First successful head-start program of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in Thailand and proposed dietary strategy.

Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) hatchlings have previously been kept alive for over a year in captive conditions but these were the few survivors of initially larger groups. In this report, newly hatched leatherback sea turtles were randomly harvested from two nests in Thailand and successfully reared before release back to the wild. In captivity, the survival of the turtles decreased sharply during the first 4 or 5 months, and then steadied until the end of the 12-month trial.

Dietary protein requirement for captive juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas).

Head-starting programs are extremely important for restoring the population of sea turtles in wild whereas husbandry conditions and feeding regimens of captive turtles are still limited. In the current study, the optimal dietary protein requirement for green turtle (Chelonia mydas) was investigated to support rearing in head-starting programs. Twenty-five-day-old turtles (44.

Enrichment devices for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) reared in captivity programs.

Environmental enrichment supports the well-being and welfare of captive animals. In the current study, the most suitable form of enrichment device for captive green turtles (Chelonia mydas) was investigated, to support head-start programs rearing turtles for release into their natural habitat. Fifteen-day-old turtles (113-114 g initial weight, n = 75) were randomly distributed into 15 experimental plastic tanks, comprising 5 treatments across three pools of each condition.

Optimal Feeding Frequency for Captive Hawksbill Sea Turtle ().

Hawksbill sea turtle () has been reared in head-starting captivity programs, while the feeding regimens have never been optimized. In the current study, the feeding frequency of hawksbill sea turtle was investigated in indoor experimental conditions. Two-month-old turtles (38.

Optimal Background Color for Head-Starting Northern River Terrapins ( Gray, 1831).

Background color has significant effects on the lifestyles of various animal species. In this study, the effects of wall background color on growth, feed utilization, specific activity of gastric and pancreatic enzymes in fecal samples, fecal thermal properties, carapace elemental profile, and hematological parameters were investigated in northern river terrapin ( Gray, 1831) in order to optimize the head-starting conditions. The terrapins (70.

5334000-53340000Optimal Salinity for Head-Starting Northern River Terrapin Gray, 1831).

Northern river terrapins ( Gray, 1831) are Asia's largest turtles living in both freshwater and brackish water. In the current study, the optimal salinity for head-starting programs of this critically endangered species was investigated in order to serve the well-being of turtles before release to natural habitat. Forty-eight terrapins (54.

Optimal-rearing density for head-starting green turtles (Chelonia mydas Linnaeus, 1758).

While ex situ conservation programs of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas Linnaeus, 1758), before release to natural habitats, have been conducted in several countries, the optimal-stocking density for husbandry has not yet been reported. The optimization of stocking density was the main purpose of this study. The 15-day-old post-hatching turtles (29.