Chinese Animal Protection Group Offers Reward
Find a Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle and Get 1.9 Million Won
Only Two Males Remain in China and Vietnam
A Chinese animal protection organization has sparked controversy by offering a reward for information on a rare turtle species, of which only two males are known to remain worldwide.
According to China Daily, a state-run Chinese media outlet, on May 30, the non-profit organization "Endangered Species Protection Fund" recently announced that it would pay a reward of 100,000 yuan (approximately 1.9 million won) to anyone who discovers a Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), an endangered species, after verification by experts.
The Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle is one of the rarest freshwater turtles in the world, with a total length of about 1 meter and a weight of approximately 100 kilograms. Currently, only two surviving males have been confirmed: one lives at Suzhou Zoo in Jiangsu Province, China, and the other resides in a lake in Vietnam. In Vietnam, this turtle is regarded as a sacred animal and is protected.
The organization offering the reward explained, "Since this turtle was once widely distributed in the Yangtze River, Honghe River basin, and Taihu Lake, there is a possibility that some individuals still survive in the wild, and they may also be found in ponds near temples." However, some have expressed concerns about habitat disturbance and other negative impacts that could result from indiscriminate capture attempts motivated by the reward.
Lyu Sunqing, a professor at Huangshan University in Anhui Province, stated, "The reward is meaningful in that it raises public awareness," but also pointed out, "Because of the large sum, ordinary people without expertise may recklessly enter the wild and employ illegal or harmful methods, which could injure the animals or threaten the survival of the remaining individuals." Professor Lyu, who has participated in conservation efforts for the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle since 2007, added, "Over years of investigation, there have been indications that some turtles may still survive in certain regions."
Additionally, there are concerns that the reward could encourage illegal capture or trafficking. The last officially discovered Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle in China was illegally captured at a rural market in Yunnan Province in 1998. At that time, authorities released the turtle, but its survival has not been confirmed since. Experts argue that scientific investigations and conservation strategies through international cooperation are needed, rather than offering rewards.
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