The Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) is heavily hunted for its meat and traditional medicinal value in South East Asia. For this reason, the species is critically endangered with about 200 individuals left in the wild.
Responding to the urgency to save the river terrapin, WRS collaborates with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) on a conservation initiative. Both parties also joined hands to work closely with local authorities and conservation groups to re-house confiscated terrapins.
In August this year, Dr. Anwar from the WRS Veterinary team made a trip to the River Terrapin hatchling centre in Cambodia to help determine the sexes of the River Terrapin hatchlings. This trip was very important because it is difficult to determine, very accurately, the gender of terrapins by physical appearance alone. Unless the gender is accurately determined, it would be difficult to breed them. Dr Anwar and the team had to use three different methods to determine the gender: physical characteristics; examination of the posterior opening and internal examination of gonads using an endoscope.
After determining the gender of the terrapins at the hatchling centre, selected individuals were sent to other institutions as a part of WCS species survival plan. Singapore Zoo will receive 25 of these individuals to form an assurance colony. The terrapins will eventually be used for exchange and breeding programmes with other zoological institutes to ensure genetic diversity and help safe guard the species. Those remaining in Cambodia will be housed in the upcoming River Terrapin Breeding Centre that is to be located close to the Sre Ambel River.
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