Nesting Ecology and Utilization Intensity of Pig-nosed Turtle at Vriendschap River Asmat Regency, Papua.

Abstract

Carettochelys insculpta (pig-nosed turtle) is one of the soft shelled turtle of southern Papua. Land clearing for human development and high hunting of natural resource affect the condition of forest ecosystems and put pressure on pig-nosed turtle population, while the scientific information in Indonesia is still lacking. In effort to obtain information of pig-nosed turtle in Indonesia, the study was conducted to determine the nesting ecology and intensity utilization of pig-nosed turtle in Vriendschap River Asmat Regency, Papua. Survey was carried out in 8 – 25 November 2011 during nesting season. Transect methods were used to get data on nesting ecology, while unstructured interview and observation techniques be used to assess the intensity of pig-nosed turtle utilization by communities living around the Vriendschap River, Asmat regency, Papua. Results showed that distribution pattern of nests and tracks in Vriendschap River region is clumped with most nesting sites located in Obokain area (the middle of the Vriendschap River). High density of nests were built near vegetation cover compared to area without vegetation. Females prefer sands with the presence of vegetation cover for nesting habitat. The intensity of utilization is very high for eggs (> 75%), whereas females turtles were captured only local consumption. Egg harvesting is done for the whole nest without exception and females turtles were captured simultaneously while collecting eggs.