The global population of freshwater turtles has recently been depleted by the progressive loss of their natural habitat, the lucrative pet trade and hunting for food. According to a new report from Conservation International, action is urgently needed to save them from extinction. Paul van Dijk, director of the Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program, warns that 40% of these reptiles – whose origins date back to the age of the dinosaurs – could be lost forever if action is not taken.
To survive, the turtles that populate lakes, rivers and estuaries, and in some cases marshes and mangroves, need clear waters with "underwater plants that can only grow if the waters are not too cloudy," explains van Dijk. The construction of hydroelectric dams on rivers is one of the main current threats to their environment.
The data has been presented on the occasion of the celebration of World Water Week , which has been held between September 5 and 11 and has revolved around the theme of "how to face the challenge of poor water quality ."
