PROJECTS
Giant River Turtle Project
In December of 2005 we initiated a project to protect the giant South
American river turtle (Podocnemis expansa), known locally as Arrau or
Charapa, due to “at risk” species status.
This species is struggling due to overharvesting of eggs and the meat of adults by local peoples, especially homesteaders working for oil and logging companies. RRF is working in conjunction with local tribal communities in order to implement programs that are beneficial for the turtles as well as the people themselves. This project has become profoundly important to the local tribes, and partnerships with them have helped with the protection and release of over 40,000 baby turtles.
Adult female Arrau turtles lay from 48 to 156 eggs in a clutch from September to December. The incubation period lasts about 45 days. After the eggs are laid, they are carefully collected and moved to sand pits in a "safe area." After hatching, they are kept for two to three weeks and then released into various oxbow lakes. All this ensures a higher survival rate but requires time, energy and resources.
This project has been implemented on the Curaray and Cononaco rivers in cooperation with the Quichua and Huaorani communities. Currently we are working with the Cofan tribe of Northeastern Ecuador on the Aguarico River in the village of Zabalo.