Indonesia draws up plan to save endangered pig-nosed turtle

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - The Papua Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA), in partnership with WWF Indonesia, is drawing up a comprehensive conservation strategy to restore the population of the endangered pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) in southern Papua.

A forest ecosystem conservation officer at BBKSDA Papua, Fikri Al-Mubarok, said here on Friday that a formal Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (SRAK) is needed to ensure that efforts to protect and restore the turtle population are well directed, measurable, and sustainable.

"On Thursday (Oct 29), we held a focus group discussion with WWF, indigenous communities, academics, researchers, and other key stakeholders to design a protection and recovery roadmap for the pig-nosed turtle," Al-Mubarok said.

He said that without clear guidelines and measurable targets, preservation initiatives risk becoming fragmented, uncoordinated, and difficult to evaluate.

"Based on our 2023 survey and monitoring data, the pig-nosed turtle habitat is spread across six districts in southern Papua: Asmat, Merauke, Nduga, Mappi, Mimika, and Boven Digoel," he said.

Al-Mubarok said the survival of the species relies on freshwater ecosystems, including rivers, swamps, and surrounding wetlands.

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However, the turtles face mounting threats from poaching, illegal wildlife trafficking, egg harvesting, and habitat degradation.

Under Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/2018, the pig-nosed turtle is a fully protected species.

Globally, it is classified as Endangered on 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).

Through the new action plan, BBKSDA aims to establish clear conservation priorities and reinforce habitat protection through science-based multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Meanwhile, WWF Indonesia’s Papua Program biodiversity and climate specialist Ikhsan Anggoda said the roadmap covers population recovery targets, in-situ and ex-situ management, genetic diversity preservation, and habitat connectivity.

"The conservation assessment begins with field surveys along several river points to evaluate habitat conditions and estimate current population numbers," Anggoda said.

He added that researchers will use the capture-mark-recapture (CMR) method to determine population size.

The study will also assess critical habitat characteristics, such as sand substrates, nesting grounds, and riverbank vegetation.

"The findings will provide a scientific foundation to set conservation priorities and strategies tailored to the species' actual population and habitat conditions," Anggoda said.

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Translator: Qadri Pratiwi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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