Media Releases

For the first time ever, two Palawan Forest Turtles (Siebenrockiella leytensis) that were bred under human care have been released back to the wild in a protected area within the range of the species in Palawan, Philippines. This is part of a long-term conservation plan for the species driven by Katala Foundation Inc (KFI) and supported by Mandai Nature. The release of the critically endangered turtles was granted a Wildlife Clearance from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) and took place in February 2021 amidst the challenges of the pandemic in the Philippines, making the landmark achievement even more significant. 

The pair is the first two recorded hatchlings of the species under human care in 2018, from parents that had been cared for many years at KFI’s assurance colony facilities in Palawan. After nearly three years in the facility, it was determined that they were ready to be released back to the wild. The release location encompasses all the right environmental conditions that make the species’ favourite habitat. Prior research from KFI revealed that individuals settle in and become residents in a relatively small area, as long as the habitat provides for all their needs. Weighing between 370 and 590 grams with body lengths of 13 to 16 cm, the two juveniles have grown to a size large enough where threat from natural predators is reduced thus increasing their chances of survival. Palawan Forest Turtles can grow to a length of more than 30 cm. 

Small radio transmitters were attached to the individual turtles to monitor and track their movements in the wild for the first three months after the release. Preliminary analysis of the telemetry data revealed that the turtles travelled an average of 70 m within the stream in 24 hours. Their movements are concentrated near the release site in an area covering 1,000 m2. The turtles will also be monitored through annual mark-recapture studies after the transmitters are removed. Data collected will deepen the knowledge and understanding of the behaviour of the species, allowing conservationists to enhance and increase the success of conservation efforts for the species. 

Known to be notoriously difficult to breed under human care, KFI and Mandai Nature have been collaborating on improving conservation breeding facilities of KFI’s assurance colony in Narra, Palawan. KFI’s conservation breeding facilities are accredited as such under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with PCSDS. With support from Mandai Nature, research on the species by KFI was intensified to better understand the necessary environmental conditions including nesting prerequisites, diet, incubation requirements to encourage reproduction of turtles under human care. After almost five years of conservation breeding efforts, the hatching of these two individuals in 2018 was a conservation breakthrough. Since then, there have been 15 more successful hatchings at KFI.

Dr. Sonja Luz, Deputy CEO of Mandai Nature said, “Many of these less-charismatic freshwater species are neglected and often don’t receive the conservation attention they need. With some of our work focused on critically endangered freshwater species, this milestone is particularly close to our hearts. We are a proud partner and supporter of Katala. All these efforts and accomplishments for the Palawan Forest Turtle is a great example of what can be achieved through strong global collaboration and conservation leadership. We hope this is the first of many turtle releases and we stay committed to help ensure these turtles thrive in the wild again.” - Dr. Sonja Luz

The release of the two turtles is a culmination of more than a decade of conservation efforts by various partners across the world such as Chester Zoo, German Society for Herpetology and Herpetoculture (DGHT), EAZA, Rainforest Trust (RT), Turtle Conservancy (TC), Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten und Populationsschutz (ZGAP) and anonymous donors. Key conservation activities that led up to this achievement includes the assessment of wild populations, habitats and threats of the species, establishment of protected areas, conservation education and collaboration with local communities as well as rescue and rehabilitation of confiscated individuals. Ongoing distribution and abundance surveys conducted by KFI are expected to provide an estimated of the remaining wild population in the near future. In Palawan, KFI’s lead partner is the PCSDS. The MOA provides KFI the legal basis to obtain Palawan Forest Turtles from PCSDS' confiscations for research and rehabilitation purposes, and for possible future releases back to the wild.

Dr. Sabine Schoppe, founding member of KFI and Director of the Palawan Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program said, “After the establishment of protected areas for the Palawan Forest Turtles, the release of the individuals bred under human care mark another milestone in the conservation of this critically endangered (CR) species. The fact that the turtles stay close to the release site validates our earlier studies that indicate released individuals would settle within their release site provided it comprises their favourite habitat. And if such an area is actively protected, the chances of these individuals helping to augment the dwindling wild populations elsewhere are higher. The findings of this release deepen our understanding of the behaviour of the species and guides future conservation breeding and release site protection measures. While we continue our breeding efforts, we intensify our endeavours to have more protected areas.”

Atty. Teodoro Jose S. Matta, Executive Director PCSDS said, “KFI is our long-term partner in wildlife conservation, not only of the Palawan Forest Turtle, but also of the Palawan Pangolin, Philippine Cockatoo, Palawan deer species and other highly threatened species.”

Thought to be extinct, the Palawan Forest Turtle is endemic to the Philippines and was rediscovered only in 2004 after eighty years of absence. Listed as one of the top 25 endangered turtles in the world, the enigmatic Palawan Forest Turtle is highly sought after in the illegal wildlife trade, prized by collectors for its rarity. The species is also faced with habitat loss and degradation, putting it at extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Given the precarious state of the species, KFI adopted it as one of its flagship species in 2006 and initiated a recovery programme in partnership with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), and with Mandai Nature supporting its conservation efforts since 2014. 

Mandai Nature is a key partner funding the Katala Foundation, supporting the organisation with building capacities in the field in the areas of veterinary medicine, research and husbandry of the Palawan Forest Turtle, Philippines Cockatoo and Palawan Pangolin.

About Mandai Nature

Mandai Nature is dedicated to protecting threatened species, nurturing healthy ecosystems and creating vibrant communities where wildlife and people can thrive and co-exist, in Singapore and SE Asia. Through collaborations with Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) and other like-minded partners, Mandai Nature aims to protect threatened species from extinction, especially those endemic to Asia and often overlooked, including addressing issues of wildlife trade and the fragmentation of habitats.  It drives nature-based solutions for climate change focusing on green and blue carbon including protecting and restoring tropical forests, mangroves and peatlands, while working closely with local communities and organisations to create economic opportunities and invest in building skills and conservation capacity on the ground. Mandai Nature is jointly established by Temasek and Mandai Park Holdings (MPH). MPH is the parent company of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) which operates Singapore’s four wildlife parks. 

About Katala Foundation Inc

Katala Foundation, Inc., a non-profit, non-stock, non-governmental organization, has been active in protecting and conserving threatened endemic wildlife, particularly the Philippine Cockatoo, Palawan Forest Turtle, Palawan Pangolin, Calamian Deer and Balabac Mouse-deer where the last strongholds of the respective species can be found.

Katala Foundation’s niche developed over the years of research, advocacy and development works in order to protect and conserve the biological diversity along with people. Its vision is to effect conservation of biological resources through active community involvement - conserving with people. To attain this vision, Katala Foundation employs participatory and ecosystemic approaches to all its programs and activities.
 

Palawan Freshwater Turtle Conservation Project (PFTCP) is a joint undertaking aimed to conserve Palawan freshwater turtle populations and habitats, to conduct scientific research on biology and management of these turtles and its habitats and to educate and capacitate stakeholders for its conservation. Ex-situ conservation and conservation breeding is addressed at KIEBC in Narra. A MOA with PCSDS provides the legal basis to obtain confiscated turtles from recognized rescue centers and/or to accommodate otherwise rescued turtles to the center. Current activities give special attention to the Palawan-endemic critically endangered Palawan Forest Turtle Siebenrockiella leytensis (Pagong or Bakoko).

Key sponsors and partners: Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) / Mandai Nature, Anonymous donor, Rainforest Trust (RT), Turtle Conservancy (TC), Carpus eV., IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, North of England Zoological Society Chester Zoo (NEZS), Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz (ZGAP), PCSDS, DENR, and the Municipalities/City of Dumaran, Narra, Puerto Princesa City, Roxas, San Vicente, and Taytay.