Two remnant populations of the roofed turtle Kachuga trivittata in the upper Ayeyarwady River system, Myanmar

Abstract

The endemic roofed turtle Kachuga trivittata has been extirpated over most of its former range in the Ayeyarwady River system of Myanmar. Only two small remnant populations are known to survive. In a small stretch of the upper Chindwin River K. trivittata persists because local Shan villages traditionally ban the killing of large adult K. trivittata. The population has nevertheless declined dramatically during the last few years because of the erosion of the ban by migrant fishermen from central Myanmar who do not observe the local regulation, and because of the overexploitation of eggs. The traditional regulation of the Shan villages offers a basis, through its reinforcement and education of migrants, for a species recovery programme. Further actions will include the protection of nests and eggs, and eventually the banning of camps and seasonal settlements on sandbanks used by K. trivittata for nesting. K. trivittata also still persists in the Dokhtawady River in a small area subjected to low exploitation pressure in the recent past because of the dangers of a frontline between the government army and an army of insurgents. The opening of this area following a truce brought this population close to extinction and a hydroelectric dam under construction will alter the ecology of this stretch of river. We propose to assess the potential use of the future impoundment lake for the recovery of this K. trivittata population.

Conservation genomics of the endangered Burmese roofed turtle

“…; Kuchling et al. ). Two remnant wild populations were identified in the early‐2000s, one in the Chindwin River Basin (upper Chindwin River [Kuchling et al.…”

“…]) and the other in the Dokthawady River System (Kuchling et al. ). However, a subsequent survey in 2011 upstream from a newly constructed hydroelectric dam and impoundment showed that the only sandbanks where B. trivittata was known to nest had been inundated (Platt & Soe ); thus, wild individuals of the species were restricted to a population of <10 females (based on annual nesting effort) inhabiting a remote stretch of the upper Chindwin River in western Myanmar (Turtle Conservation Coalition ) (Fig.…”

“…In addition to these individuals, the current assurance colony includes an adult male and female, confiscated from a trader at the Chindwin River, and 2 males and 1 female from the Dokhtawady River population obtained from fishers (Kuchling et al. ; Platt et al. ).…”

“…1 & Support ing Information). Presumed extinct by the late 1990s, B. trivittata was rediscovered in 2001 and is now considered among the 5 most endangered chelonians (Platt et al 2005;Kuchling et al 2006a). Two remnant wild populations were identified in the early-2000s, one in the Chindwin River Basin (upper Chindwin River [Kuchling et al 2006b]) and the other in the Dokthawady River System (Kuchling et al 2006a).…”

Phylogeny and taxonomy of endangered South and South‐east Asian freshwater turtles elucidated by mtDNA sequence variation (Testudines: Geoemydidae: Batagur, Callagur, Hardella, Kachuga, Pangshura)

“…Since the late 1960s, restocking programs are conducted for B. baska and C. borneoensis and similar efforts are currently attempted for H. thurjii , K. dhongoka , K. kachuga and K. trivittata (van Dijk et al . 2000; Kuchling et al . 2006; E. O. Moll, pers.…”