Briefly ASIA & OCEANIA
Turtles: scientists develop portable eDNAtest to help detect rare species .. . Scientists have developed a first-of-its-kind, portable environmental DNA (eDNA) test to help detect the world’s rarest turtle, the Yangtze giant softshell turtle Rafetus swin- hoei. Two individuals are currently known to exist, one wild turtle in Viet Nam and one captive male in China (.100 years old). Additional individuals need to be found so the turtles can be bred in captivity to rescue the species. The new test will help determine if there are others living in unex- plored and understudied lakes, reservoirs and large bodies of water. The test, current- ly being used in the field, can also be adapted to help find other elusive and threatened species. It has been suggested eDNAmethodology is one of the most cost- effective approaches for species detection, enhancing traditional survey methods. However, unlike the new test, most eDNA methods require transporting samples to specialized laboratories, leading to long lag periods between sample collection and result reporting. Source: Wildlife Conservation Society (2025)
newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/ articleType/ArticleView/articleId/24087. aspx
.. . and over 1,100 dead turtles wash ashore in southern India Over 1,100 dead olive ridley turtles Lepido- chelys olivacea washed ashore on beaches in southern India in January 2025, most near the state capital of Chennai. Every year, olive ridley turtles gather off India’scoast to breed. Female turtles come ashore to lay their eggs on the beaches where they hatched, whilst the males remain in the water. Typically, between 100 and 150 turtles nest on Chennai’s beaches annually, so the strand- ing of .1,000 turtles was unusual. An initial autopsy of one carcass revealed lung lesions, and many dead turtles had bulging eyes. Both observations indicate the turtlesprobably died fromsuffocation and drowning. It is pos- sible they gathered near nesting beaches to breed and became entangled in a fishing net when surfacing for air, causing them to drown. Followingmedia coverage of the crisis, theTamil Nadu government caught 24 trawler boats operating illegally in Chennai’s waters, and created a special task force to monitor boats and ships in the area. Source: Mongabay (2025)
news.mongabay. com/short-article/2025/01/over-1100-dead- olive-ridley-turtles-wash-ashore-in- southern-india
Good news in Cambodia: thriving biodiversity inViracheyNationalPark ... The first comprehensive biodiversity survey of Virachey National Park, Cambodia, has revealed the vast array of species relying on the remote protected area, a critical step in strengthening the protection of this ecosystem. First established in 1993, Virachey National Park is a relatively understudied protected area in north-east Cambodia. As an extension of the Annamite Mountain range, the park is a key habitat for endemic flora and fauna not found in wider Cambodia and, despite relatively high levels of historic logging, remains a key biodiversity refuge. Led by Fauna & Flora, in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment and communities local to the Park, the survey confirmed the presence of many threatened species, such as the red-shanked douc lan- gur, Sunda pangolin, clouded leopard, dhole and sun bear. A number of species were also recorded for the first time in Cambodia, including the Critically Endangered large-antlered muntjac, two bat species, a glass lizard, gecko, flamboyant edible mushroom and three plant species: an orchid, an arum and a ginger. Source: Fauna & Flora (2025) fauna-flora. org/publications/virachey-national-park- biodiversity-survey-report-cambodia-2024
.. . and hope for the Mekong giant catfish Six Critically Endangered Mekong giant catfish Pangasianodon gigas, one of the lar- gest and rarest freshwater fish in the world, were caught and released in Cambodia in December 2024. These catches, a testament to decades of conservation work and com- munity engagement, offer new hope for the survival of a species that has become in- creasingly rare in much of its native habitat. Mekong giant catfish can reach lengths of nearly 3 m and weigh up to 300 kg. The first two giant catfish were incidentally caught on 6 December in the Tonle Sap River near Phnom Penh, and subsequently tagged and released. On 10 December, four further individuals were caught and released at several locations along the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. Two large specimens weighed 120 and 131 kg, respectively, and measured .2 m. Each fish was fitted with an identification tag for long-term tracking and research. The species’ survival hinges on sustained conservation and habitat protection. Source: Khmer Times (2024) khmertimeskh. com/501608052/the-appearance-of-6-rare- mekong-giant-catfish-in-cambodia-offers- new-hope-for-species-survival
Wildlife monitoring technologies used to spy on women Technology is increasingly used in conser- vation to monitor wildlife and natural habi- tats, but researchers studying a forest in northern India found some are being mis- used by local government and male villa- gers to keep watch on women without their consent. A report reveals how forest rangers in Corbett Tiger Reserve deliberate- ly fly drones over local women to frighten them out of the forest and stop them col- lecting natural resources, despite it being their legal right to do so. Women surveyed for the study, who previously found sanctu- ary in the forest away frommale-dominated villages, said they feel watched and inhib- ited by camera traps, so talk and sing much more quietly, increasing the chance of encounters with potentially dangerous wildlife like elephants and tigers. The study highlights that understanding the various ways local women use forests is vital for effective forest management. Sources: Environment and Planning F (2024)
doi.org/pcfz & University of Cambridge (2024)
cam.ac.uk/research/ news/wildlife-monitoring-technologies- used-to-intimidate-and-spy-on-women- study-finds
Tiger population in India doubles in a decade thanks to conservation efforts India’s tiger population doubled in 12 years, thanks to efforts to protect the cats from poaching and habitat loss, ensuring they have enough prey and reducing human– wildlife conflict, according to a recent study. The population grew from c. 1,706 in 2010 to 3,682 in 2022, making India home to roughly 75% of the global tiger population. The study found that some local communities living near tiger habitats have also benefited from the increase be- cause of revenue from ecotourism. The study was based on data collected by Indian government-supported institutions, and although conservationists welcomed the study, they emphasized that tigers in India would benefit if source data were made available to a larger group of scientists. Sources: Science (2025)
doi.org/g83n7n &
Phys.org (2025)
phys.org/news/2025-01- india-tiger-population-decade-credits.html
All internet addresses were up to date at the time of writing. The Briefly section in this issue was written and compiled by Emma Sinnett, Julia Hochbach and Martin Fisher. Contributions from authoritative published sources (including websites) are always welcome. Please send contributions by e-mail to
oryx@fauna-flora.org.
Oryx, 2025, 59(1), 4–9 © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605325000523
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