Yunnan box turtle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yunnan box turtle |
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Cuora
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yunnanensis
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The Yunnan box turtle (Cuora yunnanensis) is a special kind of turtle. It is part of the Geoemydidae family. This turtle is only found in Yunnan, China, specifically near Kunming and Huize. For many years, people thought this turtle was extinct, meaning it had completely disappeared from the Earth. The last time anyone officially saw one was in 1940.
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Rediscovering the Yunnan Box Turtle
For a long time, no one saw a Yunnan box turtle in the wild. People thought they were gone forever. But then, something amazing happened!
A Lost Turtle Found Again
In 2004, a live female turtle that looked like the Yunnan box turtle appeared. It was found in the pet trade in Kunming. The pet trade is where animals are bought and sold as pets. One year later, a male turtle was found from the same place. And then, another female appeared the year after that!
Proving They Were Real
At first, some people wondered if these turtles were truly Yunnan box turtles. They thought maybe they were hybrids. Hybrids are animals created by mixing two different types of animals. This is sometimes done in China to create turtles that look rare and can be sold for a lot of money.
But in 2007, scientists studied these three turtles. They used special tests to check their DNA. DNA is like a unique blueprint for every living thing. The tests showed that all three turtles were indeed real C. yunnanensis! They were not hybrids. This was exciting news!
Finding Them in the Wild
After the DNA proof, more good news came. In 2008, a group of conservationists and scientists worked together. They found a small group of these turtles living in the wild! This was a huge discovery. It meant the Yunnan box turtle was not extinct after all.
Protecting These Rare Turtles
Even though a wild group was found, the Yunnan box turtle is still very rare. Its exact home in the wild is not fully known. Because these turtles are so valuable, people are still looking for them. This makes them even more endangered.
Why Are They So Rare?
The Yunnan box turtle is considered critically endangered. This means it is very close to becoming extinct again. They face many threats. One big threat is people collecting them from the wild. This is because they are rare and can be sold for a lot of money.
How We Can Help
It is very important to protect these special turtles. Scientists and conservation groups are working to save them. They want to make sure the Yunnan box turtle does not disappear forever. Protecting their homes and stopping illegal collection are key steps. This will help them stay off the IUCN list of extinct animals.
