Public Hearing to Protect Painted Terrapin in District Aceh Tamiang

by Satucita Foundation, posted in Awareness, News

Public hearing to protect Painted Terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) in District of Aceh Tamiang was held on 15-16 September 2015 in Regent Office. The public hearing was held to seek inputs, comments on the draft of Local Regulation on Protection of Painted Terrapin in Aceh Tamiang.

The meeting was attended by head of villages around of the habitat this critically endangered species, Aceh Tamiang Fisheries Office and another stakeholders. Before the discussion, the Vice Regent present opening talk to all participants. After the opening talk, a Head of Fisheries Office presented the draft and the reason of why this species must be protected in Aceh Tamiang.

Then, Satucita Foundation’s director Joko Guntoro presented scientific findings and what the foundation have done to conserved this species in Aceh Tamiang included nesting patrol, field monitoring, awareness.

As a conclusion, participants supported the draft and hope that the protection must involve local community.

The situation of public hearing:

public hearing on painted terrapin regulation aceh tamiang

public hearing on painted terrapin regulation aceh

public hearing on painted terrapin regulation

 

Advertisements

Field Monitoring of Painted Terrapin

by Satucita Foundation, posted in Field Survey, News

Field monitoring of wild Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) have been carried out from 26 to 30 May. The monitoring was carried out with cooperation with BKSDA Aceh. During that time, 20 traps placed at 20 locations every day. So, totally, 100 point of locations were surveyed during five days. In that survey, nine individuals found. Seven are new captured, two are marked/tagged. Unfortunately, the tag has lost. So, we could not identify and determine the time of last captured of them.

Of nine individuals caught, only two are male. Another are females. So, the females are dominant of total population. Two traps also captured two pair of Painted terrapin in one trap. It was may be indicate that the pair was in mating. Moreover, the males were in sexual dichromatism. Through this monitoring, the distribution of population is can be estimated.

This finding is still compiled and analyzed with previous years survey to estimate the number and structure of wild population. (SF)

Building Villagers’ Nursery to Reforest the Habitat

by Satucita Foundation, posted in News, Notes

Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) relies on riverine vegetations, particularly Berembang (Sonneratia sp.), to live. Painted terrapin eats leaves and fruit of Berembang. This species is also exploit logs at riverine for basking. Although this critically endangered species is reported eat fish and crustaceans, the riverine vegetations are still particular. The destruction of riverine vegetations such as converted to farming, oil palm plantation will bring negative serious impact to wild population. Hundreds of hectare if riverine have been converted.

seedling of Berembang (Sonneratia sp.)
Nursery of Berembang (Sonneratia sp.) at Village Sungai Kurok III

In order support the wild population, a recovery of degradated and converted habitat is needed. About 10,000 tree of Berembang (Sonneratia sp.) will be planted. Therfore, two community group has been established and trained. These groups are from two village, Village Pusong Kapal and Sungai Kurok III. Both of these villages are the nearest or can be said as buffer zone of Painted terrapin habitat. The groups have 20 members.

Staff of our foundation visit the villager's nursery
Staff of our foundation visit the villager’s nursery

The member of group is responsible for building nursery of Berembang, planting the tree and monitoring after planting. The all process is facilitated by Satucita Foundation. The member building nursery at their backyard. Currently, the seedlings grew well. To cultivate this plant, the seedlings must be located on flooded place such as riverine.

Nursery of Berembang in Village Pusong Kapal.
Nursery of Berembang in Village Pusong Kapal.

It is expected that the seedlings will be planted on September this year. The planting is planned will involving youth, students, villagers, government. It can be said that this is the first effort to reforest the mangrove forest with Berembang. The reforestation will be developed countinuously to empower the fishermen and support Painted terrapin conservation. (SF)

Three hatchlings of Painted terrapin Was Born

by Satucita Foundation, posted in News, Notes

Three hatchlings of  Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) was born on 15 March 2015. These babies were born from a nest that secured on 3 December 2014. More eggs are expected to hatch in few days forward. The eggs are incubated in styrefoam boxes filled by sand and placed in our headstarting facility.

Hatchling of Painted terrapin that hatched on 15 March.
Hatchling of Painted terrapin that hatched on 15 March.

More than of three hundreds eggs of twenty nest successfully secured bu our nesting patrol activities that conducted during December 2014 to January 2015. The eggs secured from two main nesting beaches in Seruway Subdistrict. We regularly carry out nesting patrol in these beaches every nesting season. (SF)

 

 

Releasing Green Turtle Hatchlings

by Satucita Foundation, posted in Awareness, News

In the last three months, four sea turtles nests found on the beaches here, the same beaches to Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) for laying eggs. Three nests had been harvested by fishermen before secured. Only one nest successfully secured by a fishermen who cooperated with us. So, we helped him to hatch the the eggs. Continue reading “Releasing Green Turtle Hatchlings” →

Painted Terrapin is Losing Their Habitat

by Satucita Foundation, posted in News, Notes

One of many threats to survival of Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) in wild is habitat loss. Painted terrapin inhabits rivers and branches, estuaries. The destruction of riverine vegetations is believed will bring negative impact to Painted terrapin. The destruction and losing of riverine vegetations are meant losing of food and place for basking. Continue reading “Painted Terrapin is Losing Their Habitat” →

Eleven Critically Endangered Species Painted Terrapin Released to Habitat

by Satucita Foundation, posted in Awareness, News

Eleven hatchlings of critically endangered freshwater turtle species Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) was released to its original habitat on 13 January 2015. The hatchlings are a result of our nesting patrol carried out in December 2013 to January 2014. In that nesting patrol, the eggs were secured from illegal harvesting. After secured, the eggs incubated in styrefoam boxes filled by sands.

The stakeholders releasing babies of Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis).
The stakeholders releasing babies of Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) (01/13)

Totally, since our preliminary study on 2010, 140 hatchlings have released into wild, their original habitat – estuaries, rivers. Fifty nine hatchlings were released on 2011, seventy seven on 2013 and eleven on 2015. The initiative is continuously develop the program to release more hatchlings this year and future, to recover wild population of this critically endangered species. To achieve this objective, annual nesting patrol, incubation, raising (headstarting), public campaign, field monitoring and researches, habitat reforestation are developed and implemented continuously.

Some organizations have supported our programs since this initiative launched. Thank you for following organizations: Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Chester Zoo Conservation Grant, PT Pertamina EP Rantau, Turtle Conservation Alliance.

Secured More Painted Terrapin Eggs

by Satucita Foundation, posted in Nest patrol, News

Team of Satucita Foundation were successfully secured more eggs on 13 and 14 December. 18 eggs on 13 Dec and 20 eggs on 14 Dec. So, totally we have secured and incubated 90 eggs. About 6-8 nests had been harvested by fishermen on November. So, about 11-13 nests have been counted so far.

Compared with the same period in last year, the number of nesting in this year is lower.

Painted Terrapin Eggs Secured From Poaching

by Satucita Foundation, posted in Nest patrol, News

One nest with 20 eggs have been secured by our nesting patrol team from poaching on Wednesday night/Thursday morning (4/12). Another 32 eggs of two nests (18 and 14 in each nest) have been secured on Friday night/Saturday morning (6/12). Totally, the nesting patrol successfully secured 52 eggs of three nests so far.

Villagers always hunt or collect the Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) eggs every nesting season. Therefore, nesting patrol to secure and hatch the eggs are conducted every nesting season. This is one of many efforts to increase the stock of wild population.

Achievements at Second Anniversary

by Satucita Foundation, posted in News, Notes

Today we celebrate our second anniversary. The Satucita Foundation (Yayasan Satucita Lestari Indonesia) was found on 15 October 2012. Previously, the foundation is an organisation that registered as community group.  Then, the group transformed into a new form  – as a foundation – to accelerate our wildlife conservation efforts.

Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis), male (left), hatchlings, female (right)
Painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis), male (left), hatchlings, female (right)

We have faced many challenges and achieved some results since founded. The results we have been achieved are:

  1. Totally 144 hatchlings of Painted terrapin have been released into wild to increase the wild population
  2. 2 paper of Painted terrapin published in international recognized scientific journal, 2 documentary broadcasted in national television, articles published in local newspaper and national magazine
  3. More than of 4,000 peoples have been trained and informed on Painted terrapin status and conservation, included how to identify another freshwater turtles found in Aceh Tamiang
  4. Established a simple and basic headstarting facility
  5. Launched a new tradition to release hatchlings of Painted terrapin annually.
  6. The habitat and range of Painted terrapin have been investigated
  7. We have 1,093 followers on social media (facebook, twitter, blog)
  8. We have supported by internation recognized organisation such asTurtle Survival Alliance, Turtle Conservation Fund, Chester Zoo, Mohammed bin Zayed Conservation Fund, Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund, PT Pertamina EP Field Rantau. We also have build good coordination with governement and  other local conservation organisation.
Team of Yayasan SatuCita Lestari Indonesia (Satucita Foundation)
Team of Yayasan SatuCita Lestari Indonesia (Satucita Foundation)

Nevertheless, we are realize that many things to do in the future to achieve our vision, a harmony between human and nature. We believe that vision is possible to achieved. Therefore, we would like to thanks to our funders, supporters, followers, partners. Without their support, it is impossible to achieve the results and to overcome the challenges in the future.

If you want to help us, please, do not hestitate to contact us at satucita.foundation (at) gmail.com.

Thank you!