Page 47 - Ex-Situ Updates - Double Edition

All the individual animals were marked with passive
integrated transponders (PIT) tags and paired into four
appropriate breeding groups for successful courtship

and nesting. Additional males were separated from
nesting females to reduce the stress and disturbance
during the nesting.

The diet of captive cohorts was improved by
The diet of captive cohorts was improved by
incorporating green vegetables and they were
provided with appropriate substrate and nesting
material (dried grass and husk) to catalyze successful

breeding. The nesting behavior and reproductive
output from individual females were carefully
monitored. The appropriate grouping and sex ratio of
males and females during courtship and nesting was
males and females during courtship and nesting was
critical in kickstarting the breeding program.

The artificial incubation units, using styrofoam boxes
and vermiculite, were prepared prior to the laying of

eggs by females in the month of April 2018. The
humidity was kept above 70% in all the boxes to
mimic the natural nesting environment of the species.
Thermohygrometer was installed for measuring the
room temperature and humidity and a digital

therm
thermo-hygrometer was placed to record temperature
and humidity within the incubation chamber.

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