YANGTZE GIANT SOFTSHELL TURTLE
This species is an extremely rare species of softshell turtle with only 3 known living individuals in the world. The turtle was known from its deep head and pig like snout and hold the title for being the largest freshwater turtle in the world weighing from 150-220 pounds. The turtle formerly lives in the Yangtze River and Lake Tai in eastern and southern China. They ate fish, crabs, snails, frogs, and leaves.
Currently there are two living individuals at the Suzhou Zoo and one individual in Dong Mo Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam but some considered it to be a separate species. A fourth one was found in Hoan Kiem Lake in Vietnam and it was also considered to be a separate species. It was captured on April 2011 so it can be treated for its open sores. It was reported dead on January 2016.
They are threatened by habitat loss, hunting for local consumption, and for traditional medicine. In hopes of reviving the population, a fertile female was taken from Changsha Zoo and transferred to the Suzhou Zoo to mate with the resident male. 2 clutches of eggs were laid with half of them fertile but none of the hatchlings survived. The turtles were to be fed on a high calcium diet to strengthen their eggs.
In 2009, 188 eggs were laid but all are infertile. On June 2010 , 63 eggs were laid with half of the eggs to be incubated naturally in the sand while the others were taken to an incubator but again become infertile. In 2015 artificial insemination was successful. As of late July, two clutches totaling 89 eggs were laid but none viable.
Currently there are two living individuals at the Suzhou Zoo and one individual in Dong Mo Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam but some considered it to be a separate species. A fourth one was found in Hoan Kiem Lake in Vietnam and it was also considered to be a separate species. It was captured on April 2011 so it can be treated for its open sores. It was reported dead on January 2016.
They are threatened by habitat loss, hunting for local consumption, and for traditional medicine. In hopes of reviving the population, a fertile female was taken from Changsha Zoo and transferred to the Suzhou Zoo to mate with the resident male. 2 clutches of eggs were laid with half of them fertile but none of the hatchlings survived. The turtles were to be fed on a high calcium diet to strengthen their eggs.
In 2009, 188 eggs were laid but all are infertile. On June 2010 , 63 eggs were laid with half of the eggs to be incubated naturally in the sand while the others were taken to an incubator but again become infertile. In 2015 artificial insemination was successful. As of late July, two clutches totaling 89 eggs were laid but none viable.
GHARIAL
The gharial is one of the largest crocodilians in the world and is known to have the narrowest snout of any crocodillian. It got its name due to its bulbous nose appendage which looks like an Indian pot or ghara. They live in calm deep areas of fast flowing rivers in fragmented parts of India and Nepal.
Gharials moved their narrow snouts sideways to snatch fish while juveniles preyed on a wide variety of invertebrates. Individual males guard a harem of females and during the breeding season males use their bulbous snout appendage as a visual sex indicator in courtship displays. During the dry season about 40 eggs are laid and buried with the hatchlings staying with their mother from several weeks to several months.
Gharials now inhabited 2% of its original range and it's due to habitat loss and degradation from a growing human population in the Indian subcontinent. Dams, irrigation projects and sand mining are threatening their habitat. They are competing with fishermen for important food sources and their eggs are being taken for medicinal use. Adult males are being killed for their bulbous appendage which is believed to help aid in sexual intimacy.
During the 1970s the population was at its very lowest prompting a captive breeding program and reintroduction in India of 1975 and Nepal in 1978. Recently the population again suffered from major declines that there is less than 200 mature adults in 2006. The Gharial Conservation Alliance is working to protect vital gharial habitat, enforce the species protected status and educate and involved locals in the species conservation.
Gharials moved their narrow snouts sideways to snatch fish while juveniles preyed on a wide variety of invertebrates. Individual males guard a harem of females and during the breeding season males use their bulbous snout appendage as a visual sex indicator in courtship displays. During the dry season about 40 eggs are laid and buried with the hatchlings staying with their mother from several weeks to several months.
Gharials now inhabited 2% of its original range and it's due to habitat loss and degradation from a growing human population in the Indian subcontinent. Dams, irrigation projects and sand mining are threatening their habitat. They are competing with fishermen for important food sources and their eggs are being taken for medicinal use. Adult males are being killed for their bulbous appendage which is believed to help aid in sexual intimacy.
During the 1970s the population was at its very lowest prompting a captive breeding program and reintroduction in India of 1975 and Nepal in 1978. Recently the population again suffered from major declines that there is less than 200 mature adults in 2006. The Gharial Conservation Alliance is working to protect vital gharial habitat, enforce the species protected status and educate and involved locals in the species conservation.
FIJI CRESTED IGUANA
The lizard was discovered in 1979 by Dr. John Gibbons while he was researching the banded iguana. They lived in small areas of beach forest on undisturbed islands in the northwestern parts of Fiji.
During the mating season between March and April, the iguana have one of the longest incubation periods of any reptiles with over 8 months. Around 4 eggs were laid and hatchlings emerged in the rainy season and get their water from licking the moisture from leaves. They're known to have the ability to change from the color of green to black when aroused. They also use this behavior when threatened by predators with bright green as being standard to black as of extremely irritated. If this doesn't work it will expand its neck, bobbed its head and pounce at the threat. They feed on trees and shrubs, specifically hibiscus flowers from the Vao trees.
The main threat to the iguanas survival is habitat destruction from goats being introduced to improve the lives of locals. The goat population increased and rival the iguanas in competition for food. The iguanas were feared by people due to their behavior when threatened.
The National Trust for Fiji has helped preserved the lizard by helping clear goats off of Yaduataba Island in 1981 and was made a national sanctuary. A 3 year Fijian Crested Iguana Project has been formulated to help create educational programs, research, and captive breeding programs to conserve the species. Today Yaduataba Island are home to several thousand iguanas.
During the mating season between March and April, the iguana have one of the longest incubation periods of any reptiles with over 8 months. Around 4 eggs were laid and hatchlings emerged in the rainy season and get their water from licking the moisture from leaves. They're known to have the ability to change from the color of green to black when aroused. They also use this behavior when threatened by predators with bright green as being standard to black as of extremely irritated. If this doesn't work it will expand its neck, bobbed its head and pounce at the threat. They feed on trees and shrubs, specifically hibiscus flowers from the Vao trees.
The main threat to the iguanas survival is habitat destruction from goats being introduced to improve the lives of locals. The goat population increased and rival the iguanas in competition for food. The iguanas were feared by people due to their behavior when threatened.
The National Trust for Fiji has helped preserved the lizard by helping clear goats off of Yaduataba Island in 1981 and was made a national sanctuary. A 3 year Fijian Crested Iguana Project has been formulated to help create educational programs, research, and captive breeding programs to conserve the species. Today Yaduataba Island are home to several thousand iguanas.