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INFO/LITERATUUR/BOEKEN/ARTIKELS => TURTLENEWS => Topic gestart door: schildpaddennetcrew op 17 November 2008, 07:39:50



Titel: Telisai villagers find rare river terrapin
Bericht door: schildpaddennetcrew op 17 November 2008, 07:39:50
BORNEO BULLETIN (Brunei Darussalam) 02 June 08 Telisai villagers find rare river terrapin (Naj)
Photo at URL below: Rare terrapin before it was released back into the wild. (Naj)
A family at Telisai village has found a river terrapin at their house compound. The river terrapin which was locally known as "baiyuku" is among the largest of Asian river turtles, it is also the most endangered of all.
This can grow up to 60 cm in length. Some places it is called Mangrove Terrapin as mangroves are the favourite habitat of these creatures. Peculiar features of this turtle include an upturned snout and four toes against five for other turtles.
These are turtles critically endangered in Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and India; extinct in the wild in Thailand; presumably extinct in Myanmar and Vietnam.
Main threats include disappearing mangroves, hunting for meat and eggs, indiscriminate fishing, loss of nesting beaches and so on.
The "baiyuku" has been released to the Telamba River by the family.
http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/mon/jun2h29.htm