Prague Zoo is the First to Hatch Rare Turtles

Eleven tiny Brown Roofed Turtles hatched at the Czech Republic's Prague Zoo this month, the first of the species to hatch in any zoo in the world.

Photo Credit: Tomáš Adamec, Zoo Praha

Brown Roofed Turtles are native to South Asia, including Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. They are listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Many Turtle species in this region of the world are in decline. They are often collected illegally for the pet trade and for use in traditional Asian medicine. The Turtles' shells are ground up, mixed with herbs, and marketed as remedies for a wide variety of ailments, but there is scant evidence that these potions are effective.