More than 14,000 Amazon turtles went back into the rivers
Sernanp and CIMA-Cordillera Azul put 14,645 taricayas, charapas, and teparos back into Amazon waters, including 6,640 on October 16.
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Peru's park service spent the middle of October putting Amazon river turtles back into the water. Peru21 reported on October 17, 2026, that the Ministry of Environment, through Sernanp, and the conservation group CIMA-Cordillera Azul released 14,645 turtles in and around Cordillera Azul National Park.
The count was 14,146 taricayas (Podocnemis unifilis), 454 charapas (Podocnemis expansa), and 45 teparos. On Friday, October 16, 6,640 taricayas and charapas went into Quebrada Carnaval and the Cushabatay and Ucayali rivers. Releases had already begun on October 9 in San José de Yanayacu, Santa Catalina, and Boca Noaya.
Peru21 said the turtles face illegal egg collection, capture of the animals themselves, and changes to the waters they use. Charapas are among the largest freshwater turtles in South America. The October releases are a return of animals that had been kept for that purpose. They are not a new census of how many turtles now live in those rivers.
For the classroom
In October 2026, people in Peru's Amazon put freshwater turtles back into rivers around Cordillera Azul National Park. Peru21 reported that the releases added up to 14,645 turtles: 14,146 taricayas, 454 charapas, and 45 teparos. On October 16 alone, 6,640 taricayas and charapas went into Quebrada Carnaval and the Cushabatay and Ucayali rivers. Other releases had started on October 9. Peru's park service, Sernanp, did the work with CIMA-Cordillera Azul. These turtles are still taken for eggs and meat. This news is about animals going back into the river. It does not say how many live there now.
- Why would people raise turtles and then let them go?
- What can make life harder for a turtle in a river?
- What is one way your class could help animals that live near water?
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