The first subsequent measurement of the terrapins was made in early February 2010 and we discovered that one of them had ejected the microchip.  A bit of concern at that time, but still nothing to worry about as ejection rate was just 1%.

On the 3rd of March, we measured the terrapins again and to our dismay, we were unable to detect the microchips in eight of the terrapins.  A closer examination of all the terrapins showed that five of them had the microchips partially ejected from the inguinal pocket.  Ejection rate had gone up to 14% two and a half months after they were deployed.  This is conclusive enough to tell us not to microchip terrapins at too young an age.

The picture below show the microchips at various stages of ejection from the young  terrapins.  The microchips are implanted at the inguinal pocket.

Ejection of microchip 1

Ejection of microchip 2

Ejection of microchip 3

I was devastated by what I saw: a heap of dry sand outside the box.  It was a definite sign that rats had burrowed through the box.  I quickly opened the box (the cover had been weighted down by a plank) and found cavities in the sand and the damp cloth I had placed on top of the sand had been dragged to the hole made by the rat(s) at the side of the box.

Two eggs had been shifted from the horizontal position and were now sitting vertically.  A quick check showed that none of the eggs had been attacked yet.  What a relief!  The two eggs were marked to see if hatching will be affected at the end of the incubation period.  The hole was sealed and the eggs were carefully covered with moist sand again.

Before we left for our holidays, I had moistened the sand and placed a damp cloth over it to help maintain the moisture. This method seems to work as after a lapse of 10 days, the sand in the box was still nice and moist.

Fong kept a vigil in the kitchen and found four mice foraging around for food.  The big ones were about three inches long.

No one came to deliver eggs last night although the villagers have been alerted that we are back in the village.  We will visit Ropi later to pay him for the eggs he has helped us purchase in our absence.

To date, we have procured only 4 clutches of eggs for incubation.  This represents only a small proportion of the clutches deposited so far.

Attacked by mice

http://www.mysinchew.com/node/35383

Releasing a giant white soft-shell turtle

2010-02-19 15:42

• 

  A rarely seen giant white soft-shell turtle. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

• 

  Lines on its belly looked like a human face. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

• 

  The white soft-shell turtle is very tame. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

Enlarge

1 of 3

TAIPING, PERAK: More than 200 people rushed to a villager’s house to personally take a look at a rarely seen giant white soft-shell turtle, which was believed to be a mascot that brought great fortune.

Villager Cao Dechang bought the white soft-shell turtle weighted 7kg and measured 2 feet long at RM30 from a Malay villager, who caught it at a river.

The news was rapidly spread and curious villagers flocked to pay the great turtle a visit. Different sayings were formed when some of them found that lines on its belly looked like a human face.

Cao told Sin Chew Daily that he bought it as he had never seen such a huge white soft-shell turtle before. He would release it after Chinese New Year.

“Someone wanted to pay me RM300 for the turtle but I rejected his offer. About 200 people had took a look at it over the past two days. Even the elders said they had never seen such a big white soft-shell turtle before,” said Cao.

He believed that the white soft-shell was a mascot that could bring great fortune.

It was said that freshwater soft-shell turtles were generally blackish yellow and white soft-shell turtles were very rare.

Also, soft-shell turtles were usually ferocious but the white soft-shell turtle was very tame. (Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)

Kooky 2010.02.19

In the days before our departure to celebrate the lunar new year with family in our respective hometowns, there have been notable activities to write about.  

Shao video recording

Firstly, 24 terrapins caught by fishermen, mostly in driftnets were processed on the 10th. My daughter Shao Yi who was home for a visit was roped in to help. One fisherman by the name of Bidin caught a large number of male painted terrapins in the Chaluk River and the downside was that four of them had hooks in them.  I removed  hooks from three terrapins, but one hook was so deeply seated that all we could do was just cut off the fishing line.  As usual, we had help from the fishermen, two of whom have now become”regulars.”  There is an urgent need to address this seemingly high incidence of terrapins getting hooked on fishing lines.  Circular hooks have been designed to reduce the incidence of hooking marine turtles.  We must look into the possibility of testing these hooks in the Setiu River.   

Hooked terrapin caught in a drift net

Bent over to help a terrapin

This one was easily removed

Sharing a delightful moment with Pelf

Processing a terrapin with Rosli

Kids releasing terrapins and developing a bond with them

Cultivating a love for terrapins

I think our physical presence in the village has helped us engage more of the villagers in the project. The kids are such eager participants and I hope they will grow up loving terrapins.