This female felt gravid so will be taken out of the pond and x-rayed at Canyon Veterinary soon. The female is happy to swim away from these strange predators! Chris Hancock gently cradles the first eggs laid on 6 July 2007. Darrell Barnes will incubate these for the next 80 days. One egg hatched, one trying and 4 more that may or may not hatch... About the size of a quarter this turtle hatched 89 days after being laid.
This female felt gravid so will be taken out of the pond and x-rayed at Canyon Veterinary soon.
The Southern Pacific Pond Turtle
used to be a common resident along the rivers of California, but
with a 95% loss of riparian forests and the channelizing of most
of California's rivers, it has become close to endangered. Along
with restoration of the forest for birds and other wildlife, the
Kern River Preserve is restoring ponds for turtles and other
wildlife to once again flourish. The turtle project
is funded by a grant from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation. |