The Yangtze giant softshell turtle

The Yangtze giant softshell turtle is one of the largest – if not the largest – freshwater turtle in the world

We only know of three surviving specimens.

After the tragic death of the only known female, ‘China girl,’’ there is only one male left in China and two individuals of unknown sex in Vietnam. This makes it even more important to find other surviving animals in the wild and to do everything

possible to prevent this mysterious species from becoming extinct.

How big is the threat?

With only three known individuals, this spectacular giant softshell species is among the rarest species in the world and both IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and

ZSL (Zoological Society of London) consider this animal amongst the hundred most endangered species.

Our Contribution

TURTLE ISLAND has made it one of its primary goals to aid in the preservation of this impressive turtle species and prevent its final extinction.

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We started to search in the wild for these animals. They thoroughly searched several river stretches and marshes in Vietnam and Northeastern Laos.

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In Summer 2020, a team will again travel to Vietnam and Laos to search for remaining, surviving Yangtze softshell turtles.