Briefly SPOTLIGHT ON TURTLES
Power of pop changes minds over sea turtle meat consumption... Researchers have developed a catchy way to reach communities on the island of São Tomé in West Africa. Having used con- sumer research methods, they discovered that people have high levels of trust in TV and radio. Using these insights, they per- suaded the island’s favourite singer, João Seria, to produce an original music video with a song called ‘Mém di Omali’ which means Mother of the Sea. The song uses three local languages, as many people do not use the official language of the country (Portuguese) at home. Lines include: ‘My people, let the sea turtle live’ and ‘If you see sea turtle meat for sale, don’t buy it.’ São Tomé is a nesting and foraging ground for five marine turtles species. However, turtles have been exploited for humanconsumption for centuries, with meat and eggs used for subsistence and trade. The research provid- ed key insights for the design of behaviour change campaigns aimed at reducing the demand for turtle meat and eggs. Source:
Phys.org (2020)
phys.org/news/ 2020-02-power-minds-sea-turtle-meat.html
.. . and animated film stars turtles to highlight need for ocean protection In January 2020 Greenpeace UK released a powerful short animation about ocean destruction, in collaboration with Aard- man Animations and Oscar-winning ac- tors. Climate breakdown, plastic pollution, oil drilling and overfishing have driven our oceans to a breaking point, but it is a story that does not get told often enough. The film Turtle Journey tells the touching story of a turtle family attempting to get home, in an ocean that needs protection. Like the family in Turtle Journey, sea turtles in real life are under intense stress from de- structive industries. Six out of the seven sea turtle species are threatened with extinc- tion as a result of anthropogenic pressures. Studies have shown that marine life is dis- appearing at twice the rate of life on land. Oceans play an important role in absorb- ing greenhouse emissions from the atmos- phere, and protecting them is crucial in en- suring a safer future for all of us. Scientists say we need to protect at least one-third of the oceans. Source: Greenpeace (2020)
greenpeace.org/ international/story/28229/turtle- journey-urgent-protect-the-oceans
Last hope for the world’s rarest reptile In Vietnamese mythology, the Yangtze giant softshell turtle Rafetus swinhoei is the living representative of the Great Turtle God, Kim Qui. But after decades of habitat disturbance bydams,overhuntingandpollutionthe species is Critically Endangered, with three known individuals remaining. However, conserva- tionists say if they can locate a male and female, survival for the world’s biggest fresh- water turtle is still possible. The plan would be to capture the animals and keep them in a semi-wild captive state, but more funding and resources are needed to move forward. Scientists are aware of the existence of three individuals: one in captivity (male) and two in thewild (sex unknown), but not inhabiting thesamelake. Theonlyknown female died in captivity in April 2019,makingthe search for another female paramount. The captivemale, in China, may be incapable of breeding. In Viet Nam, there has long been an individual in Dong Mo Lake, but in 2018,another indi- vidual was confirmed in Xuan Khanh Lake. Conservationists suspect others may still be hiding in Vietnamese lakes and rivers, and possibly in Lao PDR. Source: Mongabay (2020)
news.mongabay. com/2020/01/killing-gods-the-last-hope- for-the-worlds-rarest-reptile
Turtle tracking reveals key feeding grounds Loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta feed in the same places year after year, thus protect- ing key feeding locations is important for their conservation. Scientists used satellite tracking and stable isotope ratios—achemical signature also used by forensic scientists—to track female loggerhead turtles from Greece and Cyprus using data from 1993–
2018.The study identified three main feeding areas: the Adriatic region, the Tunisian Plateau and the eastern Mediterranean. The research- ers showed where the majority of nesting female turtles spend most of their life. This means that in addition to nesting beaches, important feeding grounds can also be pro- tected. Nearly half of the Cyprus nesting population feeds on the Tunisian Plateau, an area with one of the highest turtle bycatch rates
globally.The teamsupports recommen- dations to conserve this area. The new re- search shows the value of combining satel- lite tracking and stable isotopes to help un- derstand these elusive animals. Sources: Diversity and Distributions (2020)
doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13023 & Science Daily (2020)
sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/ 01/
200123095830.htm
Diamondback terrapins threatened by crab pots in Florida A group of international turtle experts urged the Florida Fish and Wildlife Con- servation Commission, USA, to require the use of excluder devices on crab traps, endorsing a rule sought by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust and the Diamondback TerrapinWorking Group in a January 2020 petition.Diamondback terrapinsMalaclemys terrapin occur along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Massachusetts to Texas and are the only turtles that live exclusively in coastal estuaries. Their habitats are also home to blue crabs, which are trapped in pots for human consumption. Baited blue crab pots can trap and drown terrapins, and fleets of traps can remove many individuals from turtle populations, leaving them vulnerable to local extirpation. The petition asked the state to require bycatch reduction devices on all recreational and commercial blue crab pots. These inexpensive devices effec- tively reduce terrapin entrapment but have little to no effect on crab haul. Source: Centre for Biological Diversity (2020)
biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/ press-releases/international-turtle-experts- urge-florida-protect-diamondback-terrapins- drowning-crab-pots-2020-02-05
Rain helps save Endangered Manning River turtle Rainfall in late January 2020 in northern New SouthWales, Australia, has eased a dire situ- ation for the endemic Endangered Manning River helmeted turtleMyuchelys purvisi,redu- cing the risk of the reptiles dying in rapidly shrinking river pools. Wildlife experts, how- ever, are concerned because many threats re- main, including the risk of large amounts of sedimentandashfromlocal fires beingwashed into rivers. TheManning River turtle is threat- tenedbyhabitat loss, predationbyfoxes,and disease.Droughts over the past year have exa- cerbatedthese threats.Urgent actionwas taken by teams of wildlife experts to move c. 30 tur- tles from rapidly shrinking waterholes in the Barnard River to a deep pool downstream. The extended drought caused the rivers in the Manning Valley to stop flowing over December 2019 and early January
2020.The organization Aussie Ark aims to establish an insurance population for the Endangered tur- tle and has taken some rescued individuals into care for conservation and breeding. Source: ABC (2020)
abc.net.au/news/ 2020-02-09/rain-saves-manning-river- helmeted-turtle-but-threats-remain/11943480
Oryx, 2020, 54(3), 290–295 © 2020 Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605320000137
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