Explained
River fragmentation and its impact on wildlife
Human-caused habitat fragmentation in rivers and its impact on wildlife - explained.
One of the world’s most endangered freshwater turtles has just taken a small but significant step back from the brink of extinction with a helping hand from Fauna & Flora and our local community partners in Myanmar.
The critically endangered Burmese peacock softshell owes its name to the striking pattern of eyespots on the upperside of its shell. One of its most remarkable characteristics is its ability to retract its head into its own neck. This enchanting freshwater turtle is found only in Myanmar. Like many other turtle and tortoise species in this region, the Burmese peacock softshell has been overharvested to the brink of extinction, mainly to supply East Asian food markets, and is also threatened by habitat degradation and accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
The critically endangered Burmese peacock softshell. © Jeremy Holden / Fauna & Flora
The critically endangered Burmese peacock softshell. © Jeremy Holden / Fauna & Flora
Turtle sanctuary
Fauna & Flora has been working closely with communities living on and around Indawgyi, one of the largest inland lakes in Southeast Asia, to protect the remaining Burmese peacock softshells that it harbours. A globally important wetland wildlife haven, Indawgyi was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2017, a process that Fauna & Flora helped to set in motion.
Our work to safeguard this vanishingly rare turtle began in mid-2022, and our efforts to engage the local community in its conservation are already paying dividends. With the help of local people, Fauna & Flora was able to pinpoint five Burmese peacock softshell nesting sites. The clutches of eggs were fenced off and protected through regular patrols conducted by a team of turtle guardians drawn from the community.
Community conservation
During a recent patrol, the team discovered 15 turtle hatchlings at one of the nest sites. This is the first official record of Burmese peacock softshell turtle hatchlings in the wild. Many other turtles are believed to have hatched already and made their way to the relative safety of the lake. Fauna & Flora collected the remaining hatchlings in order to gather vital data on the species, including weight and size. The captive turtles have since been released into the wild at Indawgyi during a small ceremony held in the presence of the community.
Zau Lunn, Fauna & Flora’s Freshwater & Marine Programme Manager in Myanmar said: “Working with local communities will be key to our success in addressing the threats to the critically endangered Burmese peacock softshell turtle. We are already seeing the positive results of collaborating with communities to manage and protect key nesting sites and habitat. Our work to save this species, which is unique to Myanmar, has only just begun, but the discovery and release of these hatchlings is a great start and a wonderful example of how we can work together to save nature.”
“This vital work would not be possible without our donors,” said Ngwe Lwin, Director of Fauna & Flora’s Myanmar Country Programme. “We’re very grateful for the support of US Fish & Wildlife Service, the Prince Bernhard Nature Fund, Manfred-Hermsen-Stiftung, the Darwin Initiative and Rainforest Trust.
One of the 15 Burmese peacock softshell hatchlings. © Fauna & Flora
One of the 15 Burmese peacock softshell hatchlings. © Fauna & Flora
Members of the local community releasing the tiny hatchlings into their native habitat. © Fauna & Flora
Members of the local community releasing the tiny hatchlings into their native habitat. © Fauna & Flora
The discovery of the precious Burmese peacock softshell hatchlings is the latest in a series of potentially game-changing freshwater finds during the past two decades made by Fauna & Flora and partners at our project sites worldwide.
Missing poisson
Last year, a series of surveys led by Fauna & Flora’s partner in Romania, the Alex Găvan Foundation, discovered record numbers of the asprete, possibly the rarest fish in Europe, in its one-and-only refuge, the Vâlsan River. This critically endangered fish, which may have been around since the time of the dinosaurs, was discovered in 1956, and its future depends on the protection of its threatened freshwater habitat. in the months ahead, Fauna & Flora will be supporting additional asprete surveys that will shed further light on the habits, status and conservation needs of this little-known fish.
Asprete. © Alex Găvan
The recorded increase in asprete numbers was a tremendous boost for the species. © Alex Găvan
Sturgeon sensation
The Vâlsan is by no means the only crucial European river standing between an iconic fish and almost certain extinction. In 2020, within the space of less than a month, Fauna & Flora-led survey teams in Georgia plucked two specimens of the critically endangered ship sturgeon from the waters of the Rioni River. Until that point, the species was widely believed to be extinct. The discovery of these two juvenile ship sturgeons in the Rioni provided evidence of their continued presence but also confirmed that the species was still reproducing successfully in the wild. The health of this river holds the key to the survival of several European sturgeon species that are perilously close to extinction.
The Rioni River discoveries offer a ray of hope for Europe's critically endangered sturgeons. © Irakli Tsulaia
The Rioni River discoveries offer a ray of hope for Europe's critically endangered sturgeons. © Irakli Tsulaia
Return of the croc
It is now well over 20 years since a Fauna & Flora-led survey in Cambodia’s remote Cardamom Mountains rediscovered the Siamese crocodile, kickstarting one of the most successful reptile recovery programmes in recent years. To date, the Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Project – a long-term collaboration between Fauna & Flora and our local partners – has released 146 captive-bred Siamese crocodiles into the wild to boost the population of this locally revered but critically endangered reptile. Ultimately, we aim to establish a 10,000-strong wild Siamese crocodile population across a series of secure sites in Cambodia.
A Siamese crocodile moments before its release in Chhay Reap, Cambodia. © Jeremy Holden / Fauna & Flora
A Siamese crocodile moments before its release in Chhay Reap, Cambodia. © Jeremy Holden / Fauna & Flora
Freshwater focus
A quarter of the world’s critically endangered species are found in freshwater habitats. These vital ecosystems are understudied and underfunded, a situation that Fauna & Flora and its partners are working to change. Without fresh water, life on Earth as we know it would not be possible. Their rich biodiversity is what keeps these life-giving ecosystems clean and healthy. By highlighting their importance, we hope to ensure that they receive the conservation attention they urgently need.
Saving nature together
We’re working with our partners 24/7 to save the world’s wildlife. Please support our efforts to protect the diversity of life on Earth.
For people and the planet.
Donate now© Jeremy Holden / Fauna & Flora
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