Report Date: 2013-06-02

On 2 June 2013, Tourism TV reported on the turtle survey work of Dr Wang Jichao and others from the School of Life Sciences at Hainan Normal University in Diaoluo Mountain. Dr Wang Jichao, an amphibian and reptile researcher, was searching for endangered freshwater turtles at an altitude of 1,000 metres with his graduate student Li Min. Dr Wang Jichao has been engaged in freshwater turtle research for 15 years. In 2005, in order to find out the population size of this turtle in the wild, he conducted a population density survey in Diaoluo Mountain and installed locator transmitters on the turtles to facilitate tracking surveys in the future. He has travelled to Diaoluo Mountain several times a year from 2005 to the present to carry out the survey. Currently, nearly 40 freshwater turtles have been observed. Freshwater turtles are more active during the rainy season. Cuora galbinifrons is a freshwater turtle that lives in tropical rainforests, where dead leaves and crevices in fallen trees are its home. Mushrooms, fresh bamboo shoots and small invertebrates are its main diet. Today, Cuora galbinifrons has a small population in the wild. Dr Wang Jichao has consistently tracked fewer than 40 individuals in the Diaoluo Mountains, and each time he conducts research, he pays more attention to the health of the tortoise and its habitat, so as to grasp and understand the environment of this species in the natural world. At the same time, he uses artificial simulated nesting and hunting experiments to determine what factors affect the reproductive success of Cuora galbinifrons. It was found that Cuora galbinifrons lay their eggs in the presence of other natural enemies. These natural enemies are unavoidable, so we need to strengthen the protection of the environment.

Dr Wang Jichao of Hainan Normal University's School of Life Sciences introduces the characteristics of turtles

(Photo by Tourism TV)

Attachment: Interview link：https://culture-travel.cctv.com/2013/06/03/VIDE1370193717663682.shtml