A zoo in Kansas has welcomed the arrival of a rare species of turtle!
The Sedgwick County Zoo – a wildlife park that is home to 3,000 individual animals from nearly 400 species – announced the birth of McCord’s tortoise on Friday.
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“This successful hatch is not only a first for our zoo, but also an important conservation milestone as this species is EXTINCT in the wild,” the zoo wrote in a Facebook post that included a video of the reptile’s arrival.
Many social media users thanked the zoo for their conservation efforts in the comments section, including one follower who wrote: “Congratulations and thanks to the staff for this wonderful achievement.” Another added: “So happy. You hardly ever see box turtles anymore.”
The zoo went on to talk about the adorable arrival in a mini-episode of its Sedgwick County ZooCast podcast, explaining that the turtle species is considered extinct, as no McCord’s turtles have been spotted in the wild since 2010 and only exist in captive breeding programs.
“McCord’s turtles can lay anywhere from one to six eggs,” said host Emily Bishop. “Our female laid one egg which hatched successfully after 90 days of incubation.”
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While Bishop explained that the zoo’s animals are often rotated in and out of exhibit, she said McCord’s turtles are kept in a behind-the-scenes facility to be closely monitored by zookeepers.
“This is the first time the Sedgwick County Zoo has bred McCord’s box turtles,” she continued. “Until now, we have not had a breeding recommendation from the Species Survival Plan. This program manages populations of endangered animals in zoos that are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.”
Bishop explained that pollution and habitat destruction have contributed to the McCord’s turtle population decline along with its use in “traditional Chinese medicine, for food and for sale in the pet trade.”
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“By successfully breeding McCord’s box turtles, SCZ is helping to ensure that future generations see and learn about these turtles,” Bishop added.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education