Rafetus turtle update 201811/6/2022 ![]() ![]() 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. ![]() 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. Previous to this discovery, there had been a major effort to breed the remaining two known animals of the species. We look forward to continuing to provide technical expertise to the project in 2021, and continued successes.” We commend the dedication and leadership of the Vietnam Government, Ha Noi DARD, and our colleagues at ATP and WCS. 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. 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. Said Andrew Walde, Chief Operating Officer of the Turtle Survival Alliance, a technical advisor on this project, “This is the best news of the year, and quite possibly the last decade, for global turtle conservation. In Viet Nam, with the leadership of the government, we are determined to take responsibility to give this species another chance.” Over hunting and habitat destruction have contributed to the demise of this species. ![]() #Rafetus turtle update 2018 full#Said WCS Viet Nam Country Director Hoang Bich Thuy: “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. At the same time our surveys in other areas of Vietnam suggest other animals might still survive in the wild, we need to be looking at bringing these together as part of the broader conservation plan for the species.” Once we know the sex of the animals in Vietnam, we can make a clear plan on the next steps, hopefully we have a male and a female, in which case breeding and recovery of the species becomes a real possibility. Timothy McCormack, Program Director of the ATP/IMC said: ”It is so important that we are taking these steps, confirming the sex of the identified animals, and in the case of the animal in Xuan Khanh Lake confirming the species, as currently this has only been based on Environmental DNA. Hanoi Department of Fisheries has been assigned to continue implementing the Plan #200 from the Ha Noi People’s Committee to revive and preserve the Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle, a rare, precious and endangered species listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book and IUCN Red List.” We have been seeking advice and consultation from the Ha Noi People’s Committee to promulgate guiding documents and to collaborate with international organizations to execute our development and conservation plan of Rafetus swinhoei. Nguyen Huy Dang, Deputy Director of Ha Noi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said, “This is a very important mission and it needs to be done effectively. 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. Conservationists hope to at least to capture and determine the sex of the turtle in both Dong Mo and Xuan Khanh Lakes this coming spring. Authorities believe there is at least one more of these turtles in Dong Mo Lake and yet another in nearby Xuan Khanh Lake. ![]() 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. 22, 2020 in Dong Mo Lake is definitively a Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle. At a workshop here today, scientists revealed that genetic testing has confirmed a female turtle captured on Oct. Ha Noi, December 18, 2020, 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 the Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle ( Rafetus swinhoei). ![]()
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