Cambodia & Nature: A new breeding facility for the Royal Turtle inaugurated

The inauguration of the expanded Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre (KKRCC) took place on 19 July, with the release of 20 critically endangered Southern River Terrapins (Batagur affinis) – locally known as the royal turtle – into the Sre Ambel River in Cambodia.

The turtles were sourced from wild nests along the river between 2015 and 2020 and have been reared at the centre for over a decade. This marks the tenth release of royal turtles into their natural habitat since 2015, bringing the total number returned to the wild to 206

The event was attended by a number of distinguished individuals, including Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Mithona Phouthorng, Governor of Koh Kong province.

As stated in the release, the KKRCC, situated in Toul Koki commune within the province’s Mondul Seima district, is a significant facility dedicated to the conservation of the royal turtle and Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis).

The initial establishment of the facility, which commenced in 2002 following the discovery of the first royal turtle nest along the Sre Ambel River, was conducted on a modest scale. However, the facility has since undergone significant expansion and relocation to its current 8.9-hectare site in 2016. The ongoing upgrades to the centre have been made possible through the generous support of donors, which has significantly enhanced its capacity to rear and breed these endangered species.

Alistair Mould, the country programme director for WCS Cambodia, underscored the significance of the centre's endeavours:

"All released turtles have been implanted with a distinctive microchip for future identification purposes."

"This year marks a significant achievement in the success of the reintroduction programme, with the project team identifying the first nest laid by a reintroduced female. The nests contained approximately 28 eggs, resulting in 26 successful hatchlings.

Twelve of the 20 turtles were fitted with acoustic transmitters at the rear carapace, enabling the project personnel to monitor and track their movements, survivorship and habitat utilisation

The Southern River Terrapin, classified as critically endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, is among the 25 most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles globally, according to the release. The species was designated as the country’s National Reptile by a royal decree in 2005, following the rediscovery of a small population in 2000, which had previously been believed to be extinct. Subsequently, the WCS and the FiA have been engaged in assiduous efforts to safeguard and repopulate the species through a range of conservation initiatives.

The release further highlighted the perils confronting the survival of the royal turtle, which include illicit fishing, the diminution of habitat resulting from land appropriation and the eradication of riparian woodlands.