Zoos with the rarest / most endangered freshwater turtles

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Not really arbitrary, but rather the result of cunning and gluttony. The bishops, abbots and other high-ranking clergy members in Medieval Europe loved their meats, but had to abstain from it on Fridays and times of abstinence to set an example. However, they tried to circumvent it by declaring everything only slightly aquatic a fish. Or baked meat pies in the form of a fish to "fool God". Some even drowned pigs and pigs or fished pigs out of fountains to declare them as "fish". One German abbot allegedly baptised the roast pork in front of him with the words "Ego te baptizo carpam" I hereby christen you carp.

Good old religious hypocrisy eh ? lol

 

[Batto]

Good old religious hypocrisy eh ? lol

Still alive and kicking, like the Murree Brewery in Pakistan...

 

[Batto]

Some even drowned pigs and pigs

Edit: cows and pigs

 

[Jurek7]

I liked this turtle kitchen exhibit, one of most innovative exhibits. I only missed that London Zoo has no space nor funds to build similar things for larger animals.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

I liked this turtle kitchen exhibit, one of most innovative exhibits. I only missed that London Zoo has no space nor funds to build similar things for larger animals.

Glad you like it, I also thought it was brilliant.

Interesting comment, out of curiosity what do you think could be done with larger animals in terms of this kind of exhibit ?

Personally I think applying the shock value of the exhibit to a larger species and particularly a mammal may not be a good idea and might be far more controversial.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Still alive and kicking, like the Murree Brewery in Pakistan...

Never knew that there even was a brewery in Pakistan... I thought that this would be haram considering that it is an Islamic country

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Edit: cows and pigs

lol , they drowned pigs and cows to declare them "fish" so that they could continue merrily feasting ?

Again, I never knew that either but it really highlights how corrupt and hypocritical the church has been throughout its history.

 

[Batto]

lol , they drowned pigs and cows to declare them "fish" so that they could continue merrily feasting ?

Yes, and there are several breweries and distilleries in Pakistan as well as other Islamic countries. And officially, they only produce alcoholic beverages for export and the local religious minorities...

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Yes, and there are several breweries and distilleries in Pakistan as well as other Islamic countries. And officially, they only produce alcoholic beverages for export and the local religious minorities...

Haha, yeah, I'm sure they really keep to that law and abstain from the beer I bet a lot of bottles mysterious disappear from that brewery

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Yes, and there are several breweries and distilleries in Pakistan as well as other Islamic countries. And officially, they only produce alcoholic beverages for export and the local religious minorities...

While of course persecuting the ethnic Kalash people of the country for their paganism, womens rights and enjoyment of wine.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Though nowhere near as endangered as many of the Asian, Latin American and Australian freshwater turtles it is quite nice for me to see the threatened European species of pond turtles being showcased at zoos across the continent too.

Enclosure for the Spanish pond turtle at Zoodysse in France.

European pond turtle enclosure at Wildwood park in the UK.

Paris zoological park, European pond turtle enclosure.

Zoo Wupertal, European pond turtle aquarium.

Photo credits to @lintworm, @MagpieGoose, @vogelcommando and @Maguari.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

For anyone interested here is the IUCN's 25 + most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles from 2011 (yes, a bit old now but still interesting reading).

It can be downloaded for free on the link posted below:

Turtles in trouble : the world’s 25+ most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Some shots from the zoochat gallery of freshwater turtle species listed in the IUCN 2011 "25+ most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles" (posted in comment above) in zoos.

*I was able to find all but 2 South American species: the Magdalena river turtle and the Hoge's side necked turtle (which are as I understand it not kept outside of the region).

Northern river terrapin, Bronx zoo.

Yellow headed box turtle, Bronx zoo.

Chinese three striped box turtle, San Diego zoo.

Burmese roof turtle, Singapore zoo.

Asian narrow headed soft shell turtle, Saint Louis zoo.

Vietnamese pond turtle, ZSL London.

Central American river turtle, Oklahoma city zoo.

Madagascan big headed turtle, San Diego zoo.

Southern river terrapin, Prague zoo.

Red crowned roof turtle, Bronx zoo.

Sulawesi forest turtle, Bronx zoo.

Western swamp turtle, Perth zoo.

Philippine forest turtle, Avilon zoo.

Painted river turtle, LA zoo.

Roti island snake necked turtle, Singapore zoo.

Mccord's box turtle, Rotterdam zoo.

Photo credits to @jayjds2, @Hix, @Ding Lingwei,@ThylacineAlive, @d1am0ndback, @Tomek, @RatioTile, @alexkant, @Julio C Castro and @vogelcommando.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Some shots from the zoochat gallery of freshwater turtle species listed in the IUCN 2018 "25+ most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles" in zoos (species that were not already covered in the 2011 list).

*This time there were quite a few species that I wasn't able to find any pictures of in the gallery. I suppose this may reflect these species not being kept ex-situ by zoos or simply being kept behind the scenes / out of public display.

Indochinese box turtle, Chester zoo.

Bourret's box turtle, Bristol zoo.

Coahuila box turtle, Dudley zoo.

Bog turtle, Sedgewick county zoo.

Peacock softshell turtle, Wrocklaw zoo.

Arakan box turtle, Cameron park zoo.

Pan's box turtle, Atlanta zoo.

Nubian flapshell turtle, Antwerp zoo.

Dahl's toad headed turtle, izoo.

Zhou's box turtle, Whipsnade ZSL.

Bellinger river turtle, Taronga zoo.

Photo credits to @Maguari, @Hix, @gentle lemur, @Bwassa, @jayjds2, @jusko88, @KevinB, @RatioTile, @Javan Rhino,

 

[Noah Butas]

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has some rare turtles:

:Spotted Pond Turtle
:Malaysian Giant Pond Turtle
:Fly River Turtle
:Blanding’s Turtle
:Spotted Turtle
:Batagur Turtle

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has some rare turtles:

:Spotted Pond Turtle
:Malaysian Giant Pond Turtle
:Fly River Turtle
:Blanding’s Turtle
:Spotted Turtle
:Batagur Turtle

Thank you for sharing @Noah Butas !

What are your favourites of these ?

What are the enclosures like ?

 

[Noah Butas]

Thank you for sharing @Noah Butas !

What are your favourites of these ?

What are the enclosures like ?

Favorite is the Malaysian Giant Pond Turtle

I don’t remember what they look like because of the new rainforest dome that is going in where they are, but the asian turtles live with Gharials. The other turtles I guess are educational animals.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Favorite is the Malaysian Giant Pond Turtle

I don’t remember what they look like because of the new rainforest dome that is going in where they are, but the asian turtles live with Gharials.

Why is this species in particular a favourite of yours Noah ?

 

[Noah Butas]

I like most large kinds of animals for some reason

 

[Jurek7]

Interesting comment, out of curiosity what do you think could be done with larger animals in terms of this kind of exhibit ?

Personally I think applying the shock value of the exhibit to a larger species and particularly a mammal may not be a good idea and might be far more controversial.

I meant interesting and innovative exhibits in general, not necessary shock value conservation message and not necessarily bringing human or cultural elements. London is home to great museums and BBC wildlife unit which produce world-class education, at the same time educative, entertaining, tasteful and innovative. This seems to completely miss London zoo.