
Scientific classification:
Reptiles, Testudines, Geoemydidae
Population trend
Decreasing
Conservation attention
Low
Range
Ecological role
Little is known about the specific ecological role of Batagur borneoensis. This large terrapin forages in estuaries, brackish waters and mangrove forests. It nests on beaches.
Aceh Tamiang and the Karang Gading Langkat Timur Laut Wildlife Sanctuary are key habitats and last stronghold for the species. These areas, consisting of rivers, beaches, and mangroves, support not only terrapins but also fisheries, migratory birds, and other threatened species. Their conservation is also important for climate change mitigation.
Threats
Currently this species is under tremendous pressure from poaching for eggs and by agroindustry, which is degrading and converting its river and ocean beach and mangrove habitats for fish and shrimp aquaculture and oil palm production. Other threats include habitat shifting and alteration due to climate change. Moreover, the species suffers from high direct mortality through fishing, harvesting aquatic resources and pollution (garbage and solid waste). Unfortunately, the generation length, estimated at around 45 years, makes it difficult to replace losses. Maturity occurs as late as at 7–10 years age in males, and about 15 years in females.
Although the Painted Terrapin is protected in Indonesia, the number of mature individuals is in continuing decline across its populations. There are no data on overall population size.
The species was very intensively collected and traded in the 1990s (with a legal quota in Indonesia until the early 2000s), mostly for consumption. Its eggs are collected for local consumption.
(Over)harvesting as well as sand mining continue in its range, even though they have reduced the population by probably at least 80%.
Although Batagur borneoensis is known to occur in some protected areas of Thailand and Sumatra, its current distribution, habitats and ecology are poorly understood. Whilst it is listed in CITES Appendix II, the forested areas it inhabits and the beaches it needs to lay eggs need protection to conserve the species. Although all collection is now illegal and this terrapin is now subject to international management / trade controls, locals in key habitats need to be informed accordingly and be made aware of the decline and high extinction risk of this species. Batagur borneoensis is a priority species to be conserved in Indonesia according to Minister of Forestry Decree No. 57 Year 2008 about Strategic Direction of National Species Conservation 2008–18.
Grant
Date awarded:
$ 9,000
12 November 2024
Score 16.3, Rank 32 / 103 turtles & tortoises
Why support?
Each species of turtle or tortoise is the result of, on average, over 18 million years of independent evolution. If we lose it, we irreversibly lose a huge portion of evolutionary history. Unfortunately, these very old life forms are among the most threatened on the planet, having experienced completely unsustainable losses at the hands of ever-growing human populations. The Painted terrapin specifically, which used to be common along the shores of the Malaysian peninsula, northeastern Sumatra and eastern Borneo, was overharvested to such a degree that it went from “vulnerable” to “critically endangered” in just 40 years, losing at least 80% of the population in a single generation length! Unfortunately, turtles get much less conservation attention than birds or mammals. One more reason for us to support this programme aiming at changing the attitude of local communities to this evolutionary treasure.
Grant focus
Awareness-building and education of local communities
Programme owner
Yayasan SatuCita Lestari Indonesia
Programme contact
Joko Guntoro
Project location
Indonesia
Karang Gading, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Addressing the need: Project goals
Increase knowledge and awareness among villagers, especially fishermen, living in the species’ habitat.
Identify suspected Painted Terrapin distribution sites around Karang Gading Wildlife Reserve (the exact area remains unknown). Through questionnaires identify threats to the species around this Wildlife Sanctuary.
With this project SatuCita Foundation strives to increase knowledge and awareness among villagers in the Painted Terrapin’s habitat in Aceh Tamiang and Karang Gading Wildlife Sanctuary, Langkat. The team of the SatuCita Foundation and the Agency of Conservation of Natural Resources will educate villagers in village meetings at 3 villages in the Regency of Aceh Tamiang and 5 villages around Karang Gading Wildlife Sanctuary. The main target is river fishermen who often interact with the river ecosystem, the habitat of Painted Terrapin. They are targeting 40 participants per village, totalling 320 participants. Pre- and post-test questionnaires will measure results. Signboards in strategic village locations will further expand outreach.
Secondly, through this activity they hope to identify suspected Painted Terrapin distribution sites around Karang Gading Wildlife Reserve. They will also identify threats to Painted Terrapins around Karang Gading Wildlife Sanctuary through interviewing participants using questionnaires.
Conservation actions
Wildlife conservation in situ requires community support. This programme is an effort to prepare the communities living in its habitat through better knowledge and awareness of the status and conservation of this critically endangered species. This will also allow for better preparation and management of releasing Painted terrapin into the wild in future.
As a result of higher awareness of and a sense of connection with this endangered species, the communities are expected to report future accidental catching or illegal activity in this area and to hand over collected eggs to authorities, as has already happened in other communities which were educated before.
Critically endangered Painted Terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) looking for a nesting site on a beach in Aceh, Indonesia.
One of these critically endangered terrapins basking on a mangrove branch in Aceh, Indonesia.
This species needs sandy beaches where it lays its eggs. The collection and consumption of both eggs and turtles, as well as habitat destruction through shrimp farms and palm oil plantations, continue to be key threats for this species.
Critically endangered Painted Terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) looking for a nesting site on a beach in Aceh, Indonesia.