The month of August was filled with anticipation as we awaited for the hatch date of several endangered turtles and tortoises! Some of our hatchling numbers included the following: 

• For the first time, the Turtle Conservancy’s conservation center successfully hatched four Big-headed turtles (Platysternon megacephalum)! This species is part of the Platysternidae family and is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Big-headed turtles are native to Southeast Asia and China. 

• One Coahuilan box turtle (Terrapene coahuila), which is a small aquatic species of box turtle which lives in Mexico, specifically in the Cuatro Ciénegas basin of central Coahuila.

• One Ryukyu Black-breasted Leaf Turtle (Geoemyda japonica) which is a small semi-terrestrial species of turtle native to the Okinawajima, Kumejima, and Tokashikijima islands in Japan. 

• Two Parrot-Beaked Tortoises (Homopus areolatus) which is a tortoise species specifically  native to the South African Cape provinces. These tortoises also happen to be one of the species we protect on our South African preserve!

It’s always a pleasure to welcome new hatchlings at our conservation center as we continue to do our part in preserving these threatened turtles and tortoises.