Slice of paradise created for critically endangered toad-headed turtle

© Courtesy of WCS Colombia A 297-acre property in rural northern Colombia will become the first and only reserve for the conservation of the Dahl’s toad-headed turtle. Like many organisms in the modern world, the Dahl’s toad-headed turtle ( Mesoclemmys dahli ) isn’t having the best time. Found exclusively in the Caribbean region on Columbia’s Atlantic Coast, the turtle has traditionally made ponds and small brooks within forests its home. But thanks to agriculture, cattle farming, and construction, the turtle’s favored habitat is being fragmented and destroyed. The landscape is changing so radically that the species is in critical danger of extinction. In fact, the changes in the turtle’s habitat have divided its population into at least six isolated groups, says Wildlife Conservation Society Colombia and Turtle Survival Alliance, noting that "Individuals are now mating among close relatives which increases the chance of genetic disorders and deleterious traits." Oh dear. But now, the two organizations, along with the Rainforest Trust, have created a safe place for the turtle – a 297-acre property in rural northern Colombia that will become the first and only reserve for the conservation of these critically endangered creatures. In addition to restoring and expanding the […]

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