HANOI, Vietnam, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Wildlife authorities at the Bronx Zoo say a lone East Asian giant softshell turtle in a Vietnamese lake may finally be faced with extinction.
Reptile specialists from the Wildlife Conservation Society recently observed the reptile in its last known habitat and fear it may live out its final years without a mate.
"This individual could very well be the last of its kind," said John Behler, Curator of Herpetology at the Bronx Zoo, who confirmed the turtle still exists in Hoan Kiem Lake. "We know next to nothing about this species or its habitat requirements, other than the fact that it is extremely rare and is presumably on the brink of extinction."
Freshwater turtles and tortoises across Asia have become increasingly endangered by a wide variety of threats, such as collection for local consumption, and collection for regional and international food and the pet trade.
