New study: how the almost extinct Burmese star tortoise has gone from 175 to 14,000 in Myanmar
Starting at a point where it took 1,000 man-hours to find one Geochelone elegans, times are truly changing for the highly sought-after reptile. In 2004, the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division (NWCD) of the Myanmar Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Forestry, in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)/Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) Myanmar Program, set up assurance colonies that now produce 2,000 hatchlings per year. Over 1,000 tortoises have already been released into the wild. Challenges include education of the public, enforcing legislation, and community involvement, but with an established breeding program, there are many more options for conservationists to make sure this species stays around for a while longer.
ALSO: check out the videos below! One video involves a furry roommate.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
USA: South Carolina Aquarium releases last sea turtle of the season, making 240 rehabilitations in 10 years (VIDEO, release starts at 10:20)
Mexico: Oaxaca sea turtle arrivals up 20% over last year
Biology
Virgin Islands: Dermochelys coriacea hatchling rate drops from 74% to 55%
Education
USA: learn more about how the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) and Florida mouse (Podomys floridanus) have cohabitated for 1.35 million years (VIDEO)
Malaysia: learn more about how Malaysian sea turtle poaching is causing an outrage among citizens (WARNING: graphic photos)
Did You Know…
Commensal symbiosis is a type of “partnership” between two species where only one benefits from the other; mutual symbiosis occurs when both species benefit from each other.
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Photo from Wildlife Conservation Society/Turtle Survival Alliance.
