Conserving the terecay (Podocnemis unifilis, Testudines: Pelomedusidae) through a community-based sustainable harvest of its eggs

The exploitation of South American river turtles as a food source has long been considered the main factor contributing to the decline of populations. Along a stretch of the Aguarico River (Ecuador), we investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of terecay (Podocnemis unifilis) nests, factors affecting nest outcome, and the effect of offering a reward for each hatchling captured on the pattern of egg consumption by the local human community. Flooding influence on egg mortality appears to be particularly important in this Amazonian region, destroying 63.1% of all nests. This amount of nests resulted more than sufficient to satisfy the local community’s consumption needs (28.2%). The proposed reward for each hatchling ensured the voluntary participation of the Cofan people in the terecay conservation project, leading to: (i) nests being harvested only from sites where there were likely no hatching possibilities, (ii) efficient management and protection of nesting beaches with abolition of poaching of nests and adult females, and (iii) transplantation of nests from sites that would be flooded (and whose yield exceeds human consumption). Therefore, we argue that in this area of Aguarico River there are both biologically and socially favourable conditions for the establishment of a sustainable harvest of terecay eggs. Possible factors determining high nest mortality due to flooding in this area, as well as opportunities to make the project evolve toward economic self-sustainability, will also be discussed.