According to a study by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute, out of the 27 species of continental turtles found in Colombia, 10 are classified as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable to extinction.
It has been found that the unsustainable consumption of their eggs, hunting for their meat, damage to their habitats, and climate change are their main threats.
Among the species facing these issues are the Dahl’s toad-headed turtle (Mesoclemmys dahli), the Magdalena River turtle (Podocnemis lewyana), and the South American river turtle (Podocnemis expansa).
WCS works to protect these turtles in various regions of the country using different conservation strategies to support their recovery.
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