Houston Zoo First To Successfully Breed Big-Headed Turtles In Captitivity

The Houston Zoo proudly announced the birth of five Madagascan big-headed turtles today, the eighteenth most endangered species of turtle in the world.  It was the first birth for zoos worldwide.

Four of five Madagasgar big-headed turtles born at Houston Zoo: image via chron.com

Though most turtles have very small heads in relation to their shell size, there are several species of big-headed turtles, most of which are endangered, like the Madagascar turtle.  Here is a full-size Madagascar big-headed turtle, which once thrived in the rivers and other slow-moving fresh waters in the western lowlands of Madagascar.

Adult Madagasgar big-headed turtle: image via wikipedia.org

The Madagascar big-headed turtle has been hunted for food by the islanders and illegally shipped to Asia for its purported medicinal properties.  It is also endangered by land development.

sources: Houston Chronicle, Wikipedia

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