Today’s Solutions: November 22, 2024

It’s been a big year for turtles, with the pandemic allowing turtles to hatch on beaches that are free of humans. This week, however, a remarkable hatching event took place on the Purus River in Brazil as a reported 90,000 giant South American river turtles were born. 

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) staff monitor the delicate nests for months leading up to the yearly hatching and this year, they were delighted to see record-breaking births. Due to the fact that only 1 percent of turtle hatchlings survive to see adulthood, it is common for sea turtles to lay eggs in large volumes, but 90,000 is a rare occurrence. 

The giant South American river turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world and can weigh up to 200 pounds. They play a vital role in river ecosystems cycling nutrients, scavenging, and contributing to soil dynamics. 

The huge population boom is good news for conservation efforts, but also for the survival rates of the little hatchlings. Larger birth rates allow the turtles to travel in a protected pack back to the river’s edge. In other words, there is strength in numbers. 

For wildlife, pandemic related shutdowns have been a breath of fresh air from some of the human threats these animals face. If nothing else, at least we get to celebrate thriving turtle populations this year. 

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

This Canadian didn’t want to fly from Germany to Canada—so he took a cargo ship

When Will Vibert’s European work visa was closing in on its expiration date, the Canadian was reluctant to travel back to Vancouver via plane. ...

Read More

Simple movement is connected to better brain health in older adults

It goes without saying that practicing regular exercise offers plentiful benefits for our overall health, but as we age, engaging in the same exercise ...

Read More

Passive cooling techniques reduce AC strain by up to 80 percent

In the summer months, many of us are of two minds: we’re dying to keep it cool, but we’re also dying not to spend ...

Read More

Making windows bird-friendly: a crash course on protecting our feathered friends

In 1990, Michael Mesure was on the way to a wildlife rehabilitation center. Among his passengers was a common yellowthroat, a colorful warbler that ...

Read More