The Dong Mo turtle is more spotted.

If the two were not identical, it would probably explain why breeding attempts in China are unsuccessful – at least one of these turtles were introduced from Viet Nam. Another theory is swinhoei could already be extinct and all the turtles left are leloii.

It would be disappointing for conservation but it would add to the unique value of the two forms.

Incidentally, I was wondering what the current Latin name, Rafetus, of this species’ genus means – and after some research, it turned out that it ultimately comes from the Arabic word that means “spade”! http://vmenkov.blogspot.com/2011/04/call-it-spade.html

I am eagerly following the critical updates which make it seem as if the wind may accidentally destroy more than we can actually wrap our minds around.

on the other hand I’m excited to hear about the work you are currently doing in Guyana, and hope to see you soon.

below is some information I found interesting.

thank you for making this new information readily available.

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http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/dwh.php?entry_id=809

“No turtle or dolphin strandings or rescues were reported on July 3. A total of 598 sea turtles have been verified from April 30 to July 3 within the designated spill area from the Texas/Louisiana border to Apalachicola, Florida (One dead and one live stranded turtle from Alabama, 
both oiled, and one live debilitated loggerhead recovered offshore by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries). There are 147 sea turtles in rehabilitation centers. These include 100 sea turtles captured as part of the on-water survey and rescue operations, and 47 turtles that stranded alive. A total of 115 stranded or captured turtles have had visible evidence of external oil since verifications began on April 30. All others have not had visible evidence of external oil.



Of the 598 turtles verified from April 30 to July 3, a total of 436 stranded turtles were found dead, 55 stranded alive. Four of those subsequently died. Four live stranded turtles were released, and 47 live stranded turtles are being cared for at rehabilitation centers. This report contains some corrected numbers from earlier reports. Turtle strandings during this time period have been much higher in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle than in previous years for this same time period. This may be due in part to increased detection and reporting, but this does not fully account for the increase. ”

“The NOAA Ship Pisces reported a dead 25-foot sperm whale on June 15, 2010, that was located 150 miles due south of Pascagoula, Mississippi and approximately 77 miles due south of the spill site last week. The whale was decomposed and heavily scavenged. Samples of skin and blubber have been taken and will be analyzed. The whale had not evidence of external oil. Sperm whales are the only endangered resident cetacean in the Upper Gulf of Mexico. There are no records of stranded whales in the Gulf of Mexico for the month of June for the period 2003-2007.

From April 30 to July 3, 56 stranded dolphins have been verified in the designated spill area. Of the 56 strandings, five were live strandings, three of which died shortly after stranding, one was released and one is in rehabilitation. Fifty one dolphins were found stranded dead. Visible evidence of external oil was confirmed on five dolphins, two live and three dead stranded animals. We are unable at this time to determine whether three of the dead stranded dolphins were externally oiled before or after death. Since April 30, the stranding rate for dolphins in 
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle has been higher than the historic numbers for the same time period in previous years. In part, this may be due to increased detection and reporting and the lingering effects of an earlier observed spike in strandings for the 
winter of 2010.
 ”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/02/us/02latest.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=gulf%20sea%20turtles&st=cse

Burning of Oil Is Killing Turtles, Lawsuit Claims

A federal lawsuit filed by several wildlife-protection groups contends that BP’s practice of burning off spilled oil in the Gulf of Mexico is probably killing endangered sea turtles. The suit, filed Wednesday by the Animal Welfare Institute and other groups, asks Judge Carl Joseph Barbier of Federal District Court in New Orleans to restrict BP’s “controlled burns” of oil. The plaintiffs contend that turtles are caught in the gathered oil and unable to escape when it is set ablaze. Judge Barbier is scheduled to hear arguments Friday on the groups’ request for a temporary restraining order on controlled burns. Mark Proegler, a BP spokesman, told The Associated Press that the company had tried to avoid burning turtles by using crews in boats to look for them before oil was set afire.
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http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/06/28/28greenwire-us-plans-extraordinary-measures-to-rescue-turt-39883.html?scp=1&sq=gulf%20sea%20turtles&st=cse
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http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/25/oil-burning-stirs-fear-for-sea-turtles/?scp=2&sq=gulf%20sea%20turtles&st=cse