The new year is off to a good start, as the world's most endangered - and rarest, turtle (which is the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle), is not the only one of his kind anymore. The Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle is so rare, that there was only thought to be one of them left in the world - a male - until very recently.
Now, he is not alone in the world and not the last of his species, as another Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle has been found in the wild of Vietnam.
The other Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle that was found in the wild, is a female. Therefore, there are now one male and one female Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtles in the world, which offers hope to these rare turtles.
The last Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle that we knew about died just in April in 2019; it was thought then, that she was the last female of her kind (until now).
The Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle is still the rarest turtle in the world though; and they are also one of the world's rarest animals in the world today - these beautiful turtles are as rare as the Northern White Rhino. The Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle is critically endangered today. Hopefully with a female being found, it will result in the population of the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle growing in the future!
The Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle is also known by several other names; including the Swinhoe's Softshell Turtle and the Speckled Softshell Turtle.
Comments