A pair of conjoined star tortoises, who were successfully separated in June, 2017, are in good health, said conservationists at the Lawkananda Wildlife Sanctuary in Bagan yesterday.

The twins were among the star tortoises, an endangered species, that hatched from 2,430 eggs laid by 106 females during the breeding season in June, 2017 at the sanctuary, which is located in Bagan NyaungU District. Staff at the sanctuary nursed the twins carefully, and then they were sent to Dr. Tint Lwin, a veterinarian with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)/ Turtle Surviral Alliance (TSA), on 22 June, 2017.

“The twins were separated two weeks after they were born. They are now at the sanctuary. Their shell length is 4 cm and they weigh 20 kg,” said officials. “The conjoined twins were separated after two weeks of breeding. They were under special care for two years,” said Dr. Tint Lwin, who is a retired officer from the Forestry Department.

“The gender of the twins can be ascertained at the age of five or six. For now, people can see and observe the twins at the Lawkananda sanctuary,” he said.

—Ko Htain (Ngathayauk)
(Translated by La Wonn)