Twilight of the Giant Beast: The Critically Endangered 'Living Fossil' Swinhoe's Softshell Turtle

Swinhoe's softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), also known as the Yangtze giant softshell turtle or Chinese softshell turtle, is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world and is currently the most critically endangered species globally. Their carapace can exceed 1 meter in length and their weight can surpass 100 kilograms. They are characterized by unique yellow spots and patterns on their head and carapace. Historically, Swinhoe's softshell turtles were widely distributed in the lower Yangtze River basin, Taihu Lake region in China, and the Red River basin in Vietnam. However, due to human overfishing, habitat destruction (such as dam construction), and water pollution, their wild populations have drastically declined over the past few decades. The reproduction of Swinhoe's softshell turtle faces immense challenges. The number of surviving individuals globally is extremely scarce, possibly countable on a few fingers, and they are primarily found in wild lakes in Vietnam. Although scientists have discovered individual turtles in Vietnam in recent years, finding a mate and achieving artificial breeding remains complex and difficult. Each known individual's death brings this species one step closer to 'extinction in the wild'. Swinhoe's softshell turtle is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is considered a 'living fossil' and the most urgent conservation priority for preserving Earth's biodiversity. It seems there are only two left, both males, one in China and one in Vietnam.