CONSERVATION OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC BURMESE ROOFED TURTLE (BATAGUR TRIVITTATA) ALONG THE UPPER CHINDWIN RIVER OF MYANMAR

THE BURMESE STAR TORTOISE, ENDEMIC TO CENTRAL MYANMAR S DRY ZONE, EXPERIENCED SEVERE EXPLOITATION BY LOCAL PEOPLE AND LATER, BY THE INTERNATIONAL PET TRADE, LEADING TO ITS FUNCTIONAL EXTINCTION BY THE EARLY 2000S AND ITS CLASSIFICATION AS IUCN CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.

BIOLOGICAL EXTINCTION WAS AVERTED THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THREE CAPTIVE-BREEDING GROUPS USING TORTOISES CONFISCATED FROM TRAFFICKERS. THESE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, WITH OVER 12,000 TORTOISES NOW IN CAPTIVITY.

HOWEVER, BOTH FREE-RANGING AND CAPTIVE TORTOISES REMAIN VULNERABLE TO POACHING AND THEFT, WITH CONTRABAND TORTOISES TRACED TO COUNTRIES SUCH AS THAILAND, VIETNAM, CHINA, AND CANADA.

OUR PROJECT ADDRESSES THESE ISSUES BY: 1) PERMANENTLY MARKING TORTOISES USING THREE REDUNDANT SYSTEMS, 2) STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY CONSERVATION TEAMS TO MONITOR REINTRODUCED TORTOISES, 3) CONTINUING CONSERVATION AWARENESS PROGRAMS IN LOCAL VILLAGES, AND 4) ENHANCING REGIONAL COORDINATION BETWEEN ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN KEY COUNTRIES THROUGH WORKSHOPS TO IMPROVE INTERDICTION OF TRAFFICKED TORTOISES.

THE BURMESE ROOFED TURTLE POPULATION DECLINED DUE TO CHRONIC OVER-HARVESTING OF EGGS FROM RIVERSIDE SANDBANKS.

THE INTRODUCTION OF MONOFILAMENT FISHING NETS IN THE 1960S FURTHER DEVASTATED THE SPECIES, LEADING TO ITS PRESUMED EXTINCTION BY THE LATE 1990S. REDISCO