Mysterious turtles are hatching in the Prague Zoo – Cysnews
Three young mysterious turtles have already hatched in the Prague Zoo. The reptile that lives freely in the Indonesian Jungle pavilion is one of the garden’s most mysterious inhabitants. It is a species practically unexplored in nature. The current additions are an even greater breeding success.
“The successful reproduction of a hitherto little-known species of animal confirms the purpose of a modern zoo as a research institution. After all, we cannot successfully protect nature without first getting to know it well.” says the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek.
Despite the lack of data, experts conclude that the population of the cryptic turtle in the wild is shrinking.
The Malaysian and Indonesian forests that the turtle inhabits are rapidly disappearing today. The species is classified as near threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Moreover, the very story of the Prague turtles has been unusual since its beginning. “In 2004, we took on a shipment of turtles seized from smugglers in Hong Kong. Among them were individuals of a hitherto unknown species.” says curator of reptiles Petr Velenský. Already in 2007, the then still unnamed turtle succeeded in breeding for the first time in the Prague Zoo.
“It wasn’t until a year later that it was scientifically described, and that very characteristically – as a mysterious turtle,” supplies.
The November chicks are now the first to hatch at the zoo in more than four years. Prague Zoo is currently the only one in Europe to have genetically confirmed breeding of this species.
At the same time, the mysterious turtle is remarkable even on the basis of silent information about its behavior and habits. Not only is it omnivorous and does not disdain small animals in addition to plants, but it also leads an amphibious lifestyle – it can swim well and likes to stay near water, but at the same time it also spends time on land, in the undergrowth of the forest.
“We mostly tried to keep the cryptic turtles in the display trench, but with their ability to climb even sloping walls, it was impossible. In the end, their attachment to the thickly overgrown tropical stream environment won out, and so they live freely throughout the upper floor of the Indonesian Jungle Pavilion.” advises Velenský, where the turtles can be seen in the zoo.
The best way for people to do this is to look for their dark brown shells in the stream opposite the orangutan and binturong exhibits.
cover photo: Three mysterious turtle hatchlings hatched in Prague Zoo in November. Today they are about 7 cm long, and grow up to 23 cm long when they are adults. These are the first Prague cubs of this mysterious species since 2018. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
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