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Malaysian Giant Pond Turtle
Paignton Zoo is currently home to one Malaysian giant pond turtle, who lives in our Tropical Trails exhibit. He is very shy, but can be spotted with an eagle eye and a bit of patience.
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Testudines
Family:
Geoemydidae
About the Malaysian giant pond turtle
The Malaysian giant pond turtle is a large and powerful freshwater species, reaching 60–80 centimetres in carapace length. With a dark brown to black shell and a massive head, it is one of Southeast Asia’s largest river turtles.
It inhabits large slow-moving rivers, lakes and swamps, feeding on aquatic plants, invertebrates and occasionally fish. Despite its size, it faces significant conservation challenges.
Conservation
This species is classified as Critically Endangered, with overharvesting and habitat loss in Malaysia and Indonesia contributing to dramatic declines.