AKP Phnom Penh, May 24, 2026 —

A total of 257 Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle hatchlings have been discovered on sand beaches along the Mekong River in Cambodia.

The discovery was made by the Turtle Conservation Team led by the General Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Cambodia.

According to WCS Cambodia, the conservation team found 14 Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle nests along the Mekong River in 2026. So far, 12 nests have successfully hatched 257 turtles, while the remaining two nests are still being monitored.

Among the newly hatched turtles, 43 hatchlings safely entered the Mekong River naturally after hatching. The remaining 214 hatchlings were carefully transported to the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Center (KKRCC), where they will receive proper care and protection before being released back into the wild. This process helps improve their chances of survival in nature.

The successful discovery of these nests and hatchlings is an important conservation achievement. It reflects the strong collaboration between the General Directorate of Fisheries, WCS Cambodia, local authorities, and fishing communities in protecting natural habitats and preventing fishery crimes along the Mekong River, especially illegal fishing activities.

WCS Cambodia appealed to all fishermen and community members not to catch Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtles for food or trade, and to help protect their habitats.​ ​​ ​

(Photo: WCS-Cambodia)

By C. Nika