【2011 Archives】

Hello011 Archives turtle friend.

The months-old blob seen above is an Asian giant softshell turtle. Scientists long thought this species was extinct in the Cambodian portion of the Mekong River — until they discovered some stragglers in the early 2000s.

SEE ALSO: This frog's slime can destroy flu viruses

Since then, conservation groups have worked with local communities and officials to boost the wild population of these endangered turtles. A team recently released 150 hatchlings back into their natural habitat, bringing the running total to more than 7,700 baby turtles in the past 10 years.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Huge swaths of the turtle's habitat in southeast Asia have disappeared due to urban and industrial development along the Mekong River, which flows more than 3,000 miles from China to Vietnam. The sand where turtles breed is routinely hauled away for use in construction projects, while fishing nets scoop up hatchlings. Poachers also take turtles and their eggs to sell for food.

"The species has quite a wide historical range across Asia ... but much of that range is now completely gone," said Joe Walston, who worked extensively with softshell turtles in Cambodia for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), where he's now vice president for global conservation.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

The freshwater turtle species is officially listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List, an authoritative inventory of threatened plant and animal species.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

For the last decade, WCS, Conservation International, the Turtle Survival Alliance and local groups have worked to protect turtle nests and breeding grounds. Their goal is to ensure eggs will multiply and hatch, and that baby turtles grow strong enough to eventually fend for themselves in the wild.

Walston said he first went to Cambodia shortly after the end of the Khmer Rouge, the brutal regime that controlled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979.

"We had no idea what the state of species would be in the area," he recalled. "But we did know that the Mekong River holds some of the largest examples of freshwater turtles and fish, including the giant Mekong catfish, the giant Mekong ray, and some of these giant softshell turtles."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Initial surveys in 2003 and in 2007 found two small populations of the blob-like turtles along a 30-mile stretch between the Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.

Conservation efforts soon followed, including a program to hire former egg collectors to help search for and protect nests instead of harvesting the eggs, said Sun Yoeung, WCS's project coordinator for Asian giant softshell turtles.

Turtle friend, we're so glad you made it.

---

Featured Video For You

---

Scientists are trying to save reef turtles who are dying from mysterious tumors

---

• Deals
• Life
• Digital Culture
• Shopping
• Science
• Entertainment
• Tech
• Social Good

• Today's Hurdle hints and answers for May 5, 2025
• Story Time! by Sadie Stein
• Happy World Book Day, and Other News by Sadie Stein
• What We’re Loving: Underwater Photography, Semicolons, Rimbaud by The Paris Review
• Best Apple deal: Save $19 on AirTag 4
• Happy World Book Day, and Other News by Sadie Stein
• Cult Classic: Defining Katherine Mansfield by Kirsten O'Regan
• Fair’s Fair: An Interview with Neil Freeman by John Lingan
• NYT Strands hints, answers for May 2
• Chinua Achebe, 1930–2013 by Sadie Stein

• Max is cracking down on password
• Hurricane Harvey may have destroyed 1 million cars—and changed the U.S. used auto market
• iOS 17.4 can automatically add Apple Card purchases to iPhone budgeting apps
• 10 SXSW films you'll want to know about before the fest begins
• Miami mother delivers baby alone during Hurricane Irma, which inspired the newborn's name
• SpongeBob Xbox Series X sold out almost instantly
• Richard Branson Shares Photos of His Private Island After Irma
• Reddit introduces AI tool to filter out harassment
• Earth sends Cassini a whole lot of love after the mission comes to a bittersweet end
• Seeing 'Dune: Part 2' 10 times? We spoke to the fan who's already done it.

• The best day to book your flight, according to Google
• What We’re Loving: Romanian Cinema, African Art by The Paris Review
• The Joy of Books by Sadie Stein
• We Have a Winner! by Sadie Stein
• Best robot vacuum deal: Eufy Omni C20 robot vacuum and mop at record
• #Librariansasteenagers, and Other News by Sadie Stein
• Happy Birthday, Edward Gorey by Clare Fentress
• Kafka, Literally by Spencer Woodman
• The Anatomy of Liberal Melancholy
• What We’re Loving: Crapalachia, Welty, Animalia by The Paris Review

• Music is the secret weapon of Mario Speedrunners
• Happy Birthday, George! by Sadie Stein
• Papal Abdication: A Potpourri of Popery by Mike Duncan and Jason Novak
• Maps by Ben Lytal
• Ryzen 5 1600X vs. 1600: Which should you buy?
• Last Chance, Poseurs! Win a Briefcase by Sadie Stein
• Day of Kings by Sadie Stein
• DFW: the Trading Card, and Other News by Sadie Stein
• Apple iPhone 17 Pro leaks highlight major new design change
• Seven Sensational Party Spaces by Evan James