Last Hope for Rescue: The Search for the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle

It is one of the rarest turtle species in the world — it may even be the rarest of all: the Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei). The species is critically endangered and may already have disappeared from the wild. At present, only two male individuals are known worldwide. Yet there is one last glimmer of hope: In China, every effort is currently being made to track down a surviving animal in the wild — with public support and a large reward.

100,000 Yuan for a Photo

In May 2025, the Chinese NGO Endangered Species Fund launched an unusual and highly public campaign: 100,000 yuan — about 12,000 euros — is being promised to whoever can provide a reliable photo or video of a wild Yangtze giant softshell turtle. The appeal spread quickly on social media, and hundreds of submissions came in. But none showed a genuine individual. Instead, many of the images were pet turtles, animals from temple ponds, blurry shots, or simply photos copied from the internet. Most also depicted other species — such as the Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) or the Ganges softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica).

A central problem in reviewing the submissions: No one knows exactly what juvenile Yangtze giant softshell turtles look like. All known individuals were fully grown. It is therefore quite possible that younger animals were overlooked in the past or mistakenly assigned to other species — and as a result were never protected in a targeted way.

Despite the disappointing results so far, Zhang Xiaolei, head of the NGO, views the campaign positively. Speaking to Sixth Tone, he said: “Many people knew nothing about these turtles before. Now they are interested in protecting them.”

Zhang has been involved in conservation efforts around the species since 2019. With his small team, he has carried out numerous searches in southern and central China — often under difficult conditions and with hardly any resources. Hopes are currently focused on the remote Honghe Basin in China’s southwestern Yunnan Province, which is considered a possible last refuge of the species.

About the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle

The Yangtze giant softshell turtle is considered one of the most impressive — and at the same time most endangered — freshwater turtles in the world. With body lengths of over one meter and a weight of more than 100 kilograms, it is probably the largest known freshwater turtle species. Its life expectancy is more than 100 years. The flat, leathery shell and soft body structure are ideal adaptations to life on the bottom of large rivers. Although it may appear rather sluggish in its movements, it is surprisingly agile underwater.

Historically, Rafetus swinhoei was widespread across large parts of the Yangtze river system in China, as well as in northern Vietnam in the Red River basin. In southern China, the species was also documented in the Gejiu, Yuanyang, and Jianshui regions and in the Honghe Basin. Between 1999 and 2005, there were multiple sightings in Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. However, an injured individual captured there in 2011 died in early 2016. Some Vietnamese researchers had temporarily described it as its own species (Rafetus leloii), but today most experts assume it is simply a synonym of Rafetus swinhoei.

The causes of the dramatic decline of the Yangtze giant softshell turtle are manifold: River regulation, straightening, wetland drainage, and the construction of numerous dams have severely restricted its habitat. In addition, there is increasing water pollution and the loss of suitable nesting sites. Moreover, the species was intensively hunted for decades — both for meat and for use in traditional Chinese medicine. The result: a dramatic population crash that ultimately left only a few individuals — too few to recover on their own.

Last Known Individuals: Two Males

Worldwide, only two living individuals of the Yangtze giant softshell turtle are currently known — both male. One of them, nicknamed “Susu”, lives at Suzhou Shangfangshan Forest Animal World in eastern China and is likely over 100 years old. The second animal lives in Xuan Khanh Lake in northern Vietnam. The last known female was found dead in April 2023 in the nearby Dong Mo Lake. Another female had already died in 2019 after several unsuccessful attempts at artificial insemination. Since the loss of both females, natural or assisted reproduction no longer seems possible.

One Percent Hope

Despite all setbacks, Zhang Xiaolei remains optimistic: “The chance of finding a wild individual may be only one percent — but if it succeeds, it would be a breakthrough.” Even if the search remains unsuccessful, Zhang already sees the campaign as a success. It has drawn public attention to the fate of a nearly forgotten species — and at the same time to the threat facing many other turtle species in China.

At the same time, the initiative highlights structural deficits in conservation: there is a lack of scientific research, a lack of experienced specialists with field expertise, and a lack of long-term funding. Even isolated surveys are often carried out uncoordinated and without sustained support.

But there is also criticism of the reward campaign. Wen Cheng of the IUCN Turtle Specialist Group warns of possible negative consequences: reward campaigns could encourage wildlife capture, disturb habitats, or endanger native species — especially when animals are misidentified. Since even experts have difficulty distinguishing juvenile Yangtze giant softshell turtles from the more common Chinese softshell turtle, well-meaning reports by laypeople could unintentionally cause harm. Wen therefore argues for long-term, scientifically supervised monitoring programs.

For Zhang, public backing is still crucial — especially in a field that lacks attention and resources: “China is home to more than 20 turtle species, many of them threatened with extinction. If we manage to make more people aware of protecting them, that is already a big step forward.”

Recently, Zhang received a new tip from Yunnan Province: a large turtle is said to have been sighted there. He plans to follow up on the lead in person at the end of June or the beginning of July.

What Can Still Be Done?

The future of the Yangtze giant softshell turtle looks bleak, but it is not entirely hopeless. If there are indeed previously undiscovered individuals in remote temple ponds, refuge waters, or little-studied regions, targeted genetic analyses and long-term breeding programs could open up new perspectives. However, this would require timely proof of surviving animals.

International cooperation also plays a central role: sharing genetic data, joint monitoring projects, and training local experts could substantially advance the protection and research of the species.

Above all, however, one thing is decisive: more public attention, significantly more financial resources for research and species preservation, and effective protection of the remaining habitats. Because what helps the Yangtze giant softshell turtle could also benefit numerous other endangered turtle species.

Source

• He, Q. (June 17, 2025). Shell game: In China, a $14K reward for a turtle that may be extinct. Sixth Tone.
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