22 baby Malaclemys terrapin saved from smugglers
The SoundWaters nature education center in Stamford got an unexpected gift: 22 baby Malaclemys terrapin who were saved from smugglers in Alaska. More than 200 juvenile diamondback terrapins were found by US customs in Anchorage, Alaska. They were about to be shipped to China. Unfortunately, 1 has already died and the remaining 21 might not survive either. SoundWaters wants to use these baby turtles to teach kids biology and ecology for conservation purposes.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
Asian market demand results in overharvesting in Iowa.
Young loggerhead sea turtle died at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center.
UK supports Erethmochelys imbricata conservation project in Solomons islands.
Temple ponds conservation projects are being discussed to save endangered and critically endangered turtles species.
Crime and Punishment
The 4000 turtles poachers are being realeased.
Did You Know…
Cloacal bursaes in aquatic turtles have many functions. It is used as a water storage for females to moist their nesting area prior to excavation. Another function is salt uptake from the surrounding water. Indeed, some species transfer sodium ions from the water into their body through the cloacal bursaes in order to maintain their salt balance. It is also used as oxygen uptake in some species such as Rheodytes leukops. Finally, cloacal bursaes serve as ballast tanks for aquatic species in order to keep their buoyancy. Indeed, turtles can regulate their total body volume and maintain its internal pressure by getting water in or out of it.
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Photo from Greg Bilionis / SoundWaters
