How lucky can one Vienna Zoo turtle get! This male turle from the Schoenbrunn Zoo estimated to be 30 years old is actually endangered and he is traveling to India with a purpose.
For his trip to India, the Vienna Zoo turtle will meet up with two female turtles from Northern River Terrapin also known as Batagur Baska. He will act as the breeding mate. The two females have been on a hunt for a mate for more than a year and in an effort to help them, the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust employees near Chennai has requested Schoenbrunn Zoo to send over their male turtle.
The Austrian turtle, for now, will be quarantined for up to three months before meeting up with his new friends. This process is to allow him to adjust to the temperature in the country and to ensure that he is fit for mating while there.
Did you know that the turtle is considered one of the world’s most endangered fresh water species? The main zoo (Crocodile Bank Trust) in India is the only facility that still breeds this particular specie. The Vienna Zoo, on the other hand, holds some 20 of this rare specie.
It is just unfortunate that the turtle has been hunted in Cambodia where it is slaughtered and served as a delicacy.
