After a female Swinhoe’s softshell turtle was discovered in a lake in Vietnam, hope that the world’s most endangered turtle species may recover was rekindled among conservationists in Asia.
World’s rarest turtle finds new hope in Vietnam
What was believed to be the last female Swinhoe’s softshell turtle died in 2019, leaving just one known male example at Suzhou Zoo in China. Now, researchers have found another, renewing hope for the species. Scientists have released genetic results confirming a female turtle captured in October 2020 in Vietnam is definitively the near-extinct Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) – also known as the Hoan Kiem Turtle, raising hopes for the conservation of the world’s rarest turtle.
testing confirms female captured in Dong Mo Lake is definitively a Swinhoe’s softshell
Scientists have released genetic results confirming a female turtle captured in October 2020 in Viet Nam is definitively the near extinct Swinhoe’s softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) – also known as the Yangtze giant softshell turtle and Hoan Kiem turtle. The discovery means at least one male and one female are now known to exist.
The Ha Noi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Asian Turtle Program (ATP) of Indo-Myanmar Conservation (IMC) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have made dramatic progress to possibly prevent the extinction of Swinhoe’s softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) also known as the Yangtze giant softshell turtle or or Hoan Kiem turtle.
Scientists have revealed that genetic testing has confirmed a female turtle captured on October 22, 2020 in Dong Mo Lake is definitively a Swinhoe’s softshell turtle.
This confirmation means there is now one known male Swinhoe’s softshell turtle at Suzhou Zoo in China; and now the female captured in October 2020 in Dong Mo lake, Ha Noi, Viet Nam. Authorities believe there is at least one more of these turtles in Dong Mo Lake and another in nearby Xuan Khanh Lake.
Conservationists hope to capture and determine the sex of the other turtles in both Dong Mo and Xuan Khanh Lakes this coming spring. Ultimately, conservationists aim to ensure at least one male and female are given a chance to breed to ensure this species can return from the brink of extinction.
Source: VietnamWCS
Over-hunting and habitat destruction contributed to the demise of the species
WCS Viet Nam Country Director Hoang Bich Thuy, said: “In a year full of bad news and sadness across the globe, the discovery of this female can offer all some hope that this species will be given another chance to survive. Over-hunting and habitat destruction have contributed to the demise of this species. In Viet Nam, with the leadership of the government, we are determined to take responsibility to give this species another chance.”
Andrew Walde, Chief Operating Officer of the Turtle Survival Alliance, a technical advisor on this project, said: “This is the best news of the year, and quite possibly the last decade, for global turtle conservation. As the most endangered turtle on Earth, a tremendous amount of energy and resources have been dedicated to the preservation of Swinhoe’s softshell turtle.
“Following the loss of the only known female at the time in 2019, the confirmation of this wild specimen as female is a cause for celebration for all those who have worked tirelessly to see this turtle species survive. We commend the dedication and leadership of the Vietnam Government, Ha Noi DARD, and our colleagues at ATP and WCS. We look forward to continuing to provide technical expertise to the project in 2021, and continued successes.”
Previous to this discovery, there had been a major effort to breed the remaining two known remaining members of the species. Then, the last known female Swinhoe’s softshell turtle died on April 13, 2019, during recovery from anesthesia after an artificial insemination procedure in Suzhou, China.
The male and female turtles, which had failed to produce offspring naturally since they were brought together in 2008, were determined to be healthy for the procedure, and similar anesthesia procedures had previously been performed without incident. When the female died, the hope for the species turned to the possibility of additional turtles in two different lakes in Viet Nam, Dong Mo Lake and Xuan Khanh Lake.
Source: VietnamWCS
It is hoped the second animal can be captured and confirmed at the lake in spring 2021
Since early 2019, with technical support from the ATP/IMC and WCS, Ha Noi Fisheries Department had organized various consultations and review meetings to develop a technical approach for the discovery and capture; conduct more surveys of Dong Mo Lake; and select trapping locations. The plan was delayed due to COVID-19 lockdowns in Viet Nam, preventing international team members, including veterinary teams and turtle experts, travelling to Viet Nam due to travel restrictions.
In September 2020, a team went back into the field; including local fishers, the Ha Noi Fisheries Department and the ATP/IMC and WCS personnel. They spent weeks putting out a series of nets in the 1,400 ha lake (about 3,459 acres) to create a fenced-in 90 ha (about 222 acre) capture zone. On October 22, 2020, an animal was seen next to the net fence and a quick-thinking team member was able to capture the animal with the help of a local fisherman.
A temporary holding pond had already been prepared on a small island in the lake and a veterinary team from ATP/IMC and WCS arrived in a matter of hours, along with an international veterinarian working for Four Paws Viet (A bear rescue center) with ultrasound equipment to allow the animal to be clearly sexed.
With the close coordination and technical support from the capture and animal care teams, on October 23, 2020, a health check was done, samples were taken, an ultrasound was performed, a microchip was inserted, swabs and blood samples were taken and a physical check was recorded. The animal weighed in at 86kg (189.5 pounds) and 1m (3.2 feet) in length. To everyone’s great relief, she was healthy, strong and keen to get back in the lake where she was released on the same day.
Last month, at the Ha Noi workshop, the genetic results from the tests confirmed this turtle was a female Swinhoe’s softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei).
With sightings of a second animal with an estimated weight of 130kg in Dong Mo Lake, additional work started in November 2020 with the capture team, which then did simulation exercises on different trapping methods. It is hoped the second animal can be captured and confirmed at the lake in spring 2021 when the water level is at the lowest.
Teams are hopeful this second animal may be a male Rafetus swinhoei, giving even more hope that the world’s rarest species can mate and produce offspring in either a semi-wild area or captivity in Viet Nam.
The Vietnamese Government is leading this effort to prevent extinction of the Swinhoe’s softshell turtle, along with ATP/IMC, WCS and other partners.
Source: VietnamWCS
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