The existing beaches on the banks of the Iténez rivers in Bolivia and the Guaporé rivers in Brazil have nowadays become a real “carpet” for small creatures. Millions of giant river turtles (known as tataruga, Extended Podocnemis), Endangered by the commercialization of their meat and eggs, these animals took place two months ago after the largest spawning in the world.
Since the end of December and the beginning of January, hundreds of thousands of cubs have been born, two months after one of the greatest nature scenes took place: the nesting, which brings together at least 80,000 females and each lays eggs on average. The 90 eggs (although it reaches 130) explained to Turtle biologist Enrique Domic Efe of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
therefore, beaches became “carpets” for turtles with an “impressive amount” of new life being born at the same time and covering the entire perimeter of the levees.
Domic guessed it about seven million new South American giant river turtles hatched, however, it should be noted that many did not manage to reach the river or were swallowed by other species.
When the cubs reach the river, their mothers have been waiting for them in the water since they laid eggs. that’s when “voicing” of “mothers” begins with offspringIt’s a way to communicate and “get to know each other,” according to residents near the spawning site, Domic said.
Despite this enormous number of births, the species is listed as “endangered” in the Bolivian Red Book of Vertebrates. One of the biggest threats is the commercialization of meat and eggs consumed in surrounding populations.
The importance of this species, which can be 90 centimeters and more in length, is significant because of the amount of biomass they produce, which is beneficial to other species sharing the ecosystem. They also help regenerate vegetation along river corridors by dispersing seeds.
These tataruga tortoises, the largest freshwater turtle in Latin America, are characterized by nesting in a community. measure a little over a meter and weigh over 90 kilosbiologist commented.
On this occasion, WCS sought to bring this natural landscape even closer by communicating the nesting on its social networks, and also conducted a census using a technology of the turtle population flying over drones with infrared cameras and taking pictures for the census. Biologist Omar Torrico, the American technology expert of that institution, told Efe:
This action, he said, helps confirm that this area is “key to conservation” for this species, and also helps establish plans for its conservation.
In addition, there was a great response from those who followed this event and even volunteered to help in some way in the next nestings.
WCS experts from Bolivia and Brazil worked in collaboration with the Versalles community in Bolivia, the NGO Ecovale and environmental agencies from both countries.
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Contact details of the environment department: [email protected]
Source: Informacion
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