13 endangered snake-necked turtles repatriated back to Indonesia

Singapore: Thirteen critically endangered Roti Island snake-necked turtles (Chelodina mccordi) were successfully repatriated from Singapore back to their native country, Indonesia. 

The critically endangered species were initially sent to the Singapore Zoo in 2020 from breeding programmes in the United States and Austria.

Marking a major milestone in efforts to boost the wild population, this is the first repatriation.

Prior to their return, experts believed that they may extinct in the wild.  

The efforts were led by Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MOEF) and Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) in the East Nusa Tenggara province.

As per authorities, such programmes help to increase their chances of survival in the wild. 

The turtles, which have settled in a breeding facility are now part of the first structured conservation breeding programme in Indonesia. 

Their offspring will be raised under human care from egg development with the aim of reintroducing them into their native wild habitats.

The Roti Snake-necked Turtle is one of the 25 most threatened freshwater turtle species in the world and is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as "Critically Endangered". 

However, the goal is to boost the turtles from egg improvement to later life phases underneath human care and ultimately reintroducing younger turtles into their native wild habitats.