 When compared to previous surveys, the most recent survey indicates the overall populations of hickatee continue to decline across the nation.A study, managed by the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) and conducted on Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE) property in Belize, began in early 2011 and is a low-maintenance operation focused on generating "Dermatemys" food plants, while exploring husbandry details, such as egg laying and incubation.Located in southern Belize along the Bladen River, BFREE encompasses of forest and is situated among four protected areas (Bladen Nature Reserve, Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve, Deep River Forest Reserve and Maya Mountain Forest Reserve), which enhances the possibility of a successful breeding program.