Animals
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Turtles
Turtles have long been a popular food for people living in the Amazon basin. As a food source they seemed ideal, rich in protein and (at that time) apparently inexhaustible. Early Amazon explorers described passing Indian villages where thousands of turtles were farmed in pens alongside the river. On encountering a turtle while out hunting, the Indians would stop to flip the turtle onto its back then continue hunting, and retrieve the turtle when they returned. Once on its back, the turtles were unable to right themselves, but they could reportedly survive for several weeks – meaning that they would still be alive when the hunters returned. During breeding season some beaches and waterways were literally clogged with turtles. Another popular food were the turtles' eggs. They were a delicacy, but they were also full of oil. Unfortunately for turtles, this oil proved to be very useful. In the days before access to petroleum and refineries, many oils were obtained from animal products such as whale blubber and turtle eggs. Turtle egg oil was used primarily for lamps and other domestic uses, and exported worldwide. During the heights of the industry, some 48 million eggs (the fruits of 400,000 females) were crushed and exported from the upper Amazon each year. The combination of hunting, habitat destruction and the turtle egg industry over more than a century decimated turtle numbers. The seemly inexhaustible supply disappeared almost entirely. During the breeding season, a female tartaruga turtle lays about 120 eggs, buried in a hole a half-metre deep, along a riverbank. These eggs incubate for two months. If the eggs manage to escape rising floodwaters, predators, and man, the eggs hatch and the baby turtles climb upwards through the sand. Life for these baby turtles is very cruel. Many die before managing to dig themselves free. Others die on the beach – falling victim to birds and other animals. And those which finally make it into the water are easy prey for jacarΘs, piranhas and various other fish. Fewer than one hatchling in 500 survives the seven years to maturity. Today, there are very few tartaruga turtles left. Agencies are working hard to help save those which are left – but there still problems with illegal hunting and collection of eggs. Turtles remain as a traditional food for Indian tribes, and many caboclos living along the riverbanks won't miss down the opportunity if they stumble across a live turtle. Tartaruga turtles are even still said to appear on the menu at some exclusive Sπo Paulo restaurants. Conservationists hope to improve the tartaruga's survival chances through better education programmes for people living in remote areas and harsh penalties for anyone discovered killing the turtles or disturbing nests. The tartaruga isn't the only species of turtle living in the Amazon basin. There are several other species – some with bizarre appearances. Like the tartaruga, their numbers have been depleted due to destruction of their habitat, hunting, and collection of their eggs. |
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The
Amazon basin is home to the world's biggest freshwater turtle – the tartaruga.
These turtles can live for thirty years and reach up to 70 kg (150 lb).