The San Diego Zoo welcomed 41 hatchlings of a rare Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle species. The zoo is now the first recognized institution in North America to nurture the species from a hatchling.
Rare Softshell Turtle Hatchlings in the San Diego Zoo
The discovery was announced on Monday, according to the San Diego Zoo organization. The zoo has housed three Indian narrow-headed softshell turtles for over 20 years, and the zoo keepers had hoped for their eventual reproduction.
According to NPR, the eggs were discovered in two different nests. While most of the eggs were kept in an artificial incubator to give the best conditions for survival, some of the turtles hatched in their natural habitat. The zoo's turtle experts said that because the turtles like to lay their eggs overnight and cover them with soil, nests are frequently difficult to locate in the enclosure.
Kim Gray, curator of herpetology and ichthyology at the San Diego Zoo, said in a statement that the event was a thrilling moment for them at the San Diego Zoo. Gray added that it is an incredible step forward in conserving this species.
Indian Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle
Native to northern India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, the Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle, also known as the small-headed softshell turtle, lives at the bottom of deep freshwater rivers and streams. According to the Wildlife Institute of India, turtles normally spawn during the monsoon season in central India and during the dry season in other regions.
Hatchlings can be as little as four centimeters when they first break the surface of their shell. From the front to the back of the top shell, they can reach lengths of up to 3.6 feet.
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Endangered Turtle
The Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle eats fish, frogs, crabs, and mollusks. It waits for its prey to approach as it is concealed in the sand. When this occurs, the turtle's head extends rapidly out of its shell to grasp the prey it subsequently consumes. This turtle was seen fast extending its head and long, retractable neck out of its shell in a 2009 River Monsters episode video.
It is one of the three species of the genus Chitra. More than 40 million years ago, when humans last shared an ancestor with tamarins and capuchin monkeys, these three species split apart from all other living turtles.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List classifies the species as endangered. However, it is unknown how many are still in the wild. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance claims that the removal of sandbar habitat, environmental contamination, the worldwide pet trade, and human food harvesting have all contributed to the species' decline over time.
According to Gray, they have been concentrating on taking care of these turtles for a very long time, and a big part of that care is learning more about the species' natural history. With the knowledge they acquire here at the zoo, they will be better equipped to help their Indian colleagues support the survival of this vital species in their natural habitat.
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