From World Land Trust <[email protected]>
Subject A turtle in trouble
Date October 22, 2025 5:14 PM
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Dear John,

We’d like to focus this e-bulletin on a little-known species that, right now, is swimming through the winding rivers of Colombia’s Middle Magdalena Valley.

One of a kind: the Critically Endangered Magdalena River Turtle. Credit: Callie Broaddus

Meet the Critically Endangered Magdalena River Turtle (Podocnemis lewyana): one of the world’s rarest freshwater turtles, almost entirely vegetarian, and only found within Colombia. For freshwater turtle biologist Pearson McGovern, seeing these on the water is always a treat.

“They are just spectacular. The females can grow four times bigger than the males and develop these striking bright red heads.”

The female (far left) Magdalena River Turtles are significantly larger than the males and have red colouring on their heads and shells. Credit: Callie Broaddus.

Once, they may have grown even larger. At a nearby village, Pearson saw huge painted shells measuring almost as big as the all-time record.

“It was a bittersweet moment – showing how important they are culturally, but also how rare they’ve become following decades of overharvesting and habitat loss.”

A Magdalena River Turtle rests on a gently sloping, sunlit riverbank in Colombia’s Middle Magdalena Valley – ideal nesting habitat for this species. Credit: Callie Broaddus.

But now, there’s hope – a rare chance to protect perfect nesting habitat at El Silencio Reserve and help bring this species back from the brink.
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VOICES FROM COLOMBIA’S WETLANDS
In Colombia’s Middle Magdalena Valley, life follows the rhythm of the water. Each year, during the subienda…
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20 YEARS OF FUNDACIÓN BIODIVERSA COLOMBIA (FBC)
What began in 2005 as a passionate team of friends with a shared vision for Colombia’s landscapes and wildlife has now…
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WLT have designed and produced a limited edition selection of T-shirts and tote bags to celebrate our autumn appeal, Expand Colombia’s El Silencio Reserve ([link removed]) .
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