Sre Ambel Major Activities

1. Research on nesting ecology and home range
2. Community education and awareness activities
3. River patrols and protection of nesting beaches and eggs
4. Community stakeholder development

Research Program:
Efforts undertaken to learn more about Batagur baska on the Sre Ambel and Kaong Rivers have been led by Rohan Holloway, a PhD student from University of Canberra, Australia. Rohan is looking at the home range and nesting ecology of Batagur baska in Cambodia. Some trapping has been carried out with little success. Tracking of turtles was also unsuccessful due to difficulties radio-tracking when the turtles moved to saline water.

Interviews with members of local communities have been utilized to learn more about the ecology and behavior of local Batagur populations, identify key threats, and determine attitudes that will help the conservation team design project activities that are responsive to community interests and attitudes.

The research program also involves looking at nesting ecology. Batagur baska nest on sandbanks from December through February in Cambodia. The range in incubation has thus far been 118-123 days and there are 7 known nesting beaches, the furthest located 56 km upriver.

Education and Awareness:
Community-based awareness activities have included development and placement of five billboards urging people to protect Batagur baska in the Sre Ambel market, along the road approach to Sre Ambel, at the Kaong and Sre Ambel River intersection, and at a major river crossing area.

Activities have also been carried out in some local schools to increase awareness at the local village level and help encourage local participation in protecting the species. A school exercise book featuring the turtle was produced and distributed in 2001. A poster was also distributed encouraging people to “Please Help Protect the Royal Turtle."

In July 2003, the project has also produced a 30 minute documentary that has aired on national TV raising awareness about efforts to protect the species.

Protection Activities on the River
River patrols by Fisheries Department staff working for the project are carried out on the Kaong and Sre Ambel River using the Batagur baska patrol boat owned by WCS. Three people are assigned to each river, led by team leader from the Sre Ambel Fisheries Department office.

Patrol teams converse with local fishermen along both rivers and collect information about sightings. In at least one case, authorities confiscated a juvenile Batagur baska from a fisherman on the Stung Prot River 20 km west of the mouth of the Sre Ambel River.

Protection of Nesting Areas and Eggs:
During nesting season, females are permitted to nest without disturbance on beaches located on the Kaong and Sre Ambel Rivers. The field team then follows the tracks in the sand to locate nests. Nests are left in-situ and protected by bamboo fencing to keep predators out. Sometimes nests are relocated if located too close to the water or if laid on beaches that can not be readily protected. Members of the local community are hired to guard the nesting beaches until May when the hatchlings begin to emerge.

The hatchling turtles are measured and weighed before being released. Each juvenile is implanted with a microchip to allow for identification should the individual be caught again later. Their time in captivity after hatching does not exceed 30 days. Releases are often used to help raise awareness with local people, school children, government officials, and monks participating in the event.

Identified Threats to Batagur baska

• Local harvesting of eggs from nesting areas: Traditionally, eggs are harvested annually by local people and consumed. This practice has stopped on main nesting beaches following the start of the project, though some unknown nests may continue to be exploited without the knowledge of the conservation team.
• Subsistence harvest of adults (not documented): Batagur baska may be consumed locally in the past. A single shell from an animal that was eaten locally was recovered in 2002 from a village on the Kaong River. Turtles are hunted using nets, harpoons, and hooks strung across the river.
• Hunting and trade: Local villagers report traders inquiring about buying Batagur baska in local villages suggesting that trade remains a problem.
• Incidental drowning in fishing nets: Use of gill nets that are set strung across or along the sides of rivers may result in the accidental drowning of Batagur baska if the nets are not supervised.
• Ghost fishing: Filament nets that have been discarded and lie at the river bottom or tangled in vegetation may result in accidental drowning of turtles.
• Loss of mangrove habitat: Clearing of riparian vegetation including mangrove. Cutting of mangrove for charcoal production (Holloway, PC 7-05)
• Pollution: Use of chemicals and pesticides in agricultural areas bordering the river may impact water quality and harm turtles. Fish kills have been observed on the Kaong and Sre Ambel Rivers.
• Grazing and watering of livestock: Buffalo utilize sand banks during nesting season increasing the potential for damaging nests or frightening females from nesting grounds.
• Natural Predators: Monitor lizards (Varanus salvatore) and long-tailed macaques have been known to predate nests. A fishing cat reportedly destroyed a nest on the Sre Ambel River in 2003.
• Siltation and sedimentation: Logging and agricultural practices within the watershed may alter river habitat by changing water flow regimes, silting or washing away nesting beaches, and reducing water quality.