A few days ago there was a report published about the most endangered tortoise/terrapins. On the top of the list is the Red River Giant Softshell Turtle also known as Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei). Only four of these are known to be left, and only one female... bleak prospects then!
A pair is in a zoo in China, but they are yet to successfully breed despite laying eggs every year since 2008. All the eggs have died before the end of incubation; years of malnutrition and old age are thought to be responsible.
Another is in Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, were it is considered sacred and thus protected.
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Unfortunately, its sacred status hasn't stopped people filling its lake with debris and polluting the water; the animal that was once very rarely seen now surfaces more and more revealing infected wounds which have alarmed local people. This has triggered an incentive to clean the lake, get some debris out and pump clean fresh water in. They are also trying to get the turtle out so as to clean its wounds.
This is another gentle giant, up to 1 meter in length and 120kg... ears of consumption, habitat destruction and pollution have left it close to disappearance. A last effort to help prolong its life; after this there aren't anymore...
The BBC has a short video reporting this story: Pollution fear for Hanoi turtle.
This story is now being reported in today's Independent 9/03/2011 here!
A pair is in a zoo in China, but they are yet to successfully breed despite laying eggs every year since 2008. All the eggs have died before the end of incubation; years of malnutrition and old age are thought to be responsible.
Another is in Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, were it is considered sacred and thus protected.
View Larger Map
Unfortunately, its sacred status hasn't stopped people filling its lake with debris and polluting the water; the animal that was once very rarely seen now surfaces more and more revealing infected wounds which have alarmed local people. This has triggered an incentive to clean the lake, get some debris out and pump clean fresh water in. They are also trying to get the turtle out so as to clean its wounds.
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| Rafetus swinhoei in the sun. photo by Tim McCormack |
This is another gentle giant, up to 1 meter in length and 120kg... ears of consumption, habitat destruction and pollution have left it close to disappearance. A last effort to help prolong its life; after this there aren't anymore...
The BBC has a short video reporting this story: Pollution fear for Hanoi turtle.
This story is now being reported in today's Independent 9/03/2011 here!
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