Safeguarding Native Freshwater Turtles&Its Habitats Biodiversity

With its rich biodiversity, the freshwater ecosystem is home to one-third of the globe’s vertebrates. Despite the small coverage of 1% of the Earth’s surface, more than half of the world’s population currently inhabit within 3 kilometres of freshwater habitats. Worryingly, since 1970, freshwater biodiversity has declined drastically by over 80% as a result of destructive human activities. In particular, freshwater turtles are now threatened with extinction with several species battered by a sharp reduction in population and considered critically endangered. To effectively protect species at stake, efforts by professionals alone would not suffice because collective actions of the public is equally as important.

Funded by Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) and supported by partners, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong (OPCFHK) has launched "Environment and Conservation Fund: Key to Better Conservation for Native Freshwater Turtles Education Programme" that focuses on native freshwater turtles since 2021. We will reach out to the general public through various activities to learn about the conservation values of this family and the threats they face. Later in 2023, OPCFHK was again funded by ECF to carry out conservation and education projects with focus on freshwater turtles and freshwater ecosystems. Through an array of activities such as guided tours, student ambassador programmes, education exhibitions as well as the preparation of teaching materials, OPCFHK and all partnering bodies hope to raise public awareness on the conservation of local freshwater turtles and the ecosystem as a whole.

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

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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)

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 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
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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

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 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

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 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.

Community Engagement

Stream Conservation Warden

According to information provided by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), over 400 illegal animal traps near local streams have been seized from 2020 to 2022. In addition to the ongoing efforts in rehabilitating freshwater turtles, OPCFHK has initiated the “Stream Conservation Warden” programme in collaboration with volunteer groups and hiking organisations. The primary objective of this programme is to recruit and train volunteers to identify and remove suspected turtle-catching devices while also cleaning up litter in nearby freshwater habitats.

 

School Education

Freshwater Conservation Educator

We recruit participants from local secondary schools to be Freshwater Conservation Educators. Through lectures, field trips and scientific studies, we aim to raise students’ awareness of native freshwater turtles and empower them to convey the conservation messages.

 (1) Training Workshops – Lecture

OPCFHK is very much honoured to invite local professional ecologists and academics from the field of  biology and ecology with a focus on freshwater turtles. The Freshwater Conservation Educators thereby can understand more the significant ecological role of freshwater turtles, and methods of monitoring freshwater ecosystem and biodiversity.

 

(2) Freshwater Turtle Husbandry

All Freshwater Conservation Educators are 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 conditions for rearing freshwater turtles. Observation of their behaviors from close range allows our ambassadors to understand the operation of a caretaker under the artificial breeding programme.

 

(3) In-school Conservation Promotional Activity

Under the supervision of teachers and project staff, our educators will have the opportunity to design and implement promotional activities targeting students in their schools, through means such as game booths, photo booths, drama, videos and scientific investigation. Not only can such activities promote freshwater turtle conservation, educators also get to hone their cooperative skills and execution skills.

 

(4) Outreach School Workshops

Educators get to design and carry out conservation outreach workshops in kindergartens and primary schools. With such hands-on experiences that require active engagement from start to finish, they will eventually walk away with improved cooperative and coordination skills.

 

(5) In-park Narration and Tours

Educators will deliver knowledge on freshwater ecosystems and habitat conservation in guided tours, deepening public understanding on freshwater biodiversity and conservation of freshwater species.
 

Public Education

(1) Local Stream Ecosystem Exhibition

In collaboration with Ocean Park, OPCFHK runs an exhibition which focuses on local stream ecosystems. The exhibition introduces Hong Kong’s freshwater biodiversity, including the critically endangered Beale’s-eyed turtle and golden coin turtle, connecting visiting guests to local native freshwater turtles, raising their interests towards nature, and ultimately empowering them to support the conservation of freshwater turtles.

 

(2) Freshwater Eco-tours   

Due to Hong Kong’s subtropical location, coupled with its mountainous terrain with little flatland and high precipitation rate, hundreds of streams and rivers are formed, constituting a freshwater ecosystem as well as nurturing a rich biodiversity, including native freshwater turtles and a wide array of amphibians and freshwater fish. The eco-tour strives to introduce to the public the formation of freshwater habitats and hence they will learn to appreciate and protect the biodiversity.

 

Conservation Work

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.

Since the birth of the first captive-bred hatchling in 2020, two other hatchlings were born in June and July in 2023 respectively. We look forward to more hatchlings in the near future and releasing them into the wild to eventually raise the local population of turtles.

 

Artificial Breeding Programme Partnership: