THIS little critter could hide under a 50p piece – but is set to become a big attraction at Chester Zoo.
The Vietnamese Leaf Turtle is native to the mountainous regions of northern Vietnam and southern China but is now close to extinction in the wild.
Keeper Ruth Smith said: “Sadly, as with many other Asian turtle species, the Vietnamese leaf turtle is now faced with an extremely high risk of extinction.
“Illegal poaching by the pet trade, combined with habitat loss and the ongoing demand for them in the Asian food and medicinal markets, means the outlook for the species is pretty grim.
“Indeed, they’ve recently been classed as being one of the most threatened tortoise and turtle species in the world.”
Keepers now hope the turtle will play an important role in a breeding programme.
