{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-572d6a42.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-f4d0de30.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Monks lead by example to promote turtle conservation' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54be9bd8eafeecae13cecc' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54be9bd8eafeecae13cecc' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nMonks lead by example to promote turtle conservation\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eThe once abundant turtle populations in Cambodia's section of the Mekong River are now struggling to survive because of overhunting.  In an effort to save the remaining turtles, environmental NGO Conservation International has teamed up...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eThe once abundant turtle populations in Cambodia's section of the Mekong River are now struggling to survive because of overhunting.  \u003cbr/\u003eIn an effort to save the remaining turtles, environmental NGO Conservation International has teamed up with Buddhist monks to help convince local people to end hunting. \u003cbr/\u003eCambodia is home to at least 10 known species of salt and fresh water turtles.\u003cbr/\u003eLocal people say turtles were plentiful in many parts of the country until after the fall of the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s. \u003cbr/\u003eWith people then close to starvation, turtles were heavily overexploited for their meat and eggs, driving some species to the edge of extinction. \u003cbr/\u003eGiant soft-shell cantor turtles (Pelochelys cantorii) can grow up to 2 meters across and can weigh up to 45 kg. \u003cbr/\u003eThe species was thought to be extinct in the Mekong River until 2007 when one was caught in a fisherman's net in Kratie province, according to Yoeung Sun. \u003cbr/\u003eThe find received international attention, leading to more research and the discovery of a viable cantor population that was identified as vital to saving the species from complete extinction.\u003cbr/\u003eScientists last saw one in the Cambodian wild in 2003, and small numbers have been seen in neighboring Laos, while it appears to have disappeared from Vietnam and Thailand. \u003cbr/\u003eIn 2011 the Mekong Turtle Conservation centre (MTCC) opened on the grounds of the historic 100-pillar pagoda in Kratie's Sambor district, backed by U.S.-based Conservation International.  \u003cbr/\u003eThe centre was set up as a head-starting facility to increase the survival rate of turtle hatchlings, in particular the highly endangered cantor turtle. \u003cbr/\u003eUnder a corrugated metal roof at the centre , twelve soft-shell cantor turtles and other species have found a temporary home in small aquariums containing water and sand ahead of eventual rerelease back into the Mekong.\u003cbr/\u003eTourists visiting the centre receive a guided tour in return for a donation. \u003cbr/\u003eThe turtles typically hide under the sand, where they can remain for 12 hours at a time-until project manager Yoeung Sun skillfully delves his hand into an aquarium to dig up a specimen.\u003cbr/\u003e\"This is a juvenile giant soft-shell cantor turtle - see, the head looks a lot like a frog. The villagers in Cambodia call it 'ribbit', like the sound a frog makes because they say the cantors have heads that look like a frog\" he explains. \u003cbr/\u003eThe pagoda was chosen to host the centre because Cambodians typically obey the teachings of monks and would be more inclined to obey their teachings on turtle conservation. \u003cbr/\u003eThe monks themselves like Phuong Chantha who lives at the pagoda are happy to earn good karma by helping to protect the turtles.  \u003cbr/\u003e\"I like working to conserve the turtles because they have a big problem here in Cambodia. The main reason I work with them is because they are here in the temple but I do think that if the monks help the turtles to recover their numbers we will have a lot of blessings and good karma in our lives\" he says. \u003cbr/\u003eThe MTCC works with local people to help conserve turtles and their nests, travelling out to remote locations where turtle nests have been discovered like here in Kratie's Kompong Cham commune.\u003cbr/\u003eIt was soon realized that relying solely on people's respect for monks wouldn't stop hunters unless there was a financial incentive.\u003cbr/\u003eA hatchling delivered to the MTCC centre now earns a reward of $8, a figure that has turned some turtle hunters, such as Tea Sok and his wife Nay, into turtle protectors.\u003cbr/\u003eThe sandy riverbanks near their house are the ideal places for soft-shell turtles to lay their eggs.\u003cbr/\u003eUp to 50 eggs fill one nest, which is detectable by the footprints left in the sand by female soft shells.\u003cbr/\u003eWhen Sok discovers a nest he marks the spot and contacts MTCC to report the find. \u003cbr/\u003eA net is used to protect the eggs from monitor lizards and snakes but it offers little protection from local residents who consider turtle eggs a delicacy. \u003cbr/\u003eFor the two months until the turtles hatch, Sok will watch them-during the day and at night.\u003cbr/\u003e\"I hope that CI (Conservation International)  organisation continues to work with the cantor turtles to continue to grow their numbers, to be responsible for them. Their numbers are almost wiped out so we need them to help us urgently\" explains Sok. \u003cbr/\u003eOnce the eggs hatch, the hatchlings will be raised at the MTCC until they are between 10 to 12 months old and big enough to protect themselves from most natural enemies in the Mekong such as snakes and fish.\u003cbr/\u003eSun releases a young turtle back into the river and wills him to survive.\u003cbr/\u003e\"This is a good spot for the cantor turtles so I'm going to release him here�this is what it's all about - putting the turtles back into the Mekong in Cambodia �go, go, go faster, go faster.\"   \u003cbr/\u003eAlthough it is not known how many turtles have survived to maturity, the MTCC has released about 4,500 hatchlings into the Mekong, a vital contribution to the current population.\u003cbr/\u003eSince 2011, the number of cantor turtle nests found by conservationists has increased from an initial three to a healthy 83 last year.\u003cbr/\u003eMekong Turtle Conservation centre, Sambor District, Kratie Province, November 29th 2013\u003cbr/\u003e1. Close up of turtle's face. \u003cbr/\u003e2. Medium of turtle swimming.\u003cbr/\u003e3. Medium of turtle eating. \u003cbr/\u003e4. Wide of turtle pond.\u003cbr/\u003e5. Medium of turtle.\u003cbr/\u003e6. Close up of turtle underwater.\u003cbr/\u003e7. Wide of man feeding turtle. \u003cbr/\u003e8. Medium of turtle eating.\u003cbr/\u003e9. Medium of turtle eating with baby turtle.\u003cbr/\u003e10. Close up of two turtles eating.\u003cbr/\u003e11. Medium of cantor turtle.\u003cbr/\u003e12. Close up of cantor turtle's face. \u003cbr/\u003e13. Wide of '100 pillar temple'. \u003cbr/\u003e14. Wide of man talking to monk in front of turtle centre .\u003cbr/\u003e15. Wide of turtle centre interior.\u003cbr/\u003e16. Medium pan of turtle shells on display.\u003cbr/\u003e17. Close up of turtle shells. \u003cbr/\u003e18. Close up of cantor turtle shell.  \u003cbr/\u003e19. Wide of tourists and guide.\u003cbr/\u003e20. UPSOUND (English), Yoeung Sun, Project Manager, Mekong Turtle Conservation centre . \u003cbr/\u003e \"You've got to be careful with it, it's a little bit aggressive. It can bite you.\"\u003cbr/\u003e21.  SOUNDBITE (Khmer), Yoeung Sun, Project Manager, Mekong Turtle Conservation centre (holding turtle, camera pans up to face) \u003cbr/\u003e\"This is a juvenile giant soft-shell cantor turtle - see, the head looks a lot like a frog. The villagers in Cambodia call it 'ribbit', like the sound a frog makes because they say the cantors have heads that look like a frog.\"\u003cbr/\u003e22. Wide of man with monks sitting beside turtle pond.\u003cbr/\u003e23. Close up of turtles swimming. \u003cbr/\u003e24. Medium of men sitting at pond and monk's back.\u003cbr/\u003e25. SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Phuong Chantha, monk at '100 pillar pagoda' working with MTCC.\u003cbr/\u003e\"I like working to conserve the turtles because they have a big problem here in Cambodia. The main reason I work with them is because they are here in the temple but I do think that if the monks help the turtles to recover their numbers we will have a lot of blessings and good karma in our lives.\" \u003cbr/\u003e26. Wide of people walking over sand.\u003cbr/\u003e27. Medium of people clearing away wood. \u003cbr/\u003e28. Medium of three people digging a hole in sand. \u003cbr/\u003e29. Close up of hand digging. \u003cbr/\u003e30. Close up of cantor turtle eggs buried in a hole.\u003cbr/\u003e31. Medium to close up of turtle egg taken from hole.\u003cbr/\u003e32. Close up of hand filling in hole. \u003cbr/\u003e33. Medium of people smoothing over sand.\u003cbr/\u003e34. Wide of people building protective fence.\u003cbr/\u003e35. Medium pan of man building fence.\u003cbr/\u003e36. Wide of people building fence with river in background.\u003cbr/\u003e37. SOUNDBITE (Khmer), Tea Sok, Villager \u003cbr/\u003e\"I hope that CI (Conservation International) organisation continues to work with the cantor turtles to continue to grow their numbers, to be responsible for them. Their numbers are almost wiped out so we need them to help us urgently.\"  \u003cbr/\u003e38. SOUNDBITE (Khmer), Yoeung Sun, Project Manager, Mekong Turtle Conservation centre .  \u003cbr/\u003e\"This is a good spot for the cantor turtles so I'm going to release him here�this is what it's all about - putting the turtles back into the Mekong in Cambodia\"\u003cbr/\u003e39. Medium pan of turtle running over sand.\u003cbr/\u003eUPSOUND (English), Yoeung Sun, Project Manager, Mekong Turtle Conservation centre \u003cbr/\u003e\" �go, go, go faster, go faster.\"   \u003cbr/\u003e40. 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