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Above: Student Loc Vuong Ngoc showing ID photos to an interviewee in Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang province.

Asian Turtle Program

September 2012Keep up to dateFor more current news and updates on tortoise and freshwater turtle conservation in Asia visit our website:

www.asianturtleprogram.org

Hybrid bStudent interview survey in Bac Giang province, northern Vietnam following the tortoise and freshwater turtle field skill

Shortly after the 9th annual Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Field Skill Training Course held in March 2012, field surveys were completed in Bac Giang Province, Northern Vietnam. From the 16th– 26th of April 2012 the Asian Turtle Program (ATP) supported an interview survey conducted in all 10 districts of Bac Giang Province by Loc Vuong Ngoc, a student from Bac Giang Agriculture & Forestry University (BAFU). Ngoc had participated in the March training course held by the ATP and Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) of Cuc Phuong National Park. During the survey, 94 interviews were conducted and 28 turtles of nine species were documented.

The survey also hoped to hear information about the critically endangered Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), a focal species of conservation by the ATP. However, the only information collected was historical, with, some individuals near Bo Lac Lake, Luc Ngan district reporting seeing

‘Giai’, the local name often used for Rafetus, weighing 100’s of kg but over 40 years ago.

Most notably, specimens of the critically endangered Indochinese Box Turtles (Cuora galbinifrons) and a Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle shell (Cuora trifasciata) were seen. Other endangered turtles such as the Keeled Box Turtles (Cuora mouhotii), Elongated Tortoises (Indotestudo elongata), Four-Eyed Turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata), and Black Breasted Leaf Turtle (Geoemyda spengleri) were also observed during the survey indicating the province does have high species diversity. With Son Dong and Luc Nam districts near Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve had some of the best remaining habitat, this was also where most of the turtles were observed.

monoculture plantation forest. This highlights the continued threat to many of Vietnam’s tortoise and turtle species from ongoing deforestation. Even while

A stream in Bac Giang

province, with many areas being

cleared wild habitat is hard

to find

Photo by: Pham Van Thong - ATP

Protecting today so we can see tomorrow...

Photo by: Pham Van Thong - ATP

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conducting the survey, the team still saw areas of forest being burned daily in the province.

Findings from the survey provided some of the most detailed information on tortoises and freshwater turtles in the province.

While Ngoc, the student researcher, gained valuable experience conducting surveys and collecting data that he can now use to complete his thesis. Clearly illustrates the impact that the Field Training Course on Vietnamese students in the field of conservation.

Survey by: Pham Van Thong – Field Officer, Asian Turtle Program (ATP)

Loc Vuong Ngoc – Student, Bac Giang Agriculture & Forestry University (BAFU)

Press release by: Pham Van Thong – Asian Turtle Program (ATP)Date: 31st April 2012

For further information please contact:

Asian Turtle ProgramPO Box 179Hanoi, VietnamTel: +84 (0) 435149750Email: info@asianturtleprogram.org

Visit the Asian Turtle Program website:www.asianturtleprogram.org

Apparently many “Rua truc” meaning

bamboo turtle (Geoemyda spengleri)

were caught and sold as pets for tourists in Tay Yen Tu nature reserve in Sơn Dong

district

Burnt remains of Cuora mouhotii, most likely killed during forest clearance in Nam Duong commune, Luc Nam district, Bac Giang Province. Remains of

six animals were observed

Above: Mr. Do Han (left) owner of two Indotestudo elongata that he has kept as pets for 21 years in Yen Dung district, Bac Giang province

Left: A Cuora trifasciata shell kept as decoration and sometimes use as traditional medicine seen in the buffer zone of Tay Yen Tu Natural reserve, Son Dong district

Photo by: Pham Van Thong - ATP

Photo by: Pham Van Thong - ATP

Photo by: Pham Van Thong - ATP

Photo by: Loc Vuong Ngoc _BAFU