More Royal Turtles Crawling in the Sand

A breeding program for the endangered royal turtle is underway in Cambodia.

“This year, 122 royal turtles were successfully hatched. We hope to see that increase to 200 next year,” says Thorn Phon, coordinator for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Royal Turtle and Siamese Crocodile Management and Conservation Project.

The royal turtle was once thought extinct in Cambodia but was rediscovered in 2000. The turtle population has greatly benefited from the successful breeding program, alongside other conservation measures, such as greater patrolling of illegal fishing within the country. Today, royal turtles are only found in the three Asian countries of Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia and are classified as critically endangered.