How much are we willing to bet on thisIts quite possible both can put aside issues for the sake of this species
Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle news
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
It is very unlikely, they're too worried about money to think about saving a speciesIts quite possible both can put aside issues for the sake of this species
.The best chelonian news in years. I do hope they get to now catching the turtles to bring them to Cuc Phuong or something. For the lake the spacing is to big for them to meet and mate. There is now sufficient experience with AI and ex situ breeding. Get it done TSA!!!
Politics aside, I believe there're practical reasons to prioritizing breeding turtles in Vietnam (hopefully they can find a male) given that the male in Suzhou cannot mate naturally and the potential risk of AI.Its quite possible both can put aside issues for the sake of this species
What are we looking at in terms of individuals known sex?:
Suzhou Zoo: 1.0 (unable to breed naturally)
(former 0.1 died under procedure right?)
Vietnam Lakes: 2-3 individuals?
0.1 (the reported female in Dong Mo Lake).
0.0.1 - Dong Mo Lake (to be sexed 2020/early 2021)
0.0.1 - Xuang Khankh Lake
I do wonder if it is realistic to assume others might exist around other lakes and waterways across its former range? Further, the off-chances of any remaining in obscure locations and unknown to the scientific world (and not eaten out of existence ..., remember turtles are also revered in S.E. Asia ..., so ....)
A good idea could be to make a request on newspapers and especially social media. And one does not need a scientist to do that.
South Asians love social media, even in remote places, and a big turtle might be locally known to people. A few scientists available could never search so much ground themselves.
Last edited:
An update from ATP in July said they conducted an interview survey in Lang Son Province, Northern Vietnam which “provided positive historical information for large softshell turtles in a river section of the Ky Cung river; the most recent sighting with a good description was reportedly in 2019”. Such surveys have been conducted in many other areas in Vietnam and you may find more information on their website.
An earlier survey in China reported similar sightings in the China section of Red River, Yunnan Province, though the latest sighting was in 2015. Further survey of the site and environmental DNA testing failed to find any evidence of the turtle.
I am afraid the kouprey is a cattle of legendary myths, however it has turned out to be quite not the wild animal at all.
The only wild cattle species in IndoChina remain banteng and gaur.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
I think it is already be used by Robinchaud and other conservationists in terms of encouraging photos to idenify new or endangered species being sold as bushmeat or live in market places.
Still recognized by IUCN and CITES, and it seems unresolved per the research papers I just read.
And I am afraid you are slightly behind the times - it's now been conclusively proven that Kouprey were a genuine taxon despite prior suggestions they were of domestic hybrid descent
and of course, even if this was not the case, the wild water buffalo still exists.
Recent article about the Yangtze giant softshell turtle :
https://www.cambridge.org/core/serv..._rafetus_swinhoei_may_persist_in_the_wild.pdf
https://www.cambridge.org/core/serv..._rafetus_swinhoei_may_persist_in_the_wild.pdf
Some context: The article makes reference to a particularly large female which has been known about for some time .. though scientists believe that there may be still some more female turtles in existence. One can only hope ...
Doesn't mean much if they can't make an arrangement to get some males and females in a pond together...
~Thylo