EXPANDING CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF SIX HIGHLY THREATENED TORTOISE AND FRESHWATER TURTLE SPECIES IN BANGLADESH

BANGLADESH IS ONE OF THE MOST TURTLE RICH COUNTRIES IN SOUTH ASIA WITH OVER 25 RECORDED SPECIES. OF THOSE 25 SPECIES 21 ARE LISTED AS GLOBALLY THREATENED. SINCE 2015 TURTLE SURVIVAL ALLIANCE HAS BEEN SUPPORTING TURTLE CONSERVATION IN BANGLADESH.

HERE WE PROPOSE EXPANDING CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF SIX HIGHLY THREATENED TORTOISE AND FRESHWATER TURTLE SPECIES IN BANGLADESH. THE SIX SPECIES ARE 1. ASIAN GIANT TORTOISE 2. ARAKAN FOREST TURTLE 3. ELONGATED TORTOISE 4. BLACK SOFTSHELL TURTLE 5. INDIAN NARROW HEADED SOFTSHELL TURTLE 6.

CROWNED RIVER TURTLE. THE ALLIANCE UTILIZES A THREE PRONGED APPROACH TO TURTLE AND TORTOISE CONSERVATION 1. CONSERVATION BREEDING 2. REWILDING 3. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THIS METHOD HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN RESTORING AND PROTECTING TURTLE AND TORTOISE POPULATIONS GLOBALLY. A CONSERVATION BREEDING FACILITY HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH THREE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED FOREST DWELLING SPECIES.

REINTRODUCTION HAS BEEN INITIATED WITH ASIAN GIANT TORTOISES WITH 70 PERCENT SURVIVAL RATE OF THE FIRST COHORT OF REINTRODUCED TORTOISES.

ZERO POACHING OF THE REINTRODUCED TORTOISES WAS ACHIEVED BY ENGAGING THE COMMUNITIES WITH CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE LIVELIHOOD INCENTIVES AND BY EMPLOYING FORMER HUNTERS AS PARABIOLOGISTS. THIS PROPOSAL WILL EXPAND ON AND CONTINUE OUR WORK FOR THE CON