3rd June 2012
Reblogged From acoustic-memories
Notes: 156940
Check out this awesomely tiny and cute little guy! It’s a freshly-hatched Yellow-spotted river turtle.
New York’s Rosamond Gifford Zoo announced that 27 Yellow-Spotted Amazon River turtles hatched at the zoo between April 5 and April 12. Named for the yellow spots on the side of its head, it is one of the largest river turtles in South America.
“The hatching of these once-endangered species is exciting for us, as many of them will enhance the exhibits at other accredited zoos around the country,” said Ted Fox, zoo director. “Captive breeding programs are often critical in the survival of a species, and this is a success story we are proud to tell.”
Females typically lay two clutches of eggs each year, each with up to 50 eggs in it. They make their nests in sandy areas on the banks of rivers where the eggs will hatch two to three months after they are laid. In the wild, eggs are laid at the peak of the dry season so the nest will not be washed away.
The yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle is a vulnerable species, threatened by over-hunting, the pet trade and climate change. Aggressive conservation and breeding programs in their native countries is helping to sustain the population, which was once on the endangered species list. Importation of this species is now strictly regulated by federal law but a captive self-sustaining population exists in the United States—some groups in zoos, others in the hands of private collectors. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is one of just 70 institutions worldwide to house yellow-spotted Amazon River turtles.
[via ZooBorns]
Live long and prosper, little turtles!
Inside the Double Cube Room at Wilton House, near Salisbury
(Source: tirpse)
Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfries, Scotland
oh my god benedict’s photoshoots display so many different kinds of awkward
like ‘benedict why are you standing in a chair’ awkward
‘trying to ignore the snacking horse’ awkward
‘benedict do you really expect to solve that rubik’s cube with your shoulder’ awkward
‘what am i doing in this field’ awkward
‘benedict make up your mind are you in or out’ awkward
‘too long for the couch’ slash just generally awkward
‘if it’s cold enough for sheepskin perhaps you should consider a shirt’ awkward
and ‘it’s awkward how attractive you are’ awkward
omg best fucking post ever.
also i never knew he even had chest hair.
congrats ben
‘if it’s cold enough for sheepskin perhaps you should consider a shirt’ awkward
LMAOLet’s not forget ‘He’s not wearing any clothes but maybe the Financial Times is going to be the new trend of autumn’ awkward.
or ‘nobody puts my Benny in a corner’ awkward
‘There’s a rhinoceros behind you’ awkward
‘You oddly remind me of that 80s movie where the Mannequin came to life, just that this one doesn’t’ awkward
And ‘awww Benny, that’s not a baby, it’s just an award’ awkward
christ on a cracker, what is this post
Bless this post.
Bless this batch of Cumberpics
Bouquet of Puppies, London c. 1946 (by brizzle born and bred)
Inside the lobby of the City Hall building, Toronto
Holy shit Tina… Holy shit.
tina fey good at words
