On the 18th of May 2011 staff of the Turtle Conservation Center (TCC) found a Four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata) egg buried in one of the adult enclosures. The egg appeared old and had probably been laid some weeks before. The egg was moved to the incubation room where it hatched on the 15th of June. Since 2007 the five founder Four-eyed Turtles at the TCC have produced 16 hatchlings which are all successfully being raised.
The Four-eyed turtle is a semi-aquatic species that occurs in fast flowing forest streams in southern China, northeastern Laos and in the mountains of northern and central Vietnam. The turtle gets its name from four bright eye-like markings on the back of its head. The main threats to the rapidly decreasing wild populations are hunting and habitat destruction. With the species now listed as endangered by the IUCN. While the species generally proves difficult to breed in captivity the semi-wild outdoor enclosures at the TCC in Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam, seems to be ideal and most of the captive bred sacalia quadriocellata have hatched insitu.
Press Release by: Sarah Wahl – Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC), Cuc Phuong National Park
Date: 23rd November 2011
In 2011 the Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC) is supported by Cuc Phuong National Park, the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Devel
pment, Intrepid Travel, Houston Zoo and Auckland Zoo
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