A renewed conservation effort in Indonesia’s Papua region is placing the endangered pig-nosed turtle at the centre of a broader initiative to protect freshwater ecosystems in the island’s southern territories. The programme, led by the Papua Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA Papua) in partnership with WWF-Indonesia’s Papua Programme, aims to establish a clearer, science-based roadmap for restoring the species’ population and safeguarding its natural habitat.
The initiative marks an important step in strengthening pig-nosed turtle conservation in Papua, where the species faces mounting pressure from illegal hunting, egg collection, wildlife trade and environmental changes. Rather than relying on isolated protection activities, the two organisations are preparing a formal Conservation Strategy and Action Plan, known by its Indonesian abbreviation SRAK, to guide coordinated efforts over the coming years.
The planning process was discussed through a series of meetings and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) held on October 28-29, 2026, at the BBKSDA Papua office in Jayapura. Government institutions, Indigenous communities, researchers, universities and other stakeholders took part, reflecting an approach that recognises conservation as a shared responsibility.
The programme is significant not only for the protection of a distinctive Papuan species but also for Indonesia’s wider efforts to strengthen biodiversity management through cooperation between public institutions, scientific organisations and local communities.
A conservation roadmap for an endangered species
The pig-nosed turtle, scientifically known as Carettochelys insculpta, is a distinctive freshwater species recognised by its unusual snout, which resembles that of a pig. It inhabits rivers, swamps and other freshwater environments, making its survival closely connected to the health of surrounding aquatic ecosystems.
According to BBKSDA Papua’s 2023 survey and monitoring report, the species’ habitat in southern Papua extends across six regencies: Asmat, Merauke, Nduga, Mappi, Mimika and Boven Digoel. These areas contain river systems, wetlands and associated environments that provide essential conditions for the turtle’s survival.
However, the species faces several interconnected threats. Hunting, illegal trade, the collection of eggs and changes in environmental conditions can all affect its ability to reproduce and maintain a stable population. Damage to river environments may also reduce suitable nesting locations, affect food availability and disrupt the ecological conditions on which the species depends.
The conservation status of the pig-nosed turtle underlines the urgency of the initiative. Indonesia protects the species under Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. P.106 of 2018. Internationally, it is classified as Endangered (EN) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The CITES classification means that international trade in the species is subject to regulation to ensure that such activities do not threaten its survival in the wild.
Despite these protections, conservation efforts require more than legal recognition. Authorities need reliable information about population numbers, breeding patterns, habitat conditions and the pressures affecting the species. This is one of the central reasons behind the preparation of the new SRAK.
From fragmented activities to coordinated action
Fikri Al-Mubarok, a First Expert Forest Ecosystem Controller at BBKSDA Papua, said a structured strategy was necessary to ensure that conservation activities had clear objectives and measurable outcomes.
He explained that without an agreed strategy and specific population recovery targets, protection efforts risked becoming fragmented, poorly coordinated and difficult to evaluate.
“Without a clear conservation strategy and measurable population recovery targets, efforts to protect the pig-nosed turtle risk being carried out separately, without coordination, and with limited opportunities to evaluate their effectiveness,” Fikri said, as reported by local media.
He also warned that insufficient monitoring could make it difficult for authorities to understand population trends in the wild. In the longer term, continued pressure from illegal hunting and other threats could increase the risk of further population decline.
The SRAK is therefore intended to provide a common framework for government agencies, conservation organisations, researchers and local stakeholders. It will help identify priority locations, establish conservation targets and provide a basis for assessing whether interventions are producing meaningful results.
The October meetings were part of the cooperation between BBKSDA Papua and WWF-Indonesia under their 2026 Annual Work Plan, which supports the protection and management of conservation areas.
Portal Papua reported that the process involved both in-person and online discussions at the BBKSDA Papua office in Jayapura. The meetings brought together a broad range of participants, including representatives of Indigenous communities, academics and technical institutions.
Universitas Musamus, Universitas Cenderawasih and Universitas Papua were among the academic institutions involved. Government participants included environmental and forestry agencies from Papua and South Papua, as well as representatives from the Mimika, Nabire and Asmat regencies.
Other institutions involved included the Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement, the Papua Environmental Control Centre, Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and private-sector company PT TSE.
This broad participation is intended to ensure that the strategy reflects different forms of knowledge and practical experience, rather than being developed solely within government offices.
Scientific research to establish population estimates
A major component of the planned programme is the collection of stronger scientific data.
Ikhsan Anggoda, a biodiversity and climate specialist with WWF-Indonesia’s Papua Programme, said the conservation assessment would begin with surveys at selected points along the rivers. Researchers would examine habitat conditions while estimating the number of pig-nosed turtles living in the surveyed locations.
One of the methods being considered is Capture-Mark-Recapture (CMR). The technique involves capturing individual animals, marking them for identification and subsequently attempting to recapture them. By analysing the number of marked and unmarked individuals encountered during monitoring, researchers can estimate the population size.
CMR is particularly useful when direct observation cannot provide a complete count of animals in their natural environment. For a species that lives in rivers and wetlands, reliable population estimates are essential to determine whether numbers are stable, declining or recovering.
The research will also examine habitat characteristics that influence the turtle’s survival and reproduction. These include sandy river substrates, nesting locations and vegetation surrounding river environments.
Such information can help identify which areas require immediate protection and where habitat management should be prioritised. It can also provide a scientific basis for future decisions on population recovery, monitoring and sustainable management.
Ikhsan said the findings would help determine conservation priorities and ensure that interventions were appropriate to the actual condition of the species and its habitat.
The planned strategy also covers several other important areas: population recovery with measurable targets, management both in natural habitats (in situ) and outside natural habitats (ex situ), protection of genetic diversity, and the maintenance of connections between habitats.
The use of technology for population monitoring and further research is also part of the discussions.
These elements reflect an understanding that the survival of a species depends on more than the number of animals remaining in a particular location. Genetic diversity, suitable breeding environments and the ability to move between connected habitats are also important to long-term population resilience.
Indigenous communities at the centre of conservation
The involvement of Indigenous communities is another defining feature of the initiative.
In southern Papua, local communities have long maintained relationships with the rivers, wetlands and wildlife that form part of their surrounding environment. Their knowledge of seasonal changes, animal behaviour and customary practices can provide information that may not be immediately available through scientific surveys.
Wiliam Iwanggin, Papua Selatan Project Leader for WWF-Indonesia’s Papua Programme, emphasised that protecting the pig-nosed turtle should go hand in hand with strengthening the role of Indigenous communities.
He said conservation and community empowerment were closely connected and should not be treated as separate objectives.
In some Indigenous communities, animals are associated with customary symbols or totems linked to particular clans. According to William, certain groups regard the pig-nosed turtle as connected to their ancestral heritage, creating customary reasons to avoid exploiting the species.
These traditions can provide an important foundation for conservation. When customary knowledge is recognised and incorporated into formal programmes, communities can become active partners in protecting wildlife and monitoring changes in their environment.
Wiliam explained that WWF-Indonesia sought to facilitate the knowledge already held by local communities and combine it with modern scientific approaches.
This combination is particularly relevant because available research and primary data on pig-nosed turtles in southern Papua remain limited. Scientific surveys can provide population estimates and habitat assessments, while local knowledge can help researchers understand historical patterns and changes observed by residents.
A successful conservation programme will therefore depend on meaningful community participation, including opportunities for Indigenous representatives to contribute to planning, implementation and evaluation.
It will also require clear communication about the relationship between conservation rules, customary practices and the economic activities of communities living near turtle habitats.
Balancing traditional practices and sustainable management
The conservation challenge is not limited to illegal hunting or international trade. In some parts of Papua, pig-nosed turtle eggs have traditionally been used by local communities as a source of food.
This practice forms part of the social and cultural context that conservation planners must consider. At the same time, growing market demand and the economic value of the eggs may encourage more intensive collection, potentially exceeding what natural populations can sustain.
Fikri Al-Mubarok identified this issue as one of the considerations that needs to be addressed through the SRAK.
The objective is not simply to impose restrictions without understanding local conditions. Instead, conservation planning must consider how traditional practices, market pressures and ecological limits interact.
RRI also reported that the proposed strategy would address sustainable utilisation of the species, including activities conducted through a ranching method under applicable controls.
According to Amin Suprayitno, Head of Administration at BBKSDA Papua, companies undertaking utilisation through ranching would be required to return 50 percent of hatchlings produced from collected eggs to their natural habitat. The measure is intended to support the maintenance of wild populations.
Such arrangements require effective supervision and reliable monitoring. Without transparent reporting and enforcement, regulated utilisation could undermine the very conservation objectives it is meant to support.
The SRAK is expected to provide a framework for aligning any permitted activities with population assessments, scientific recommendations and applicable regulations.
A long-term commitment with regular evaluation
The conservation strategy is expected to serve as a long-term reference for managing the pig-nosed turtle population.
Amin Suprayitno said the document would guide conservation activities over a period of ten years, with an evaluation scheduled every five years. This arrangement is intended to allow authorities and partners to assess progress, identify weaknesses and adjust priorities based on new evidence.
He also noted that the preparation of a dedicated SRAK for the pig-nosed turtle was the first initiative of its kind in Papua.
For BBKSDA Papua, the document is expected to help transform conservation activities that have previously been carried out in a more fragmented manner into a coordinated programme with measurable objectives.
The strategy will also need to address the geographic scale of the species’ habitat. While the 2023 BBKSDA monitoring report identifies six regencies in southern Papua, RRI’s coverage also refers to the species’ presence in Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. This wider distribution highlights the importance of understanding the species beyond administrative boundaries, particularly when considering habitat connectivity and regional conservation research.
Protecting Papua’s biodiversity through cooperation
The partnership between BBKSDA Papua and WWF-Indonesia demonstrates how government institutions, scientific organisations and local communities can work together to address environmental challenges.
Indonesia’s conservation responsibilities in Papua extend beyond protecting individual animals. Rivers, wetlands and surrounding forests form interconnected ecosystems that support biodiversity and provide essential resources for communities. Protecting the pig-nosed turtle therefore also means paying attention to the environmental conditions that sustain these habitats.
The next challenge will be translating the strategy under preparation into practical action. Population surveys must produce reliable baseline data, priority habitats need effective protection, and monitoring systems must be maintained over time. Community participation will also need to continue beyond consultation meetings, with Indigenous knowledge incorporated into decisions and implementation.
The ten-year framework and five-year evaluation cycle reported by RRI offer a structure for maintaining that commitment. However, the real measure of success will be whether future monitoring shows healthier habitats and a stable or recovering turtle population.
For Papua, the initiative offers an opportunity to strengthen biodiversity protection while recognising the contributions of local communities and scientific institutions. If implemented consistently, the collaboration could provide a stronger foundation for safeguarding one of the region’s distinctive freshwater species.
Ultimately, restoring the pig-nosed turtle population will require patience, credible data and sustained cooperation. The October 2026 discussions have established an important planning step. The work ahead is to turn that framework into lasting protection for the species and the freshwater ecosystems on which it depends.
Conclusion
The collaboration between BBKSDA Papua and WWF-Indonesia represents an important step toward protecting the endangered pig-nosed turtle and preserving Papua’s freshwater ecosystems. However, long-term success will depend on translating the proposed conservation strategy into concrete action through scientific monitoring, habitat protection, effective law enforcement and meaningful Indigenous community participation. With sustained cooperation and regular evaluation, Indonesia can strengthen biodiversity conservation in Papua while safeguarding the species for future generations.
Read Also
Cassowary Conservation: Indonesia Protects Papua’s Forest Guardian
Indonesian Navy Foils Papua Wildlife Smuggling Attempt