Every year around this time, an authentic nature show begins on the border between Bolivia and Brazil. Tens of thousands of South American river turtles (podocnemis expansa) come here to lay eggs and start the world’s largest turtle breeding process. Biologists and other specialists attend this event to study it and protect it against possible external disturbances.
About 70,000 specimens of giant South American river turtles have already begun to arrive on the banks of the Iténez River in Bolivia. (known as Guaporé in Brazil) starts spawning like every year.
«It is the world’s largest turtle nesting event. This is a very important thing”, commented Camila Ferrara, the tortoise expert of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS, short for English).
Mass nesting is a natural wonder and a necessary process for the ecology of this incredible river. Hundreds of thousands of offspring produce food and biomass for other aquatic and terrestrial species over time to contribute to the river’s food chain.
According to Efe, during the months of November and December of each year, hundreds of thousands of puppies will emerge from the sands in search of freedom in search of river waters.
These freshwater turtles arrive on riverside beaches to spend a period of time before sunbathing and accelerating the maturation of their eggs.. They will then continue to spawn, where each can lay a hundred eggs. Ferrara said the entire process could take 20 to 30 days.
Ferrara said this species is “one of the most social,” measuring between 80 and 90 centimeters, the largest tortoise in Bolivia, found in the Amazon, and “critically endangered.”
The expert argued The main danger for these turtles is humans, as their meat and eggs are sold.. Not only that, its bark and even oil are also sold.
“This nesting period is where turtles are most vulnerable because they are all together and can be caught,” Ferrara said. Said.
According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, this turtle is scientifically named podoknemis enlargement, It is considered “low risk” or protected, but is listed as “endangered” in the Bolivian Book of Red Vertebrae.
WCS experts from Bolivia and Brazil are taking advantage of this natural phenomenon to census this species and conduct research that helps track these turtles. Ferrara said this data will serve to protect the species and to carry out conservation projects.
Moreover, Residents of the Versalles community in Bolivia help protect eggs and turtles With the support of the Brazilian NGO Ecovale.
This year, experts decided show this event in real time via videos That they’re posting it on their WCS page and social networks to bring this experience closer to people and see the magnitude of this event.
WCS experts from Bolivia and Brazil work in collaboration with the Versalles community in Bolivia, the NGO Ecovale and the environmental agencies of both countries.
……
Environment department contact address:[email protected]