Thailand
Protect "Big-headed turtles"
of Phetchabun Mountains
Community-based conservation initiatives to protect big-headed turtles and their habitat in the Phetchabun mountain range
Big-headed turtle is a freshwater turtle. It is a species of turtle in the family Platysternidae, with its scientific name Platysternon megacephalum. In Thailand, big-headed turtle is a protected animal under the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act, BE 2535 (1992). Since 2011, big-headed turtles have been classified as “endangered” (EN) in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
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Big-headed turtle is known for its disproportionately large head, beak, sharp nails on its four legs and long tail that it cannot draw its head into the shell. It lives both on land and in water and can be found in high mountain streams or rainforests. They are active at night and feed on fish, shrimps, crabs and shellfish. Only 3 - 5 eggs are laid each time during reproduction. In Thailand, these endangered turtles are found in several provinces in the North and Loei province, especially the Mun river basin that originates in Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park. The Mun river basin provides clean water and is made up of stones and islets of waterfalls and streams. With its abundant water course and rich natural forests, the Mun river basin offers critical habitats to these turtles that have been driven closer to extinction. The restoration of their habitats thus requires immediate action to guard against numerous threats.
Threats and risks for the big-headed turtles are as follows:
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1.) The consumption of these endangered turtles is widespread. Due to their unique physical features and characteristics, the big-headed turtles are sold and kept as pets (exotic pets) inside and outside the local communities. These practices still remain a serious concern. Moreover, the big-headed turtle parts are believed to possess medical and sex-enhancing properties, making these turtles popular and expensive. The turtles are sold at 1,800 - 2,000 bath per kg and the price can go up to 4,000 - 7,5000 baht if they are sold in global markets, especially in China and Vietnam where demand for these endangered turtles is very high.
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2.) Encroachment of forest areas for monoculture plantations such as maize, ginger and cabbage have led to shrinking habitats and loss of nesting sites, especially in upstream areas where the number of big-headed turtles live. With the pervasive use of chemicals that spreads in the ecosystems, these turtles are unavoidably suffering as they live in clean water. Farm chemicals also harm other animals’ lives, including fish, shrimps, crabs and shellfish. Lost ecosystems pose major welfare risks to big-headed turtles. As a result, their populations are declining. The big-headed turtles live in abundant ecosystems, both in the forest or the river, and thus, provide an indicator of a healthy natural habitat. Conservation ecosystem and restoring trees along streams, islets and whirlpools that are prone to damage -- is an important component to secure the future of big-headed turtles.
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3.) Other factors that push the big-headed turtles to the brink of extinction include lack of local participation and awareness about the big-headed turtles as a protected species and their conservation status that is deemed " vulnerable", poor legal comprehension and law enforcement on big-headed turtle conservation. Big-headed turtles are listed as a protected species under the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act, BE 2535 (1992) and according to the law, a man charged with illegal possession of these protected turtles for consumption and trade carries a prison term of up to four years in jail and/or fine up to 40,000 baht or both.
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4.) Cooperation, integration and participatory management haven’t been modified in closer alignment with measures and policies to conserve ecosystems in the areas and deal with the potentials threats on the big-headed turtles living in the Mun river basin. Management approaches in terms of Ecoscape have also been absent, although the river basin is connected to conservation areas and communities living around the Phung river basin.
Due to these threats, the big-headed turtles are slipping towards extinction. The endangered turtles are also suffering from the growing appetite of the exotic pet trade and consumption. Changes in land use have led to ecosystem degradation, causing dwindling food sources and relentless habitat destruction and putting animals in a difficult situation.
Without preventive measures to save the big-headed turtles, their populations will soon decline and genetic diversity in the Mun river basin is likely to vanish. Since big-headed turtles are at the top of the food chain and their extinction will greatly affect the ecosystems upstream, urgent action to stop this crisis is needed now more than ever.
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Community-based conservation initiatives, which are supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Environment Fund, the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will run in the upstream of the Mun and Phoong river basins. Together with the local authorities of Dan Sai district and its conservation unit, a proactive approach has been adopted to prevent the smuggling of the big-headed turtles for consumption and trade. The tremendous efforts in the engagement of local people in conservation have proved to be successful and are achieving tangible results.
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Reported by Jeerasak Tridech