Big turtles and small turtles. Marine turtles and turtles that live on land. Rare turtles and common turtles. Here are some of the most amazing turtles in the world.
Oldest
Although it’s difficult to accurately guess a turtle’s age, Lonesome George was one of the oldest. When he died in 2012, scientists estimated that he was more than 100 years old. He was also the last of his species—the Pinta Island tortoise (the island of Pinta is in the northern regions of the Galapagos archipelago). An inscription outside Lonesome George’s old enclosure reads: “Whatever happens to this single animal, let him always remind us that the fate of all living things on Earth is in human hands.”
Rarest
There are several critically endangered turtle species in the world, but the Red River giant softshell turtle is perhaps the most threatened of all. This amazing turtle can reach a whopping 250 pounds (113 kg). There are now only four in the world. One has lived for decades in Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi, Vietnam, and is respected and worshipped by locals. Another lives in a nearby lake. Both are males. The other two—a male and a female—live in China’s Suzhou Zoo. They used to live in separate enclosures, but thanks to the work of conservation groups, they now live together. However, the male is possibly 100 years old, and so far, no viable eggs have been produced.
Most Common
One of the world’s most common turtles is the red-eared slider. This turtle does well almost everywhere and is extremely popular as a pet. Many were discarded into the wild when the people who’d bought them eventually found them too large or difficult to keep. They are one of the few turtles that don’t seem to mind being relocated. While this is an interesting adaptation, it’s also worrisome to biologists, since no one knows how the introduction of a new species will affect the existing populations.
Red-eared slider