Rote Snake-necked Turtle

Singapore Zoo houses Asia’s only insurance colony for the Rote snake-necked turtle. Our turtles, sent from breeding programmes in the U.S. and Austria in 2015, help safeguard the species.

After years of planning, 13 turtles were repatriated to Indonesia in September 2021.

This joint effort, led by MOEF Indonesia and BBKSDA NTT, with support from Mandai Nature, Singapore Zoo, and WCS-IP, marked the first repatriation of its kind - a major milestone for turtle conservation.

Following the first repatriation in 2021, breeding efforts of the Rote snake-necked turtle at a specially-built facility in Kupang, constructed with Mandai Nature’s support, proved successful - a significant milestone in the conservation of the species.

Our staff travelled to Indonesia to visit key sites for the possible release of the turtles and shared expertise with the teams from BBKSDA and WCS-IP.

In August 2023, 33 more Rote snake-necked turtles were repatriated from Singapore Zoo to Indonesia - the second such effort after 2021. Upon arrival, the turtles were transferred to a breeding facility in Kupang, constructed in 2020 with Mandai Nature’s support.

Successful nesting from the first repatriation has also led to hatchlings, with ongoing monitoring and community engagement ensuring long-term conservation impact. 

Together, Mandai Wildlife Group and Mandai Nature follow IUCN’s “One Plan Approach” to conservation, combining expertise to protect threatened species like the Rote snake-necked turtle.

This strategy safeguards wildlife in their natural habitats while also providing a safety net and raising awareness for species under human care.

Following the One Plan Approach, we also support capacity building for our conservation partners, along with habitat protection and surveillance to ensure their suitability for the turtles’ reintroduction.

Our collaborative efforts with other zoos to establish insurance colonies for critically endangered species, like the Rote snake-necked turtle, are proving both valuable and encouraging as we continue working to secure their future.