Giant Sideneck Turtle Conservation

Podocnemys Expansa Conservation

The arrau, a large South American river turtle (up to 89 cm carapace length) is considered to be highly endangered as a result of being overexploited for its meat, oil, and eggs. It is predominately herbivorous and conducts most of its foraging in gallery forests of flooded rivers during the wet season. It fasts for the remainder of the year. These turtles nest in the dry season when sandy nesting beaches and islands are exposed. This side-necked turtle is primarily an inhabitant of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers.

In Venezuela nesting is restricted to a few protected sites and the total number of adult females appears to be only in the hundreds. We are working with the Venezuelan government (PROFAUNA) and several private organizations and local landowners to help stabilize and restore existing populations. The adult females lay large clutches (60-170 eggs) and it is likely that they produce more than one clutch each season. Nesting adults are weighed, measured, and marked. About 20,000 eggs are collected form nesting beaches each year and incubated. The hatchlings are head-started for 10-12 months and then released on the nesting beaches. Combined with protection at the nesting beaches it is hoped that the head-starting program will enhance wild stocks.

At this time The Tortoise Reserve is contributing funds to help with the head-starting, the research, and with local educational programs along the Orinoco. We are currently preparing a video for use in educational programs in the region. (A detailed account of the turtle and our conservation efforts will be prepared for this site. Stay Tuned)