Vietnamese pond turtle facts for kids
The Vietnamese pond turtle or Annam leaf turtle (Mauremys annamensis) is a type of turtle that belongs to the Geoemydidae family. It is a very special and rare turtle found only in a small part of Vietnam.
Quick facts for kids Vietnamese pond turtle |
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Mauremys
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annamensis
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Contents
About the Vietnamese Pond Turtle
This turtle is easy to spot because of its unique look. Its head is dark, with three or four bright yellow stripes running down its sides. The bottom shell, called the plastron, is firmly attached. It is usually yellow or orange and has a black spot on each part, or scute.
Where it Lives
The Vietnamese pond turtle lives only in a small area in central Vietnam. This means it is endemic to that region. In the 1930s, there were many of these turtles. However, after 1941, scientists could not find any in the wild.
Why is it Endangered?
Even though it was hard to find, people sometimes saw these turtles being sold for food. This showed that they were not yet extinct in the wild. Sadly, illegal hunting continues to be a big problem for these turtles. This makes them very close to disappearing from the wild forever.
Helping the Turtles Survive
In 2006, a group of wild Vietnamese pond turtles was finally found. They were living near Hội An in Quảng Nam Province, Vietnam. This was a very exciting discovery!
Conservation Efforts
Even though they are rare, some of these turtles have been seen for sale in other countries. To help save them, some turtles are being raised in special centers. These include places like Hainan Island in southern China. Also, the Cuc Phuong Turtle Conservation Center in Cúc Phương National Park in northern Vietnam is working hard to breed them.
Scientists are now trying to release some of these captive-bred turtles back into the wild. This is part of a plan to help their numbers grow again.
Important Note for Caretakers
Sometimes, Vietnamese pond turtles are cared for by experienced hobbyists. This happens through special programs that help protect the species. It is very important that these turtles are never kept with other types of turtles. If different species are kept together, they might create hybrid babies. These hybrids are not pure Vietnamese pond turtles. For example, some turtles thought to be a new species were actually a mix of the Vietnamese pond turtle and another type of turtle. Preventing this mixing helps keep the Vietnamese pond turtle species strong and pure.
