Organisation: Satucita Foundation 
Project title: Conservation of Painted Terrapin Population in Karang Gading Langkat Timur Laut Wildlife Reserves
Location: Karang Gading-Langkat Timur Laut Wildlife Reserves, District of Langkat, Province of North Sumatera
Project date: December 2020 – April 2021
Species: Painted Terrapin Batagur borneoensis
The challenge
The Painted Terrapin was once abundant in the area but its population has declined sharply as the eggs of this species are collected for consumption, and are eaten by wild boar and lizards. The Satucita team was only able to save 15 nests during a preliminary nest patrol conducted in February 2019 and later found three more nests that had been eaten by wildlife. This has shown that while a wild population remains, the numbers are very small.
The project
The project aims to save and hatch as many Painted Terrapin eggs found during the nesting season as possible. Patrols along two main nesting beaches of the wildlife reserves will be conducted twice every night. When nests are found, the patrols will collect the eggs to the safety of a temporary hatchery until they hatch. The hatchlings will be raised and released in the wild in hopes of strengthening the long-term survival rate of the Painted Terrapin population.
Project reports
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Photo credit: Joko Guntoro
