A significant discovery has been made by a team of conservationists led by the University of Portsmouth as they recently found a breeding site for the Cantor’s giant softshell turtle.
The endangered turtles had been seen near the Chandragiri River in Kerala, southern India.
These turtles were known to be notoriously elusive: despite their large size, they could grow over 3 feet long and weigh more than 220 pounds, they tend to remain hidden, making sightings overly rare.
However, the finding was made achievable through a collective effort. According to Dr Francoise Cabada-Blanco of the university’s School of Biological Sciences, local communities played an important role by sharing valuable information about historical sightings and even helped in the rescue of accidentally caught turtles.
Now that the nesting site has been identified, steps were being planned to guarantee the survival of these turtles. Strategies were being executed to establish a protected area near the river where hatchlings could safely grow.
With the turtle facing extinction threats, the discovery of a breeding population in India showed hope for their survival. It emphasized the necessity of collaborative conservation efforts in protecting and preserving endangered species for future generations.
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