<p>An endangered turtle bred in captivity laid eggs for the first time in Cambodia, conservationists said this week, in a massive win for animal protection in the kingdom.</p>.<p>The animal was among five Royal Turtles -- once feared extinct in the country -- that laid more than 70 eggs.</p>.<p>Cambodia is home to several populations of endangered turtles, whose numbers have dwindled due to demand for them in Vietnam and China as delicacies and for use in traditional medicine.</p>.<p>Royal Turtles, formally classified as Southern River Terrapins, were pushed to the brink of extinction by hunting and sand mining, which destroys the banks where they lay their eggs.</p>.<p>The damage was so severe that in 2000 they were feared wiped out in Cambodia, before nests were found and a careful conservation effort began.</p>.<p>On Tuesday the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced that four Royal Turtles bred in captivity -- and one that was handed to its conservation centre in Cambodia's southwestern Koh Kong province -- successfully laid 71 eggs.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/pm-modi-calls-for-protection-of-forests-safe-habitats-for-animals-on-world-wildlife-day-957558.html" target="_blank">PM Modi calls for protection of forests, safe habitats for animals on World Wildlife Day</a></strong></p>.<p>"It's the first time that the captive female Royal Turtles have ever laid eggs since they were head-started at the centre in 2006," said Som Sitha, a conservation project manager with the WCS.</p>.<p>"The team will make artificial nests for incubation purposes or leave them as they are."</p>.<p>Given the rarity of the species in the wild, the successful egg laying is considered a massive win for Cambodia.</p>.<p>"We anticipate soon being able to produce large numbers of Royal Turtles in captivity and releasing them back into the wild," said the WCS's Steven Platt.</p>.<p>Since conservation efforts started, scores of Royal Turtles have been released back into the wild.</p>.<p>These come from eggs laid in the wild and taken into captivity, to protect them from the dangers which threaten the species' numbers.</p>.<p>Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre -- the kingdom's only dedicated turtle conservation facility -- currently holds 192 Royal Turtles, and plans to release 50 of them this year.</p>
<p>An endangered turtle bred in captivity laid eggs for the first time in Cambodia, conservationists said this week, in a massive win for animal protection in the kingdom.</p>.<p>The animal was among five Royal Turtles -- once feared extinct in the country -- that laid more than 70 eggs.</p>.<p>Cambodia is home to several populations of endangered turtles, whose numbers have dwindled due to demand for them in Vietnam and China as delicacies and for use in traditional medicine.</p>.<p>Royal Turtles, formally classified as Southern River Terrapins, were pushed to the brink of extinction by hunting and sand mining, which destroys the banks where they lay their eggs.</p>.<p>The damage was so severe that in 2000 they were feared wiped out in Cambodia, before nests were found and a careful conservation effort began.</p>.<p>On Tuesday the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced that four Royal Turtles bred in captivity -- and one that was handed to its conservation centre in Cambodia's southwestern Koh Kong province -- successfully laid 71 eggs.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/pm-modi-calls-for-protection-of-forests-safe-habitats-for-animals-on-world-wildlife-day-957558.html" target="_blank">PM Modi calls for protection of forests, safe habitats for animals on World Wildlife Day</a></strong></p>.<p>"It's the first time that the captive female Royal Turtles have ever laid eggs since they were head-started at the centre in 2006," said Som Sitha, a conservation project manager with the WCS.</p>.<p>"The team will make artificial nests for incubation purposes or leave them as they are."</p>.<p>Given the rarity of the species in the wild, the successful egg laying is considered a massive win for Cambodia.</p>.<p>"We anticipate soon being able to produce large numbers of Royal Turtles in captivity and releasing them back into the wild," said the WCS's Steven Platt.</p>.<p>Since conservation efforts started, scores of Royal Turtles have been released back into the wild.</p>.<p>These come from eggs laid in the wild and taken into captivity, to protect them from the dangers which threaten the species' numbers.</p>.<p>Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre -- the kingdom's only dedicated turtle conservation facility -- currently holds 192 Royal Turtles, and plans to release 50 of them this year.</p>