Endangered Sea Turtles Born at Japanese Aquarium, World's First 2nd-Generation Captive Breeding

On September 6, 2010, Kushimoto Marine Park in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, announced that on September 4, they succeeded in hatching loggerhead sea turtle babies from eggs that were laid by parents also born in captivity. The park became the world's first to breed a second-generation (F2) of captive-bred loggerhead sea turtles.

The loggerhead sea turtle, or loggerhead, is listed as a vulnerable species in the Red Data Book of Japan. Its population in the wild is on the decline and at high risk of endangerment. In August 1995, Kushimoto Marine Park succeeded in hatching the first clutch of loggerheads from wild-caught parents. These captive-born turtles laid eggs several times over the subsequent years, but had had no success in hatching babies. In July 2010, a month for mating, eggs were laid twice. Around 7 p.m. on September 4, aquarium staff discovered three tiny heads sticking out of the sand, bearing witness to the first birth of loggerhead "grandchildren."

A park official said that the success in the hatching second-generation captive-bred loggerheads has demonstrated the feasibility of breeding them completely in captive conditions. They plan to continue their study to determine the maturation age and life span of the turtles, which are still not fully understood.

Green Sea Turtle Lays Eggs in Indoor Aquarium--A World First (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/025432.html
Protection Activities of the Sea Turtle Association of Japan
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/026644.html

Posted: 2011/02/03 06:00:15 AM