One of the Last Four Rarest Yangtze Turtle Dies in China

CHINA: One of the last four remaining rarest Yangtze turtle has died in Suzhou zoo in southern China on Saturday, leading to the species extinction.

Only three of the same species are left in the world now.

The female Yangtze softshell turtle was believed to be more than ninety years old.

The Yangtze turtle died a day after the experts tried to inseminate the turtle artificially.

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Also, know as Rafetus swinhoei the world’s rarest turtle has moved close to extinction. Only three knowns of the same species is left after the death of this female turtle.

One Tree of the Known Same Species Remain In The World

Among the three remaining one male is at Suzhou zoo. Two others known are living in the wild in Vietnam. The gender of these two is unknown according to the conservationists.

The Experts Tried To Artificially Inseminate The Creature

The death of Yangtze turtle occurred following the attempt by the staff at the facility to artificially inseminate the animal using semen from a male more than 10 years her senior, the local newspaper reported.

The zoo had been trying to get the pair to reproduce naturally for several years but the attempt had failed.

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The experts had tried to artificially inseminate the turtle five times before it died.

Suzhou Daily has said an autopsy would be performed,

The local Chinese staff and international experts had tried to inseminate the turtle artificially for twenty-four hours but she died following the procedure.

The experts said there were no complications following the procedures and the female Yangtze Turtle was in good health. Her condition deteriorated the next day.

The cause of her death is being investigated and the turtle’s ovarian tissue was collected for future research.

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Chinese and foreign experts artificially inseminating Rarest Yangtze Turtles

The species is critically endangered due to hunting, overfishing and the destruction of its habitat.

The Yangtze giant softshell turtle is the world’s largest freshwater turtle. It can grow up to 100cm (39in) and can weigh up to 100kg (nearly 16 stone).

The Yangtze River and other inland Chinese waterways are its main habitats.

The aquatic life has suffered due to centuries of hunting, pollution, shipping traffic and ecological disruption by hydroelectric dams.