Habitat destruction and fragmentation have separated already small and fragile populations. Furthermore, these same steep banks have led to high levels of soil erosion and sediment deposition. Since the construction of the Madushan Hydropower Dam was completed in 2007, the downstream ecosystem has become dominated by extremely steep slopes which are unsuitable for sunbathing and egg deposition. swinhoei prefers habitat in areas of confluence that include sandbars for sunbathing and egg deposition. Wang Jian et al., (2013) reported that R. The negative impacts of large dam projects on species like R. swinhoei is found or evidence to the contrary becomes available. Platt and his team suggest that the absence of unequivocal evidence (e.g., carcass) is cause to remain hopeful and that searching should continue until R. Unfortunately, they discoverd no physical evidence of R. Survey methodology included baited fish stations, pedestrian patrols and interviews with local residents. Platt, in collaboration with the Kunming Institute of Zoology, completed a survey of the Madushan Reservoir between the months of May and June of 2017. Steven Platt, a herpetologist for the Wildlife Conservation Society, and other scientists has centered on finding evidence of R. Instead of giving up, scientists continue to refine their technique by adopting new tools and practicing on other species of soft-shelled turtles. Scientists have since attempted, on three separate occasions, to artificially inseminate the female. Scientists attribute this to severe damage to the surviving male turtle’s shell and reproductive organs they suspect the damage occurred during a fight with another male some time ago. While the female has been reliably producing large clutches of eggs, they have all been infertile. swinhoei in captivity have so far remained unsuccessful. Photo courtesy of the Turtle Survival AllianceĮfforts to breed the remaining pair of R. The two remaining individuals (a male and female) were placed into a captive breeding program in Suzhou Zoo in China in 2008. However, according to a survey conducted between 20, the last wild individual is reported to reside in Madushan Reservoir located along the Red River below Honghe in Yunnan Province, China. Traditionally, the Yangtze giant softshell turtle inhabited the Yangtze River and Lake Tai, along with other areas in China and Vietnam. The scientific community suspects that pollution in the lake and old age were the most likely causes of death. Despite its national importance, the cause of death remains unknown as scientists and other experts were denied permission to perform any post-mortem analyses due to the turtle’s revered status. swinhoei has long been considered a sacred part of Vietnamese history, and the country as a whole mourned the death of the last remaining individual living in Hoan Kiem Lake in January of 2016. Worshipped as symbols of good fortune, their undeniable uniqueness has made them a national icon. Ancient Chinese writings describe the giant turtles making their home in locations such as Lake Tai. swinhoei has been an integral part of the environment for many thousands of years. The turtle’s population has also declined because of the destruction of its natural habitats through increased rural development and dam construction. A turtle of this size can weigh between 155-220 pounds, and its unique physical attributes were certainly contributing factors to its population decline as it was deemed to be a source of food and an ingredient for traditional medicines. swinhoei is also the largest species of freshwater turtle in the world it’s been recorded to reach sizes of over 39 inches in length and 28 inches in width and has a lifespan of up to 100 years in the wild.
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