Rare Soft Shelled Turtle found
 

A rare soft-shell turtle thought to be on the brink of extinction has been discovered in Cambodia in a former stronghold of the Khmer Rouge, conservationists said Wednesday.

A 24-pound female Cantor's giant turtle — known for its rubbery skin and jaws powerful enough to crush bone — was captured and released by researchers in March, U.S.-based Conservation International and World Wildlife Fund said in a statement.

Scientists from the two groups and Cambodian wildlife officials discovered the animal and a nesting ground during a survey in Cambodia's Mekong River region.

"We thought it might be almost gone, but found it in abundance in this one pristine stretch of the Mekong, making the area the world's most important site for saving this particular species," David Emmett, a CI wildlife biologist, said in the statement.

"This incredible discovery means that a unique turtle can be saved from disappearing from our planet," he said.

The turtle is currently classified as endangered by the World Conservation Union, and continues to face threats from habitat loss and hunting.

The species can grow up to 6 feet in length and weigh more than 110 pounds. It was last spotted by scientists in the Cambodian wild in 2003. It also was found in small numbers in Laos, but appears to have disappeared from Vietnam and Thailand.

The turtle has a rubbery skin with ribs fused together to form a protective layer over its internal organs. It protects itself from predators by spending 95 percent of its life hidden in sand or mud with only its eyes and nose showing.

It also has long claws and can extend its neck with lightning speed to bite with jaws powerful enough to crush bone, the statement said.

The statement only said the turtle was found in a former Khmer Rouge stronghold long closed to scientific exploration because of security concerns. The communist Khmer Rouge ruled the country from 1975-1979 and their reign of terror resulted in the deaths of about 1.7 million people.

It was the first detailed conservation study of the area since security restrictions were eased in the late 1990s, WWF said.

International and Cambodian turtle conservation officials will hire local villagers to protect nesting beaches for the turtles and conduct patrols during the dry season to prevent illegal fishing of the species, which is prized as an expensive delicacy in neighboring Vietnam.

The villagers also will receive financial incentives to offset the potential loss of revenue from illegal trade in the turtles, WWF said.

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Raph's Girl note: That is one freaky looking turtle! :o And man...they're like freaky snapping turtles if their jaws are strong enough to snap bone!

It's a naked turtle.

that is an awesome looking turtle. it kinda looks like its been flaten by a rolling pin or something. hehe. cool. 8)

He looks cold chillin', like he just doesn't care about anything.

That's no turtle-- that's my heating pad! Damn it, I've been looking for that thing forever...

That turtle looks weird... it looks like it was smooshed... :|

Okay, what have our boys been doing with Ray Fillet?

That's one flat turtle. Flat animals are funny. Hehe.

Oh no Raph got steamrolled!
Freaky looking thingy. It's sad though that they have to spend 95% of their life in the mud. :( Poor things must be miserable.

Hahahaha! It's a moving cowpat.

It kinda looks like someone deflated him...It doesn't look like it would have strong jaws, or that I could move very well.
I like him though, I hope they can help out the species

Hehe... you said cowpat.

The world is round. Turtle shells are round. Wait. This Turtle is flat. Does that mean they were wrong about the world too?;)

And what's with his beak? He looks all puckered up like an anteater or something. Where is the incredible jaw strength located in all that?

Kudos for protecting endangered species and all that though.

Aww, it looks like a hot water bottle.

Jaws that can crush bones? It looks like a pushover.

I like this turtle. I hope it doesent end up extinct.

Wow, what an unusual turtle. It almost looks like the shell is molten and fused with the rest of its body. It's awesome that they found so many.

I can't help but imagine the Ninja Turtles were this kind of turtle before they mutated... :o FREAKY MUTATION!!