Gembira Loka Zoo Welcomes Endangered Giant Softshell Turtle
Translator
Editor
7 February 2019 22:04 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Gembira Loka Zoo in Yogyakarta received an endangered giant Asiatic softshell turtle on Wednesday, February 6. The species was brought by the Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of Yogyakarta for preservation in the zoo.
The 1-meter-long turtle, locally known as bulus or labi-labi, was initially found by the locals in Sempor River, Manyaran Village, Triharjo subdistrict, Sleman last month.
The transfer was carried out by BKSDA of Yogyakarta officer to the Conservation Manager of Gembira Loka Zoo, Josephine Vanda Tirtayani, as announced in the press release.
Officials from the Laboratory of Animal Systematics of the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM), Jogja Animal Keeper, and Yogyakarta Herpetology Study Group presented during the event.
The BKSDA Forest Police coordinator Purwanto mentioned that a member of Jogja Upstream Community found the male species on January 31, in Sempor River.
The Laboratory of Animal Systematics staffer Ruri Eprilurahman explained that the softshell turtle with a width of 54 centimeters is an endangered species. “This bulus may be the biggest discovery in Yogyakarta after the previous finding in Ciliwung River in 2011,” he noted.
The lecturer of UGM Biology Faculty estimated that the softshell turtle with batik-patterned in its shell and neck are around 50 years old. “The life of bulus is similar to human which is up to 70 to 80 years,” Ruri added.
PRIBADI WICAKSONO (CONTRIBUTOR)
