Fishers spot endangered turtle in Adıyaman

Fishers in the southeastern Adıyaman province spotted an endangered Euphrates softshell turtle.

The turtle was caught on the line on the shore of the Atatürk Dam near the Kızılcapınar village, showed a video released by the fishermen. The turtle escaped from the fishing line and disappeared into the water.

Mehmet Zülfü Yıldız, an expert on marine life, told Anadolu Agency (AA) the scientific name of the critically endangered species is Rafetus Euphraticus.

Noting the turtle only lives in the Mesopotamian region, he said it is found wherever the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers flow such as in Iran, Turkey and Syria.

The turtles normally lay their eggs in the sand and soft soils on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates, but because of the construction of dams, their nesting ground has submerged, he said.

Yıldız urged fishers not to harm this endangered species and release them into the water if they get caught on the line. (VK)