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In 2025 a drone survey revealed the largest known nesting gathering of giant South American river turtles — more than 41,000 of them massing on a single stretch of riverbank.

Guaporé River survey (2025)

NatureScience

Why it matters

The idea in context

The count came from the Guaporé River on the Brazil–Bolivia border, where the turtles haul out together to lay eggs. Counting nesting animals from the air, frame by frame, gives far better numbers than people on the ground and without disturbing the herd. Knowing the true size of such gatherings is the first step to protecting them from poaching and river change.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

2025'te bir dron araştırması, dev Güney Amerika nehir kaplumbağalarının bilinen en büyük yuvalama topluluğunu ortaya çıkardı — tek bir nehir kıyısı şeridinde toplanan 41.000'den fazla birey.
Guaporé Nehri araştırması (2025)

Sayım, kaplumbağaların yumurta bırakmak için birlikte kıyıya çıktığı Brezilya-Bolivya sınırındaki Guaporé Nehri'nden geldi. Yuvalayan hayvanları havadan, kare kare saymak, sürüyü rahatsız etmeden yerdeki insanlardan çok daha iyi sonuç verir. Böyle toplulukların gerçek büyüklüğünü bilmek, onları kaçak avlanma ve nehir değişiminden korumanın ilk adımıdır.

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Background reading: Giant South American river turtleAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
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