Twenty-First Years Breeding Performance of Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) at Perak River, Peninsular Malaysia

Twenty-First Years Breeding Performance of Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) at Perak River, Peninsular Malaysia

The southern river terrapin, Batagur affinis (i.e. locally known as “tuntung”) is one of the world’s most critically endangered river turtle inhabiting large rivers and estuaries of southern Thailand and west Malaysia. The present study is conducted at Perak River, Malaysia, whereby it aims to assess the performance of Malaysian government agency known as the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) in protecting this species over the past 21 years. The data was collected through observation and secondary sources. In 1996, the species bred in the highest numbers; however, in the following years, the number were decreased dramatically. All in all, the population trends showed that the species numbers are declining and to be endangered. To address these serious issues, some recommendations are proposed in this study.

___

  • Balasingam, E., Mohamad Khan M. K. (1969). Conservation of the Perak River terrapin (Batagur baska). Malayan Nature Journal, 23 (1), 27-29.
  • De Rooy, N. (1917). The reptiles of the Indo-Australian archipelago. II Ophidia, Leiden: Brill.
  • Hairul, M. S., Shahrul, M. S. (2014). Developmental Stages of Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) In Wildlife Conversation Center Bota Kanan, Perak, Malaysia. Journal of Wildlife and Parks, 28, 1-7.
  • Hanim, A. B. (1987). Mengaut Rezeki Daripada Tuntung, Berita Harian.
  • Ibrahim, N. S., Sham, B. H. B., Shafie, N. J., Ahmad, A. (2018). Species Diversity of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises in Terengganu, Malaysia. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management, 1, 1-27.
  • Ismail, S. N., Hamid, M. A., Mansor, M. (2018). Ecological correlation between aquatic vegetation and freshwater fish populations in Perak River, Malaysia Ecological correlation between aquatic vegetation and freshwater fish populations in Perak River, Malaysia. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 19 (1), 279-284.
  • Kasinathan, Y., Rahman, S., Hambali, K. (2016). A Study on the Factors Affecting the Hatching Success of River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) Egg in Artificial Pond at Wildlife Conservation Centre, Bota Kanan, Perak. Ecology Seminar, Malaysia.
  • Loch, J. (1951). Notes on the Perak River turtle. Malayan Nature Journal, 5, 157-160.
  • Moll, E. (1980). Natural History of the River Terrapin, Batagur baska (Gray) in Malaysia (Testudines: Emydidae). Malaysian Journal of Science, 6, 23-62.
  • Moll, D., Moll, E. O. (2004). The Ecology, Exploitation, and Conservation of River Turtles. USA: Oxford University Press.
  • Platt, K., Platt, S. G., Thirakhupt, K., Rainwater, T. R. (2008). Recent records and conservation status of the critically endangered mangrove terrapin, Batagur baska, in Myanmar. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 7, 261-265.
  • Shariff, S. (1986). Hatching Success of the River Terrapin (Batagur baska) at the Captive Breeding Projects in Perak and Terengganu. 1. Wildlife and Parks, 5, 53-59.
  • Sharma, D. S. K. (1999). Tortoises and Freshwater Turtle Trade and Utilisation in Peninsular Malaysia. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: TRAFFIC Southeast Asia.
  • Wirot, N. (1979). The Turtles of Thailand. Bangkok: Siam Farm Zoological Garden.