Ray of Hope for the World's Most Endangered Turtle

by Heather Lowe 

The TSA, San Diego Zoo Global and Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS) Bronx Zoo recently announced that working in conjunction with Changsha Zoo, Suzhou Zoo and the China Zoo Association, a female Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei)—potentially the last female of her species—has been artificially inseminated. The procedure, which brought together top scientists from China, Australia and the United States, provides a ray of hope in a continuing effort to save the world's most endangered turtle.

 "This is a historic step in our efforts to save Rafetus and the stakes couldn't be much higher," said Rick Hudson, TSA President. "And we couldn't have deployed this amazing team without the support from our partners, in particular we want to recognize the sustained support of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden in Hong Kong."

Read the full story, which was featured in the New York Times, here.