Pig-Nose Turtle: Carettochelyidae

Collection of the pig-nose turtle for food and as pets, combined with loss or destruction of their habitat, or preferred living areas, have all threatened this turtle. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has given its status as Vulnerable, meaning that it faces a high risk of extinction, or dying out, in the wild. Logging and farming can destroy waterside plants and drastically increase erosion (ih-ROH-zhen), or wearing away of the land, both of which can affect the turtles. In addition, the passage of water buffalo on their way to watering holes may also hurt the turtles' chances of survival. The buffalos crush the plants that the turtles eat, and they also trample across the beaches used by the turtles to lay their eggs. Heavy foot traffic can destroy the nests and the eggs inside.