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A Second Chance for Turtles  |  Field Research  |  Training and Education  |  Rescue and Rebabilitation
Turtle Trade Jounal  |  Trade Alert  |  More Turtle Releases  |  IUCN Red List  |  Acknowledgments

Field Research


Dr. Peter Pritchard examines one of many Chinese softshell turtles Pelodiscus sinensis observed during interviews in villages along the Red River.
In Search of Rafetus swinhoei
     A survey team led by Dr. Peter Pritchard of the Chelonian Research Institute (USA) headed for Phu Tho Province in November to investigate reports of giant softshell turtles living along the Red River and adjacent wetlands in provinces west and northwest of Hanoi. Dr. Pritchard, TCEP associate biologist Nguyen Quang Truong of IEBR, and Cuc Phuong turtle ecologist Le Thien Duc interviewed fishermen, local traders, and other people living along the Red River.
     Viewing the skeletal remains of a large Rafetus swinhoei softshells, Dr. Pritchard was able to confirm that this species inhabited the Ao Chau wetland in Phu Tho as recently as 15 years ago. Most local reports seemed to turn up the more common Chinese softshell, Pelodiscus sinensis, and restaurants and local traders were able to produce numerous examples of the smaller Pelodiscus.
     Rafetus swinoei is one of Asia’s largest softshell turtle species and is native to southern China, its range probably historically extending southward into northern Vietnam along the Red River drainage. In recent years a single specimen of Rafetus was caught by fishermen in Hoa Binh Province on the Song Da tributary of the Red River. Another specimen is maintained at Hanoi University. However, people are most familiar with a living specimen of Rafetus found in Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi.
     The results of the initial Rafetus survey will be reported by Dr. Pritchard, and further field surveys may be carried out to learn more about remnant populations of this species surviving in Vietnam.



Amyda cartilaginea confiscated by rangers from a fisherman at Cat Tien National Park


Batagur baska, photographed at a zoo in Cambodia. Recently WCS biologists confirmed a remote population of this species in Cambodia.


Cyclemys atripons/pulchristriata, a native of Cuc Phuong National Park, first recorded in December 1999.


Geoemyda spengleri, a mountain forest-dwelling species native to Tam Dao National Park and common in the Hanoi pet markets.
Turtle Field Records Needed
     The TCEP has assembled a database of field records for turtles in Vietnam. Please help by forwarding any current records that you believe may be relevant to the TCEP. Valid field records include any observations of turtles in their natural habitat, and records pertaining to turtles observed in the possession/confiscated from hunters within the turtle’s habitat (e.g.,forest). Market and trade records can not be used.
     An accurate description of the turtle will be necessary, along with the date, location, a brief description of the observation, and the name of the observing party. If possible, take a photograph of the turtle in the field.

Contact: dhendrie@fpt.vn or post to TCEP, PO Box 222, Hanoi.
Recent Field Records for Vietnam
(June–December 2000)

Amyda cartilaginea, Cat Tien National Park, Forest Protection Department (SA)
Heosemys grandis, Cat Tien National Park, Ben Hayes, WWF (FR)
Heosemys grandis, Cat Tien National Park, Forest Protection Department (SA)
Pyxidea mouhotii, Cuc Phuong National Park, Rohan Holloway and Nguyen The Cuong (FR)
Pyxidea mouhotii, Cuc Phuong National Park, Forest Protection Department (SA)
Cuora amboinensis, U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve, Dr. Nguyen Van Sang (SA)
Hieremys annandalii, U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve, Bryan Stuart (FR)
Malayemys subtrijuga, U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve, Dr. Nguyen Van Sang and Bryan Stuart, (FR/SA)

SA = Source area record. Confiscated by rangers or in the possession of traders within the likely source area.
FR = Field records observed in the wild.

Special thanks to Gert Polet and the Cat Tien rangers for their reports from Cat Tien, as well as to Care International and the U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve for providing records of turtles caught during recent surveys at the reserve.
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