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Abstract

Northern River Terrapin, Batagur baska, is an ecologically extinct species in Bangladesh. The ‘Project Batagur’ has undertaken some important initiatives to resuscitate the nearly deceased population through captive breeding at Bhawal National Park, Gazipur, Bangladesh. We conducted a study on breeding biology of B. baska from May 2016 to June 2017 in the project site. Four adult females and three adult males comprised breeding pair in the study site. Male Batagur baska developed black colouration on head and neck, with rich crimson on dorsal portion of the neck during breeding season. During our study, we observed paired basking behaviour rather courtship and parental care. We found three nests from mid-March to first week of April. Females laid eggs at night and a total of 67 eggs were extracted from three nests; eggs were elliptical and whitish in colour. Clutch size varied from 18 to 28 eggs. There was significant positive correlation between clutch size and nest diameter (p = 0.03). The relationship was also positive and significant between egg weight and diameter (p = 0.01).The size of the egg was not related with the size of breeding females (r = 0.143).Average incubation period was (68.26 ± 5.23) days and there was significant negative relationship with temperature (p= 0.000), clutch size (p = 0.001), and hatching success (p = 0.004). Hatching success was also negatively co-related with temperature (p= 0.001). Hatching started in May and ended in the first week of June 2017 with mean hatching success of 91%. Simple linear regression showed positive relationship between egg length and hatchlings’ carapace length, plastron length, and height. We also found positive relationship between egg diameter and hatchlings weight, and carapace width. This study can be used as a protocol for captive breeding and rearing activities of threatened chelonians around the world. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 31(1): 67-78, 2022 (January)

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... These animals are very sensitive to noisy environments, so they need a relatively quiet habitat. According to information from local coastal communities, painted terrapins lay eggs in coastal areas at night when the environment is quiet (Mallick et al. 2021;Mim et al. 2022). ...
... By conserving eggs and hatchlings, after the hatchlings are independent, they are then released back into their natural habitat. The captive process is one solution that must be done for the conservation of animal species that have begun to be threatened from extinction in their natural habitat in aquatic areas (Mim et al. 2022). If breeding activities for eggs and hatchlings of B. borneoensis are not carried out, it is feared that the eggs and hatchlings of these animals have a very high chance of being preyed on by predatory animals and hunted by the public for sale and collection as pets (Stanford et al. 2020). ...
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The drastic decline of the critically endangered northern river terrapin (Batagur baska) prompted a large-scale captive breeding project in Bangladesh and Austria, with the first captive-bred offspring in 2010. Initially, males and females were kept together and mated without any system. However, controlled breeding was desired to conserve genetic diversity. For revealing relationships among the adult breeding stock and parentages of juveniles, we established a powerful genetic marker system using 13 microsatellite loci. Our results indicate that most wild-caught adults of the breeding groups are related, suggesting that the wild populations experienced a severe decline long time ago. We develop recommendations for breeding to preserve a maximum of genetic diversity. In addition, we provide firm genetic evidence for multiple paternity and sperm storage in B. baska. Our microsatellite marker system is promising to be useful in breeding projects for the other five Batagur species, which are all considered to be Critically Endangered or Endangered. We recommend implementing conservation genetic assessments for captive breeding projects of turtles on a broader scale to preserve genetic diversity and to avoid inbreeding.
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Using mtDNA sequences of historical museum specimens, including the herein designated lectotype of Tetraonyx affinis Cantor 1847 and topotypic specimens of Trionyx (Tetraonyx) cuvieri Gray 1831 and Tetronyx longicollis Lesson 1834, we demonstrate that the name Batagur affinis (Cantor 1847) has to be used for a recently identified critically endangered terrapin species from Southeast Asia. Further, we provide evidence that Batagur baska (Gray 1830) historically was dis-tributed from north-easternmost India and Bangladesh to at least the Ayeyarwady and Bago estuaries in Myanmar while B. affinis occurs in the southern Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. The taxonomic allocation of the extant and extirpated Batagur populations in the northern Malay Peninsula, Cambodia and southern Vietnam remains unclear. A museum specimen from the mid-19 th century suggests that B. baska once also occurred in the Indus Delta of southern Pakistan.
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The ecology and reproductive biology of chelonians have received a great deal of attention. Many publications focus on the ecology or reproductive biology of a single species (e.g., Macrochelys temminckii: Pritchard, 2006; Chelydra serpentina: White & Murphy, 1973; Geochelone radiata: Auffenberg, 1978; Trachemys scripta: Moll & Legler, 1971; Gibbons, 1990; Gopherus polyphemus: Iverson, 1980; Chrysemys picta: Zweifel, 1989; Iverson & Smith, 1993; Apalone ferox: Iverson & Moler, 1997; Webb, 1956; Chelodina novaeguineae: Kennett et al., 1992). Some studies provide comparative information on reproductive behaviors and biology of two or more species (e.g., Chelydra serpentina, Apalone, Macrochelys, Trachemys), and some contain drawings or pictures of pre-copulatory and mating behavior of different species (e.g., Legler, 1955; Webb, 1961, 1962; Auffenberg, 1978; Bellairs, 1970; Bustard, 1972; LeBuff, 1990; Obst, 1986; Oliver, 1955; Dodd, 2001; Ewert, 1976; Harrel et al., 1996). Some provide comparative information on the biology and ecology of multiple species grouped by general habitat; for example, river turtles (Moll & Moll, 2004) and sea turtles (Lutz & Musick, 1997; Lutz et al., 2002). Still others summarize the information concerning multiple species over large geographic areas (Australia: Legler, 1985; Cann, 1998; Venezuela: Pritchard & Trebbau, 1984). Some species and groups have received more attention than others as a result of their accessibility (e.g., Pseudemys concinna: Seidel & Dreslik, 1996; Trachemys scripta: Seidel & Ernst, 2006; Terrapene carolina: Ernst & McBreen, 1991), distribution (e.g., Chelydra serpentina: Ernst et al., 1988; Gibbons et al., 1988; Lovich, 1993; Apalone: Webb, 1990), or conservation status (Swingland & Klemens, 1989; Van Abbema, 1997; Klemens, 2000).
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Wild populations of the Northern river terrapin Batagur baska have been decimated to such an extent that the species can be considered as ecologically extinct. Harvesting and habitat reduction are the main reasons for the drastic demise of B. baska, which formerly inhabited rivers and estuaries in East India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. A cooperative in situ and ex situ conservation project was established to secure the survival of this large river terrapin. In 2010, at Vienna Zoo, Austria, the first two captive-bred juveniles of the project hatched and presented an opportunity to call attention to this Critically Endangered species. With combined efforts a breeding population has been assembled in Bangladesh's Bhawal National Park and 84 juveniles have been reared in the past 2 years. Project-Batagur demonstrates how zoos can play a key role in sustainable long-term conservation of threatened species.
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