Animals in Danger

The Far Eastern turtle

The Far Eastern tortoise (*Pelodiscus sinensis*) is a unique soft-bodied turtle found in the Russian Far East, as well as in China, Korea and Japan. It is distinguished by its soft, skin-covered shell. The turtle is mainly nocturnal, feeds on fish, amphibians and invertebrates, and lives in stagnant or slow-flowing bodies of water. The species is threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction, poaching and climate change, therefore it is listed in the Red Book of Russia. Measures are needed to preserve this rare and valuable species.