Turtles are found in German ponds and lakes, but most of them don’t actually belong here. A new study by the Senckenberg Natural History Collections in Dresden shows that 14 out of 15 confirmed species of aquatic turtles are invasive, mostly introduced by pets that were released into the wild. This could become a problem for native ecosystems.
Panther tortoises are often poached in South Africa, and when they are rescued, their origins are usually unclear. A Dresden researcher is using DNA to track illegal wildlife trade – and help 27 animals return to the wild.
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