KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Zoo Knoxville has made history, successfully hatching the first Malayan flat-shelled turtle at any Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facility. For a species that rarely breed in captivity, this is a major win.
“This is a huge moment,” said Kevin Hunt, a herpetology keeper at the zoo. “One day, I just walked by the enclosure and there was a baby on the surface. I was so excited.”
The hatchling is the result of 13 years of dedicated effort. Hunt and his team tried countless methods to encourage the turtles to breed.
“They tried out everything to get them to reproduce,” Hunt said.
Malayan flat-shelled turtles are notoriously hard to keep in captivity. Many turtles arrive stressed and sick, often due to being trafficked through the illegal animal trade.
“Animals that come in through the illegal pet trade get confiscated at airports and stuff like that,” Hunt said. “When they do come in, they’re really stressed. And that probably causes them not to eat. They have parasite loads, diseases.”
Habitat loss and trafficking have put the species at risk. Breeding them successfully in a controlled environment is crucial to helping them survive. Hunt said he found a way to encourage breeding by mimicking natural conditions.
“I lowered the water level during the spring and then filled it up. It seems like the rush of water stimulated them to actually breed,” he said.
The new hatchling’s flat shell is a key feature of the species, helping it blend into its Southeast Asian habitat.
“The first time I saw one in our pond, it just stopped and kind of floated like a leaf on the surface. It was super cool to watch,” Hunt said. “We need to keep them here and learn as much as we can, in case they don’t exist in the wild."