In this study the nesting biology of Podocnem is unifilis was investigated from July to November 1998 at the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, located in the Solimões river, near Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil. Podocnemis unifilis nested in August and September, with the hatching event occurring in October and November. Nests were excavated in clay soils (67.5%), sand (25%), and leaf litter (7.5%). Hatching success was highest in the sand beach nests and lowest in the clay banks nests. Humans and the tegu lizard (Tupinambis) were the main egg predators. This turtle population can recover only by the protection of nesting beaches, educational programs for the in habitants of the Reserve, participation of the community in the conservation and management program , and permanent guarding of the nesting beaches by Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e Dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis-IBAMA authorities.
Why do animal groups matter for conservation and management?
