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Every species holds a unique, irreplaceable role in its ecosystem. Lose one, and the effects ripple outward — which is why protecting individual species is central to protecting the whole web of life around them.
We believe species and ecosystem are interconnected — so conservation only works when it's addressed holistically, not in isolation.
Conservation is rarely simple. Over the years we've learned that saving a species means treating its problems — and its ecosystem's problems — as one connected challenge, not a list of separate fixes.
That's why our species conservation work follows the One Plan Approach: it recognizes that ex-situ and in-situ efforts aren't competing strategies, but two halves of the same plan. Bringing them together is, in our experience, what actually moves the needle.
Our rescue facility first took in 19 Malayan Giant Turtles confiscated from the illegal pet trade in 2003. It wasn't until 2018, during a full resident assessment, that we discovered the real number had grown to 40 — some individuals had been quietly breeding all along.
Poaching and habitat loss are driving this species toward extinction, and restoring its population matters beyond the species itself — it's a freshwater ecosystem indicator. Given our experience in ex-situ care, we saw conservation breeding as the right first step: build an assurance colony now, so there's a genetically sound population to draw from later.
We've also compiled a running list of scientific references behind this program — built through ongoing search and observation, and still growing. If you know of research we've missed, we'd genuinely like to hear about it.
→ Scientific References: Orlitia borneensis
From a quiet rescue in 2003 to a multi-island conservation collaboration — here's how the Malayan Giant Turtle program has unfolded.
Launched in 2021, our turtle conservation program began showing results almost immediately — several groups exhibited signs of productivity and breeding, raising real hope for the species' future.
To get there, we worked alongside Gembiraloka Zoo, Konklusi Foundation, and the Indonesia Herpetofauna Foundation, under the supervision of BKSDA Yogyakarta, with funding from IUCN ASAP. In 2022 the population moved to Gembiraloka Zoo, and in November 2023, eight eggs hatched — a real milestone for the program.
By 2023, in partnership with Gembiraloka Zoo, Konklusi, and the Indonesia Herpetofauna Foundation, we'd formed a working captive colony. In February 2024, we began planning something more ambitious: reintroducing suitable individuals back into the wild.
That led us to the Tebat Rasau community in Lintang Village, East Belitung — a community already protecting the Lenggang River ecosystem and actively rescuing turtles caught in fishing nets and hooks. We ran an initial assessment of local threats and the community's socio-economic and organizational dynamics, and began reaching out to local environmental and tourism agencies whose support matters for long-term survival.
This phase brought several partners to the table: the Satucita Foundation (freshwater turtle conservation experts in Sumatra), the Tebat Rasau Community, the Indonesia Herpetofauna Foundation, and Genbinesia. Together, the collaboration aimed at three things:
We're grateful to IUCN ASAP for funding this work, and to every partner committed to pulling this species back from the brink.
The current phase shifts focus to genetics — the bridge between our ex-situ colony and the wild populations we're ultimately trying to support. By mapping and profiling haplotypes, we're building a foundation for an assurance colony that's genetically diverse and actually representative of wild populations, not just numerically healthy.
This phase has two intermediate goals:
This phase is a collaboration between WRC Jogja–YKAY, Konklusi, and Gembiraloka Zoo, supported by Norden's Ark, Sweden.
Want to help us carry the Malayan Giant Turtle through its next phase of recovery?
Support This Program
From all of us at the Wildlife Rescue Center,
may the new year bring hope, healing, and protection
for wildlife and the forests they call home.
Tojeiro volunteered at WRC in 2018 and instantly fell in love. He decided to leave his job in the Netherlands to work alongside our keepers, managing projects and making sure all the animals get the best care possible. During the relocation period, Tojeiro studied animal health management to increase his capacity in the field of animal welfare.