Hi,<br>
<br>
We are about to embark on a three year project that will involve tracking
of a large river turtle, Batagur baska, in the Sre Ambel River of
Cambodia. We have investigated options for tracking these turtles:<br>
<br>
<b>Satellite tracking:</b> Expensive and resolution of location of
turtles not adequate for assessment of habitat use.<br>
<br>
<b>Radiotelemetry:</b> Turtles active in both freshwaters, estuarine
waters, and seawater we suspect. Radiotransmitters will only work in salt
water when animal surfaces, which is briefly, and this greatly reduces
our abilities to track them.<br>
<br>
<b>Ultrasonic tracking:</b> This seems to show the most promise, and so
we are exploring systems, pros and cons, and prices.<br>
<br>
We will be working from small boats (12 foot punts) with 15 hp motor. The
animals are large -- up to 35 kg, but we would like to track smaller
animals (about 0.5 kg) also. We wish to attach the tags to the shell with
an adhesive (like Knead-it aqua) unless someone can come up with a better
protocol for attachment to freshwater turtles.<br>
<br>
We would be interested to hear from members of this mail-group on
suppliers/distributors of sonic equipment and the most cost effective and
reliable equipment currently available, experiences they have had with
freshwater turtles, whether it is possible to obtain equipment
second-hand, etc.<br>
<br>
I hope this message is appropriate to your group, and that sonic tracking
comes under your sphere of interests,<br>
<br>
Arthur Georges<br>
<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
-------------------------------------------------------<br>
Arthur Georges, Director<br>
Applied Ecology Research Group<br>
University of Canberra, ACT 2601<br>
Phone +61 2 62015786<br>
Fax +61 2 62015305<br>
Email [EMAIL PROTECTED]<br>
WWW
<a href="" eudora="autourl">http</a>://aerg.canberra.edu<a href=""
eudora="autourl">.au</a>
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