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Friday Photo: I shall call her “Flipper”

© CI-Cambodia/David Emmett Phnom Penh, Cambodia – One of the world’s largest and least studied freshwater turtles has been found in Cambodia’s Mekong River, raising hopes that the threatened species can be saved from extinction. Scientists from Conservation International (CI), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Cambodian Fisheries Administration, and the Cambodian Turtle Conservation Team captured ...

By , a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.
601807_070518_turtle_05.jpg
601807_070518_turtle_05.jpg

© CI-Cambodia/David Emmett

© CI-Cambodia/David Emmett

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – One of the world’s largest and least studied freshwater turtles has been found in Cambodia’s Mekong River, raising hopes that the threatened species can be saved from extinction.

Scientists from Conservation International (CI), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Cambodian Fisheries Administration, and the Cambodian Turtle Conservation Team captured and released an 11-kilogram (24.2-pound) female Cantor’s giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) during a survey in March.

Thanks to the nice people at Conservation International for allowing us to use this very cool photograph. 

Blake Hounshell is a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.

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