20 rare Royal Turtles freed into their natural habitat

TWENTY nearly-extinct Royal Turtles were released into their natural habitat in the Sre Ambel River in southwest Koh Kong province on Wednesday, a conservationist group said.

The Royal Turtle, also known as Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), is one of the world’s 25 most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles and is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as Critically Endangered.