Asian Box turtle breeding success

Geomyda · 05-09-2012, 06:22 AM

Page last updated at 03:02 GMT+01:00, Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Rare turtle birth 'UK zoo first'

Vernon, the baby Vietnamese box turtle, is now seven-weeks-old and roughly the size of a matchbox
Critically endangered Vietnamese box turtles have been bred successfully for the first time in a British zoo.

A baby Vietnamese box turtle, which is one of the world's rarest turtles, was born at Bristol Zoo in July and is now roughly the size of a matchbox.

Reptile curator, Tim Skelton, said it was a 40-year "career highlight" as the species was very difficult to breed.

The youngster, called Vernon, is being kept in a climate-controlled room and hand fed chopped worms by keepers.

He currently weighs 28g and measures around 5cm (2in) long.

'Boggy tank'

"Not a lot is known about this species so we can learn an awful lot from this baby to improve our chances of breeding more in future," said Mr Skelton.

"These are secretive animals so we are keeping it in a warm, humid and quiet room with a constant temperature, in a boggy tank to replicate its natural habitat where it can burrow among the soil and leaves."

As well as being a UK first, Bristol Zoo is also only the second in Europe to have bred the species, with success also having been seen at a zoo in Germany.

The zoo is part of a European breeding programme with private turtle experts and now has a total of seven Vietnamese box turtles.

Hunting for their meat, or medicinal use, or as pets, led to the species being listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

An adult box turtle weighs around 1kg (2.2lbs), measures around 20cm (7.9in) long and can live for up to 50 years.

Kirkie · 05-09-2012, 11:56 PM

Excellent.

**egyptiandan64** · 05-09-2012, 11:59 PM

Which subspecies was it?

Danny

TillyTortoise · 06-09-2012, 12:03 AM

Great news

Heres the report with a video of the hatchling.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-19478652

Kirkie · 06-09-2012, 12:09 AM

The BBC report said Cuora Bouretti. Is that valid? I gave up keeping up with Cuora a long time ago.

**egyptiandan64** · 06-09-2012, 01:53 AM

Yes bourreti is valid as a subspecies of Cuora galbinifrons. Though that animal looks more like a C.g.galbinifrons than C.g.bourreti.

There is though a large area of intergration between the 2 subspecies in Vietnam.

Danny

Kirkie · 06-09-2012, 05:14 PM

I suppose its down to provenance. I'm sure the history of the adults is well known. They wouldn't be raving about hatching C.G.Galbinifrons. Theres a bloke advertising CB hatchlings for the Doncaster show at the moment.

**egyptiandan64** · 06-09-2012, 11:48 PM

Actually they would be

C.g.galbinifrons are harder to keep alive in captivity and subsequently breed. The other 2 subspecies aren't as hard to keep alive or breed.

Danny

05-09-2012, 06:22 AM	#1
Geomyda Senior Member Adult Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Surrey Posts: 2,094	Asian Box turtle breeding success Page last updated at 03:02 GMT+01:00, Wednesday, 5 September 2012 Rare turtle birth 'UK zoo first' Vernon, the baby Vietnamese box turtle, is now seven-weeks-old and roughly the size of a matchbox Critically endangered Vietnamese box turtles have been bred successfully for the first time in a British zoo. A baby Vietnamese box turtle, which is one of the world's rarest turtles, was born at Bristol Zoo in July and is now roughly the size of a matchbox. Reptile curator, Tim Skelton, said it was a 40-year "career highlight" as the species was very difficult to breed. The youngster, called Vernon, is being kept in a climate-controlled room and hand fed chopped worms by keepers. He currently weighs 28g and measures around 5cm (2in) long. 'Boggy tank' "Not a lot is known about this species so we can learn an awful lot from this baby to improve our chances of breeding more in future," said Mr Skelton. "These are secretive animals so we are keeping it in a warm, humid and quiet room with a constant temperature, in a boggy tank to replicate its natural habitat where it can burrow among the soil and leaves." As well as being a UK first, Bristol Zoo is also only the second in Europe to have bred the species, with success also having been seen at a zoo in Germany. The zoo is part of a European breeding programme with private turtle experts and now has a total of seven Vietnamese box turtles. Hunting for their meat, or medicinal use, or as pets, led to the species being listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. An adult box turtle weighs around 1kg (2.2lbs), measures around 20cm (7.9in) long and can live for up to 50 years.

05-09-2012, 11:59 PM	#3
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Which subspecies was it? Danny __________________

06-09-2012, 12:03 AM	#4
TillyTortoise Senior Member Adult Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales Posts: 2,327	Great news Heres the report with a video of the hatchling. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-19478652 __________________ Ross

06-09-2012, 01:53 AM	#6
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Yes bourreti is valid as a subspecies of Cuora galbinifrons. Though that animal looks more like a C.g.galbinifrons than C.g.bourreti. There is though a large area of intergration between the 2 subspecies in Vietnam. Danny __________________

06-09-2012, 11:48 PM	#8
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Actually they would be C.g.galbinifrons are harder to keep alive in captivity and subsequently breed. The other 2 subspecies aren't as hard to keep alive or breed. Danny __________________

05-09-2012, 11:56 PM	#2
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Excellent.

06-09-2012, 12:09 AM	#5
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	The BBC report said Cuora Bouretti. Is that valid? I gave up keeping up with Cuora a long time ago.

06-09-2012, 05:14 PM	#7
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	I suppose its down to provenance. I'm sure the history of the adults is well known. They wouldn't be raving about hatching C.G.Galbinifrons. Theres a bloke advertising CB hatchlings for the Doncaster show at the moment.

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