German biologist Sabine Schoppe dies after saving thousands of endangered turtles

German biologist Sabine Schoppe, who directed conservation programs for the critically endangered Palawan forest turtle, has died at the age of 63, Mongabay reported. Schoppe established a refuge in the Philippines to protect the freshwater species and spearheaded emergency response actions to care for thousands of confiscated reptiles. [1][2]

Mongabay reported that Philippine officials confiscated thousands of turtles stored inside cement tanks at a warehouse in Palawan on June 17, 2015. Among the seized animals were more than 3,800 Palawan forest turtles that had been piled up to a dozen deep while awaiting export. Butler Nature and Mongabay both reported that Schoppe organized the rescue effort for the animals. Mongabay added that many turtles had developed shell ulcers, open wounds on their feet, or bite marks from being crowded together in the tanks. [1][3]

The Palawan forest turtle, known scientifically as Siebenrockiella leytensis, is a freshwater turtle species endemic to the Palawan archipelagic province in the Philippines. The species is classified as critically endangered and is known locally as bakoko in the Cuyonon language. Palawan constitutes the largest province in the Philippines by area and encompasses unique terrestrial and marine ecosystems. [4][5][6]