AKP Phnom Penh, August 19, 2025 --   

The Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) has announced the successful hatching of 211 turtles and tortoises during this year’s breeding season.

“During the 2025 breeding season for turtles and tortoises so far, we have welcomed an incredible 211 new hatchlings at ACCB, from five different species! With the breeding season not over yet, this number is still likely to increase, which is wonderful news for all of us here, and a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team here at ACCB,” the centre said in a news release on Aug. 18.

“One of ACCB’s primary goals is the captive breeding of endangered turtle and tortoise species, with the aim of releasing the offspring to boost the wild populations. Breeding turtles and tortoises doesn’t come without its challenges though, and our team have spent many years fine-tuning the techniques to encourage successful breeding and ensure maximum survival of the eggs and hatchlings”, it continued.

According to ACCB, many species of turtles and tortoises have very specific requirements when it comes to laying their eggs, including specific humidity, rainfall, substrate texture and depth. Without the correct combination of these things, females either will not lay, or the eggs will fail. Each species has different requirements, so it takes a lot of intense management to ensure each species is provided with suitable laying conditions each year.

By Phal Sophanith