Tiny Turtle Twin Arrivals on Corsica: A New Beginning for the Endangered Himalayan Species
Endangered sea turtles of a rare species emerge on the coast of Corsica - Two endangered turtle species miraculously hatch on the island of Corsica.
We've got some shell-shocking news! Two teeny tiny Himalayan tortoises have made their grand debut on the sun-soaked isle of Corsica. These mini-shell heroes hatched on the 19th of May and the 1st of June, respectively, weighing in at a hearty 9.64 and 8.89 grams, respectively. We're dubbing them Tric and Trac for now, but the public's encouraged to share name suggestions on the A-Cupulatta-Instagram page.
No peeking at the gender reveal just yet - we'll find that out in around five or six years, according to our tortoise expert, Moisson.
The Himalayan tortoise, a resident of the breathtaking Himalayas and listed on the IUCN red list, is characterized by three striking yellow stripes on their dark shell, growing to approximately 20 centimeters and a hefty 1 kilogram. It seems that in 2017, customs in Hong Kong seized a stash of these rare creatures from India. To safeguard its survival, some specimens were sent to trusty conservation centers across Europe for breeding. Guess where the first successful European hatchlings were born? You got it – sunny Corsica!
While there's no inside scoop on the backstory of the Himalayan tortoises, let me share that worldwide efforts aim to save tortoises from various threats like habitat loss and poaching. Species like the critically endangered Angonoka tortoise have made headlines for conservation success stories, alongside creatures like Asiatic lions and Indian rhinoceros. Dedicated breeding programs employ protective measures like habitat safeguarding, regulating human activities, and innovative techniques such as surrogacy or artificial reproduction in the quest for reptile recovery.
Who knows, we might just crack the code on the Himalayan tortoises one day, ensuring their existence for future generations to awe and admire! In other shell-tacular news, a specimen of the endangered Galapagos giant tortoise blissfully entered the world in Vero back in May 2024. A Cupulatta recently commemorated the first birthday of their pet reptile, Darwin. , , , ,
Sources:
- Tortoise Conservation Efforts
- Successful Species Comebacks
- Rhino Reproduction Techniques
- Angonoka Tortoise Conservation Status
- The Himalayan tortoises hatched on Corsica will be sent to AFP for a news story, just like the endangered Angonoka tortoise and the successful comeback of the Asiatic lions and Indian rhinoceros.
- In a bid to safeguard the Himalayan tortoises, conservation centers in Europe, including Corsica, are part of global breeding programs that employ measures like habitat protection and innovative techniques.
- The Galapagos giant tortoise, like the Himalayan tortoise, is endangered. In 2024, a specimen was born in Vero, much like the first successful European hatchlings of the Himalayan tortoises were born in Corsica.
