The birth rate of chelonians, a group of reptiles including turtles, terrapins, and tortoises, fell by 75% in the Guaporé Valley, Rondônia—the largest nursery for these species in Brazil—when comparing 2023 to 2024.
The Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) estimates that 1.4 million chelonians hatched in 2023. Last year, the number dropped to just 349,000.
Amazon river turtles and yellow-spotted river turtles are the most common species. In addition to being affected by climate changes in the region, the yellow-spotted turtles are also targeted for illegal exploitation, as they are considered a delicacy in countries like Colombia.
Ibama attributes the decline to the climatic effects of the past year, particularly the smoke caused by wildfires that ravaged Brazil, peaking in September.
In Rondônia, the capital Porto Velho was shrouded in dense smoke, with air quality ranking among the worst in the world. Mato Grosso also suffered from the effects of the fires.
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Publish date : 2025-01-03 06:01:00
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