Native Freshwater Turtles

There are 5 native freshwater turtles inhabiting our city with enriched biodiversity, including Beale’s eyed turtle, Chinese three-striped box turtle, Reeves’ turtle, Big-headed turtle and Chinese soft-shelled turtle. The freshwater turtles are generally distributed in hundreds of local natural streams and rivers. Turtles had developed a profound symbolization as longevity, which consolidated the cultural value in long Chinese history; moreover, as predators, they also play an ecological essential role in manipulating our nature. Unfortunately, in recent decades, human activities have contributed to the drastic decline in the number of them. Local freshwater turtle species have a more critical conservation status than giant pandas as most wild populations have been eliminated by hunting worldwide. Local experts estimate that the current freshwater turtle population in Hong Kong is most likely one of the last population in southern China.

Beale’s eyed turtle
	Scientific Name:  Conservation Status: Habitat:  Body Length: Body Features:    Diet:  Fun Facts:	Sacalia bealei Endangered (IUCN Red List) Hillside streams in heavily forested area Around 13-15 cm Distinctive eye markings on the back of the head. Males have dark brown to black head with red stripes in the neck and forelimb, whereas females have light brown head with light yellow neck and forelimb stripes. This pair of “eye spots” (Ocelli) could be a means of deceiving potential predators. Fruit, freshwater crustaceans, terrestrial and aquatic insects The Beale’s eyed turtle also has a scent gland that gives off a pungent musk to deter the predator and assailant.
Chinese three-striped box turtle (aka Golden coin turtle)
	Scientific Name:  Conservation Status:  Habitat:  Body Length: Body Features:    Diet:  Fun Facts:	Cuora trifasciata Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List) Wild populations are extremely small so understanding on their preferred habitat is little. This turtle is estimated to inhabit forested streams in vegetated forests.   around 20-25 cm The skin of the Chinese three-striped box turtle is bright orange and the beige shell has three black strips. Thanks to the hinged plastron, a box turtle can shut itself completely within its shell when threatened, protecting it from predators. Fish, freshwater crustaceans and worms, insects and plants, and carrion The brightly coloured Chinese three-lined box turtle is said to bring wealth and good fortune, as their name in Chinese means “money returns”. There is also a myth that its plastron has great medicinal value, even being able to cure cancer. As such, they are in great demand in the illegal wildlife trade.
Reeves’ turtle
	Scientific Name:  Conservation Status:  Habitat:  Body Length: Body Features:    Diet:  Fun Facts:	Mauremys reevesii   Endangered (IUCN Red List) Lowland reservoirs, ponds, marshes and estuaries. According to scientists, they prefer still freshwater environment with muddy bottom. Around 11-15 cm  The carapace of the Reeves’ turtle has three distinct longitudinal kneels, and their head and neck have yellow stripes and blotches. Males gets darker in colour as they age and can secret an unpleasant odour. Freshwater crustacean, small fish, tadpoles In Cantonese, the pronunciation of this turtle is usually categorized as all types of turtles. In terms of taxonomy, reeves’ turtles are specifically referring to one native turtles species instead of all turtles.
Big-headed turtle
	Scientific Name:  Conservation Status:  Habitat:  Body Length: Body Features:      Diet:  Fun Facts:	Platysternon megacephalum Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List) Highland streams with steep gradient  Around 25 cm The oversized head gives this species both its common and scientific name. In fact, the head is so large that cannot be retracted into its shell. With its fierce looking face and raptor-like beak, one might think the big-headed turtle is a ferocious carnivore. Compared to other freshwater turtles, the big-headed turtle has a flatter body, a physical feature that allows them to travel in fast-flowing streams or hide in rock crevices. Prey on fish, freshwater crustaceans, amphibians, wild fruit and seeds A local study has found that adults also eat wild fruit and seeds. The seeds that pass through the turtles also have a higher germination rate, thereby encouraging the growth of local vegetation. It goes to show that you should not judge a turtle by how it looks. You might even say that, in its own way, the big-headed turtle plants trees.
Chinese soft-shell turtle
	Scientific Name:  Conservation Status:  Habitat:  Body Length: Body Features:      Diet:  Fun Facts:	Pelodiscus sinensis Vulnerable (IUCN Red List) Ponds and estuaries, slow moving and still lowland streams  Over 30cm The largest natives freshwater turtle species in Hong Kong with soft shell and leathery skin. They have large claws aiding them to dig into muddy riverbeds. Long necks for them to catch preys on different angles. With the elongated nose and long neck, these help them to breath out of water surface. Freshwater crustaceans, amphibians, fish Interestingly, the Chinese name for the Chinese soft-shelled turtle refers to someone who falls for money scams. Perhaps this is because the animal is rather ungainly out of the water and that it lacks a protective hard shell.

Threats They Are Confronting

According to The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, over half of the freshwater turtle species in the world are under threat. Native species to Hong Kong such as the Chinese three-striped box turtle and big-headed turtle are categorised as Critically Endangered, meaning they are facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. The freshwater turtles generally inhabit mountain streams and rivers, however, their habitat has been degraded and polluted, and in recent years they have been illegally hunted for sale, and exotic species was even released to natural habitats of native freshwater turtles, causing their numbers to decline rapidly, placing the population at risk of extinction.

Illegal Poaching and Trafficking
Illegal poaching and trafficking are the major threats to local native freshwater turtles. In Asia, turtle plastrons are believed to have medicinal properties. At the same time, some of the rarer species are highly sought after in the pet trade. Seen as being extremely valuable products, poachers hunt wild turtles to make huge profits. According to official figures, over 1,000 turtle traps were discovered from 2011 to 2020^# in Hong Kong, showing that poaching is a great threat to our local wildlife.
^#Source: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department website.

Invasive Species
The release of unwanted pets and mercy release are also imposing an ecological risk to local native wildlife. For example, red-eared sliders (also known as red-eared terrapin), are commonly abandoned in the countryside. These invasive animals occupy habitats and dominate food sources, creating additional pressures on the survival of native turtles. Moreover, these exotic animals can carry pathogens which infect native turtles. There is strong evidence showing that introduced pathogens can cause mass mortality in the local population.

Habitat Destruction
Habitat destruction also threatens the survival of freshwater turtles. How would you like it if your house was full of garbage and pollutants? Uncontrolled development and pollution of natural streams destroys the environment, taking away the only safe home for freshwater species.

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Educational Programme

Freshwater Turtles Conservation Ambassador Programme
We recruit participants from local secondary schools to be Freshwater Turtles Conservation Ambassadors. Through lectures, field trips and scientific studies, we aim to raise their awareness of native freshwater turtles and empower them to spread the conservation messages.

Training Workshops – Lectures
OPCF is very much honored to invite local professional ecologists and academics on biology and ecology on freshwater turtles to give lectures on freshwater turtles and technique of studying freshwater turtles and its habitats. Thereby, the Freshwater Turtles Conservation Ambassadors can understand more on the significant ecological role of freshwater turtles, and methods of monitoring freshwater ecosystem and biodiversity.

Training Workshops – Field Trips
Field visits to various types of freshwater habitats were led by professional field researchers and project team members. Freshwater Turtles Conservation Ambassadors had a closer look on the habitats of freshwater turtles and other freshwater animals, practiced field techniques to assist in conducting field survey, and attempted to identify of different protected freshwater species.

Freshwater Turtles Husbandry Workshops
All Freshwater Turtles Conservation Ambassadors attached to our project partners to learn and assist in the husbandry of freshwater turtles and other freshwater animals. Through the workshop, ambassadors could gain knowledge on the feeding and environment for rearing of freshwater turtles, observation of their behaviors from close range allows our ambassadors understand the operation of the caretaker in protection and foster of freshwater turtles under the artificial breeding programme.

Scientific Studies
Dr Sung Yik-hei, Assistant Professor in the Science Unit of Lingnan University, indicated that the knowledge of most Asian freshwater turtles is inadequate. In order to contribute to research and knowledge of local freshwater turtles, suggested by scholars and project team, research topics are assigned to conservation ambassadors who will conduct their research, analysis and report the result. Not only they can engage in research studies and understand the skills required, but the results of their studies will aid the development of future freshwater turtle conservation education programmes and scientific studies.    

Public Engagement
Live Turtle Education Exhibit
In collaboration with Ocean Park, OPCFHK runs an exhibition which focus on local freshwater turtles. The exhibition seeks to introduce Hong Kong native freshwater turtle species and the artificial breeding programme to the visiting guests. Furthermore, this is one of the first and only exhibition that allows guests to observe up close a little-known native species, the Beal’s-eyed turtle. This exhibition aims to build a closer connection between visiting guests with local native freshwater turtles, raising their interests toward our nature and wildlife, so that they will pledge to support the conservation of freshwater turtles.

Public Seminar
From the tradition of wildlife consumption to now keeping wildlife as pets, demands for wildlife had driven overharvesting of wildlife on a global scale. The population of many turtle species in the Asia region, including those native in Hong Kong had seen a great decline. The aim of public seminar is to highlight the biodiversity of Hong Kong’s native freshwater turtles and the threats they are confronting, and invites members of public to take actions that saves this group of wildlife.   

Freshwater Turtles Habitat Clean-up and Eco-tour
Due to Hong Kong mountainous terrain with little flatland and high precipitation rate, habitats of native freshwater turtles were formed, including streams and rivers. However, discarded items left by human leisure and recreational activities could be easily blown to freshwater habitats and are imposing risks to native freshwater turtles. OPCF, hereby, joins hands with different organizations, including primary and secondary schools, colleges, local community groups and private organizations, so as to clean up and restore the natural habitats for native freshwater turtles.

Conservation Projects

Restoration of Beale’s Eyed Turtles
OPCFHK has been working with Ocean Park and the Hong Kong Society of Herpetology Foundation since 2018, and has been cooperating with Dr Sung Yik-hei, Assistant Professor in the Science Unit of Lingnan University and his team to establish a husbandry care and breeding programme for the Beale’s-eyed turtle in Ocean Park, with the goal of restoring the local population through captive breeding, field study, and, ultimately reintroduction of Beale’s eyed turtle.

The Hong Kong Society of Herpetology Foundation transferred a group of Beale’s eyed turtles to Ocean Park, marking the start of the captive breeding programme. Then, in May 2020, thanks to the husbandry team’s dedicated care, the first hatchling was born – the first success of the breeding programme. We look forward to more hatchlings in the near future and releasing them into the wild. 

 

Artificial Breeding Programme Partnership: