Guardians of the Forest Floor: Learning Conservation from the Asian Forest Tortoise (Manouria emys)

Authors

  • Ariyoga Pratama Graduate Study of Science Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu 38122
  • Aceng Ruyani Graduate Study of Science Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu 38122

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56060/bdv.2026.5.1.2856

Abstract

Deep within the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, the Asian forest tortoise (Manouria emys) moves with the quiet memory of millions of years. Yet today, its path is threatened by deforestation, illegal trade, and a warming climate. In Bengkulu, Indonesia, the University of Bengkulu’s ex-situ program has successfully increased the survival and breeding success of rescued tortoises, providing controlled habitats where health, behavior, and reproduction can be monitored. Supported by collaboration with the University of North Carolina Greensboro, the program rehabilitates confiscated individuals and prepares them for long-term population recovery. Beyond protecting a species, this initiative transforms conservation into education, where the tortoise becomes a living teacher of patience, empathy, and coexistence.

Author Biographies

  • Ariyoga Pratama, Graduate Study of Science Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu 38122

    Graduate Study of Science Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu 38122

  • Aceng Ruyani, Graduate Study of Science Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu 38122

    Graduate Study of Science Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu 38122

References

Cigler, P., Davis, L. R., Gmür, S. L., Clauss, M., Hatt, J. M., Ohlerth, S., Mastromonaco, G., & Kummrow, M. (2024). Evidence for seasonal shift in the reproduction of Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) in managed care in the Northern hemisphere compared to the natural habitat in the Southern hemisphere. Zoo Biology, 43(5), 458–469. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21851

Cota, M., McCormack, T. E. M., & Das, I. (2019). Manouria emys, Asian giant tortoise. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12774A152052098. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T12774A152052098.en

Croyle, K., Gibbons, P., Light, C., Goode, E., Durrant, B., & Jensen, T. (2016). Chelonian perivitelline membrane-bound sperm detection: A new breeding management tool. Zoo Biology, 35(2), 95–103. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21273

Gallardo-Alvarez, M. I., Lesher-Gordillo, J. M., Machkour-M’Rabet, S., Zenteno-Ruíz, C. E., Olivera-Gómez, L. D., Recino-Reyes, E. B., Montejo-Méndez, H. B., Gómez-Carrasco, G., Hernández-Marín, A., & Valdés-Marín, A. (2023). Genetic relationship between founders of a threatened freshwater turtle in a Mexican wildlife management unit: A conservation strategy. Tropical Conservation Science, 16, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/19400829231197966

Halimah, D. (2023). Penegakan hukum terhadap tindak pidana perdagangan satwa dilindungi di Sumatera Utara [Law enforcement against the crime of protected wildlife trade in North Sumatra]. Rechtsnormen: Jurnal Komunikasi dan Informasi Hukum, 2(1), 32–42. https://doi.org/10.56211/rechtsnormen.v2i1.295

Hardiyanti, W. P., & Darda, R. I. (2016). Inventarisasi spesies kura-kura dalam Red List IUCN dan CITES yang diperdagangkan di Jakarta dan Bogor [Inventory of turtle species in the IUCN Red List and CITES traded in Jakarta and Bogor]. Proceedings of National Conference on Biodiversity, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29191.91040

Kumari, K., Mogalekar, H. S., Ram, R. K., Dupare, R. R., Srivastava, P. P., & Nayak, S. K. (2022). Habitat ecology and diversity of tortoises from Burhi Gandak and Kamla Rivers of Bihar. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 49(12), 37–40.

Lesmana, W. Y., & Abduh, R. (2024). Criminal law policy on the protection of protected wildlife. Al-Manhaj: Jurnal Hukum dan Pranata Sosial Islam, 6(1), 235–250. https://doi.org/10.37680/almanhaj.v6i1.5029

Mo, M. (2020). Only in captivity? Reptiles & Amphibians, 27(1), 89–90. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v27i1.14470

Permen KLHK. (2018). Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Nomor P.20/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/6/2018 tentang jenis tumbuhan dan satwa yang dilindungi [Ministerial Regulation of Environment and Forestry on protected plant and animal species]. Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan, Indonesia.

Platt, S. G., Platt, K., Myo, K. M., Soe, M. M., & Rainwater, T. R. (2018). Distribution records and conservation status of the Burmese black giant tortoise (Manouria emys phayrei) in western Myanmar. Herpetology Notes, 11, 847–852.

Roberts, H. P., Jones, M. T., Willey, L. L., Akre, T. S. B., Sievert, P. R., deMaynadier, P., Johnson, G., & Lassiter, E. (2021). Large-scale collaboration reveals landscape-level effects of land use on turtle demography. Global Ecology and Conservation, 30, e01759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01759

Ruyani, A., Parlindungan, D., Patrick, P. G., & Matthews, C. E. (2022). Developing collegial relationships to address hurdles in ex-situ turtle conservation on an Indonesian university campus. Case Studies in the Environment, 5(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1525/cse.2021.1420816

Shahirah-Ibrahim, N., Badli-Sham, B. H., Shafie, N. J., & Ahmad, A. (2018). Species diversity of freshwater turtles and tortoises in Terengganu, Malaysia. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management, Monograph Issue 1, 1–27.

White, N. F. D., Mennell, H., Power, G., Edwards, D., Chrimes, L., Woolaver, L., Velosoa, J., Randriamahita, Mozavelo, R., Rafeliarisoa, T. H., Kuchling, G., Lopez, J., Bekarany, E., Charles, N., Young, R., Lewis, R., Bruford, M. W., & Orozco-terWengel, P. (2022). A population genetic analysis of the critically endangered Madagascar big-headed turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis) across captive and wild populations. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12422-y

Downloads

Published

2026-03-31

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): BIODIVERS Volume 5 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Ariyoga Pratama, Aceng Ruyani

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree with the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication, with the work 1 year after publication simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons attribution-noncommerical-noderivates 4.0 International License that allows others to share, copy and redistribute the work in any medium or format, but only where the use is for non-commercial purposes and an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal is mentioned.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

How to Cite

Guardians of the Forest Floor: Learning Conservation from the Asian Forest Tortoise (Manouria emys). (2026). BIODIVERS - BIOTROP Science Magazine, 5(1), 32-38. https://doi.org/10.56060/bdv.2026.5.1.2856