01/17/2022
This is my third year getting nests and eggs from my group of Burmese Stars. I have 4 producing females ranging in age from 8 to 11 years old and in size from 3700g to 6600g. So far from my 2021 egg season, I have hatched 102 babies with one more final clutch in the incubator due to hatch next week. All 7 of those eggs are looking great at this stage so that would make 109 babies produced from 4 females. A total of 18 clutches from Dec 24, 2020 through Oct 2, 2021. One female has a very poor hatch rate, but the other 3 make up for it. Overall exactly 70% of the eggs have hatched. The last 7 are from a real good producer, so if all 7 of those hatch I will end up at 72% hatch rate for the year. Average total diapause and incubation time per clutch is 114.8 days.
When I first acquired my founders, it was generally reported that there were perhaps 200 - 300 Burmese Stars left in the wild. They were considered functionally extinct. I developed a relationship with the head of the largest Burmese Star conservation colony in Myanmar. Through conversations with her, she said although she had over 3000 tortoises in her pens, the ones they can release seem to disappear as quickly as they can try to reestablish them. The only hope is long-term educational work with the local population. Getting the school kids and locals to see the tortoises as a local treasure to be protected. Habitat loss continues to also be the biggest challenge despite the few reserves they have created.
We can see the success of captive breeding programs. Although they may go extinct in the wild, it seems certain that now they will definitely not go extinct in captivity. It is private breeders like me and those before me that I have learned from, that has ensured the survival of this species. A great example of what can be done by dedicated, private breeders. As more Burmese Stars are produced, it is my hope that dozens of dedicated tortoise lovers throughout all parts of the country will also develop viable colonies of 12 - 25 Burmese Stars. We will have dozens of viable, genetically robust assurance colonies kept by dedicated keepers using the latest husbandry techniques -- and continuing to share best practices. That is how I believe you keep a species from going extinct when in their native land, the demand for other land uses, and poor governmental control will simply not allow them to exist much longer.
If you are interested in starting your own colony of these beautiful tortoises, let me know. These are now established enough to sell and find new homes. I will also be at the Reptile Supershow in Pomona this next weekend if you want to pick out some in person! (shipping is so bad right now I will not ship for the next few weeks at least).
2nd picture - Here's an example of how my babies grow perfectly smooth. This is one of just a few I held back from last fall's hatchlings Just over a year old and perfectly smooth. You can also see her (??) in the middle left tub. All raised in Smart Enclosures!
