Last Known Female Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle Dies In Chinese Zoo

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Until recently, there were just four known Yangtze giant softshell turtles in the world. On April 13, the only known female among them died in China’s Suzhou Shangfangshan Forest Zoo following an attempt to artificially inseminate her, according to local media. She was more than 90 years old.

Three known Yangtze giant softshell turtles (Rafetus swinhoei) are now left behind: a geriatric male living in Suzhou Zoo, a wild individual in Vietnam’s Dong Mo Lake, and another wild turtle discovered recently in Vietnam’s Xuan Khanh Lake.

To protect the incredibly rare turtle species, Chinese zoos along with experts from international conservation groups, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), made a “desperate move” by relocating the female Yangtze giant softshell turtle more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from Changsha Zoo to Suzhou Zoo in 2008. The experts hoped that she would mate and produce offspring with the 100-year old male turtle that also lived in captivity at Suzhou. Over the next few years, the two turtles did produce several clutches of eggs, but none were viable.

Since 2015, experts have been attempting to artificially inseminate the female softshell turtle. Again, while the female did lay eggs, none hatched. On April 13, after the fifth attempt at artificial insemination, the female died during recovery from anesthesia. The male recovered from the procedure.

EDIT

https://news.mongabay.com/2019/04/last-known-female-yangtze-giant-softshell-turtle-dies-in-china/