Turtle is a national first-class aquatic wild animal under protection, so it is an important step for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to carry out the evaluation on the adaptability of the wild turtle before the large-scale breeding and releasing of the Turtle Rescue Action Plan (2019-2035). In order to restore and rebuild the wild population of Tortoise, on September 26, 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the People's Government of Guangdong Province carried out the first wild adaptation protection activity in Gaoming, Foshan, releasing 20 young Tortoise aged 3-4 in the wild.
In order to further implement the Tortoise Rescue Action Plan (2019-2035) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, on May 25, 2022, the Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences organized experts to check and accept the results of the Adaptability Evaluation of Tortoise Wildness in the "Foshan Turtle Artificial Breeding Base of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs" in Gaoming District, Foshan City. Liu Xiaoqiang, a fourth level researcher from the Yangtze River Basin Fishery Administration Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (online), Chen Qifen, a first level researcher from the Fishery Resources Protection Division of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangdong Province, Liao Chenglin, section chief of Foshan Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, Du Xiwen, deputy director of Gaoming District Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, Xu Ruiyong, director of PRFRI, Zhu Xinping, and other leaders attended the meeting.
The expert representatives from Sun Yat sen University, South China Normal University, Jinan University, South China Agricultural University, PRFRI and other units listened carefully to the work report of the Tortoise Research Team. Subsequently, experts identified the recaptured individuals on the spot. Through instrument identification and measurement, it was determined that the two young turtles caught in Tanli Reservoir in Yuanyefang area on May 13 and 22, 2022 were wild released individuals, with weight gain of 264.27% and 172.64% respectively; The evaluation of the growth data of the young turtles under artificial conservation and the body status of the young turtles recaptured showed that the wild young turtles had adapted to the wild environment for 20 months, and the effect of the wild adaptation protection was significant.
At the meeting, Liu Xiaoqiang, a fourth level researcher from the Yangtze River Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, stressed that the application of the results of wild turtle protection should be further strengthened, and the adaptive protection of wild turtle in suitable waters should be continuously promoted in combination with the local protection of Han Jiang turtle. Chen Qifen, the first level investigator of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, suggested that local agricultural authorities should strengthen communication with their superiors, forestry, public security and other departments, establish a joint protection mechanism as soon as possible, increase science publicity, and jointly carry out the work of turtle protection. Xu Ruiyong, Director of PRFRI, said at the meeting that The Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute would focus on scientific research to speed up relevant basic research and fully cooperate with and support the government departments in protecting turtles.
After the meeting, the experts and their party went to the Tanli Reservoir to witness the replay of wild turtles.
