Discovery of female brings hope for endangered turtle species.
A female Yangtze giant softshell turtle has been discovered in a large Vietnamese lake, one and a half year after the last female (considered to be ‘last’ until recently) had passed away in Suzhou Chinese Zoo.
The loss of wetland habitats from urban development and river damming, as well as the capture for pet trade and poaching had pushed this extraordinary species to extinction. In April 2020, the female who lived in Suzhou Chinese Zoo, died during its recovery from anaesthesia. At the time, it seemed to be the doomsday of Yangtze softshell turtles because the female who died was thought to be the only female left in the world and the species would inevitably become extinct after the last male turtle dies.
The discovery of the female was described as the ‘best news of the year’ by a local conservation organisation. Hoang Bich Thuy, director of the Vietnamese branch of the Association for Wildlife Conservation commented: -
“In a year of bad news and sadness in the world, this female’s discovery provides some hope that the species will have a new opportunity to be shown to survive.”
Scientists believe that there is at least one Yangtze soft-shelled turtle could be found in the lake, and they hope to find it in the spring of 2021, when there is less water.
The Yangtze giant softshell turtle (scientific name: Rafetus swinhoei) is an incredibly rare species of turtle in the family Trionychidae (softshell turtles) and may be the largest living freshwater turtle in the world. However, it is extremely uncommon and was listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List. These adorable turtles are famous of their deep heads with a pig-like snout and dorsally placed eyes. They feed on mainly a diet of fish, crabs and even frogs.
It is important for us to conserve these endangered species and continue to be mindful of the impact of human activities on animals and their habitat. We have the responsibility to make our world a better place, a world which encompass a wide array of biodiversity.
Turtles in Hong Kong
We are unlikely to discover Yangtze softshell turtles in Hong Kong, yet the sandy beach at Sham Wan, Lamma Island, is a regular nesting site of Green Turtles, a species that is highly endangered in both local and regional contexts. We must protect the ecology and this remnant nesting population. If you want to know more about the conservation of sea turtles in Hong Kong, you can visit this website.
Courtesy of Kelly Ma.
