《被小河龜萌到》
馬來西亞的河龜(River terrapin)是瀕臨絕種的物種，它們可以長到60公分、重達35公斤。他們住在溪流附近，在河床挖洞產卵。不像海龜一個產卵季平均可以生6窩，每窩平均100顆卵；大部分的河龜每年只生一次，每窩平均25顆。它們受到的威脅除了棲息地的破壞，當地人也有挖河龜蛋來賣和吃龜卵的習俗。
這個馬來西亞河龜保育協會 Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia 的創辦人從調查研究河龜開始到推廣河龜和海龜保育，至今已經超過15年的時間了！他們和當地居民收購河龜卵，帶回協會的復育場孵，養一陣子再野放。很喜歡這個協會的展示中心，小小一間但陳列的海報和標本都是有用心思考過的，也很喜歡他們做保育的方式。
他們的粉絲專頁：https://www.facebook.com/TurtleConservationSocietyofMalaysia/
River terrapin is listed as critical endangered species. They can reach to 60cm in length and 35kg in weight. They live along the river and nest on the river bank. Unlike sea turtles, river terrapin reproduce every year but only nest once and laid around 25 eggs in average. Main threats including sand mining activity on the river bank which causes the destruction of their habitat and nesting banks, illegal poach for the eggs and being caught for selling as food.
The ngo @tcsmalaysia is working on river terrapin conservation by purchase the eggs from locals, hatched the eggs and keep the baby terrapins for a while before release them back to increase their survival rate. Both research and outreach are their main activities. I like their approach and the design of their exhibition room, it’s simple but very informative.
Their fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/TurtleConservationSocietyofMalaysia/
#terrapin #malaysia #hatchling #conservation
