This year we received a new grant from The Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.
Our project aims to rescue the critically endangered Asian giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) from the brink of functional extinction by engineering its scientifically-informed return to China’s rivers. Although successful captive breeding provides a lifeline, a critical bottleneck persists: a complete lack of data on wild spatial ecology and evidence-based protocols for reintroduction. Without this knowledge, releasing captive-bred individuals is a risky gamble. Our initiative, based at the Qingtian Nature Reserve on the Oujiang River, directly addresses this gap to transform hope into a viable recovery strategy. The overall objectives are to develop and validate the first species-specific GPS tracking technology for this elusive giant, using the data to quantitatively map its critical habitat requirements and movement patterns. This spatial intelligence will inform the establishment of a rigorous pre-release acclimation protocol in semi-wild enclosures, ensuring post-release survival. Concurrently, we are creating a genetic baseline for the captive population to strategically guide breeding and release decisions, safeguarding long-term genetic health. Furthermore, this project is designed to build permanent local conservation capacity through hands-on training and technology transfer with reserve staff, ensuring the work’s legacy. A parallel community engagement program will foster local stewardship by highlighting the turtle’s status as a living piece of cultural heritage. This work moves beyond documenting decline to actively enabling restoration, turning captive assurance into a true demographic rescue. The successful development of this reintroduction toolkit will not only guide the return of P. cantorii but will also establish a replicable, evidence-based model for conserving other cryptic freshwater megafauna across Asia and the world.
More about our project here
