Hicatee Schools Presentation

““Hicatee di get Hicatee di get scarce!”scarce!”

So what is a So what is a hicatee?hicatee?

•Central American River TurtleCentral American River Turtle•JicoteaJicotea•Tortuga BlancaTortuga Blanca•Dermatemys mawiiDermatemys mawii

Where does it Where does it live?live?

• Aquatic freshwater turtleAquatic freshwater turtle• Spends all its life in waterSpends all its life in water• Sometimes found in Toledo in the Sometimes found in Toledo in the

Rio Grande, and very rarely in the Rio Grande, and very rarely in the Moho, Temash, and Sarstoon riversMoho, Temash, and Sarstoon rivers

Where does it Where does it live?live?

What does it look What does it look like?like?

What does it look What does it look like?like?

• Males can grow up to 25 inches Males can grow up to 25 inches (shell length)(shell length)

• Fully grown, they can weigh Fully grown, they can weigh nearly 50 lbsnearly 50 lbs

• Females are slightly smallerFemales are slightly smaller

How does it How does it behave?behave?

• Nocturnal animalsNocturnal animals• Mainly vegetarianMainly vegetarian

How do they How do they breed?breed?

• At least 10 years to produce a new generationAt least 10 years to produce a new generation• Reproduction calendar follows the rainy Reproduction calendar follows the rainy

seasonseason• Mating from May to SeptemberMating from May to September• Egg laying from September to DecemberEgg laying from September to December• Hatching in June and JulyHatching in June and July

SLOWLY!SLOWLY!• At least 10 years to produce a new generationAt least 10 years to produce a new generation• Reproduction calendar follows the rainy Reproduction calendar follows the rainy

seasonseason• Mating from May to SeptemberMating from May to September• Egg laying from September to DecemberEgg laying from September to December• Hatching in June and JulyHatching in June and July

““Hicatee di get Hicatee di get scarce!”scarce!”

• World Conservation Union IUCN “Red World Conservation Union IUCN “Red List”List”

• Hicatee is listed as ‘critically Hicatee is listed as ‘critically endangered”endangered”

• Just one step away from extinctionJust one step away from extinction

““Hicatee di get Hicatee di get scarce!”scarce!”

““Hicatee di get Hicatee di get scarce!”scarce!”

• Over-huntingOver-hunting• The hicatee aren’t being given a The hicatee aren’t being given a

chance to breedchance to breed• Habitat destructionHabitat destruction• PollutionPollution

““Hicatee di get Hicatee di get scarce!”scarce!”

““Hicatee di get Hicatee di get scarce!”scarce!”

So what?So what?

• No more Easter dinnersNo more Easter dinners• Sign of an unhealthy environmentSign of an unhealthy environment• Loss of a turtle that has been on the Loss of a turtle that has been on the

planet since the time of the dinosaursplanet since the time of the dinosaurs

So what can we So what can we do?do?

• Observe the lawObserve the law• No buying or selling of hicateeNo buying or selling of hicatee• You cannot have more than three hicatee You cannot have more than three hicatee

in your possessionin your possession• You cannot catch a female hicatee less You cannot catch a female hicatee less

than 15.2 inches or more than 17.2 inchesthan 15.2 inches or more than 17.2 inches

So what can we So what can we do?do?

• Closed season from 1Closed season from 1stst to 31 to 31stst May May each yeareach year

• No hicatee to be caught AT ALL during No hicatee to be caught AT ALL during this timethis time

So what can we So what can we do?do?

• Observe the 66 feet buffer zone along Observe the 66 feet buffer zone along all waterwaysall waterways

• Don’t dump garbage or allow Don’t dump garbage or allow chemicals to get into the riverschemicals to get into the rivers

RespectRespect!!

• Respect the environmentRespect the environment• Respect God’s creaturesRespect God’s creatures• Respect future generationsRespect future generations• Respect our traditionRespect our tradition

• Save it for Easter!Save it for Easter!