Cyclanorbis elegans
Nubian Flapshell Turtle

    • Habitat:
      Large turbid rivers
    • Threats:
      - Illegal trade
      - Incidental Fishing bycatch from fishing gear
      - Collection of eggs and nesting females for local consumption
    • Conservation Efforts:
      - Field and exploratory surveysProtection of nesting banks in southern South Sudan
      - Community outreach & engagement to prevent local consumption & trade of the species
    • Wild Population:
      - Suspected to be EXTINCT until 2017, because of no specimens recorded in the wild between 1980 and 2016 and none surviving in the zoos since 2012.
      - Population reduction of 99%
    • Endangered Status:
      Critically Endangered

Fast Facts

The Nubian Flapshell Turtle Cyclanorbis elegans is the largest freshwater turtle of Africa (over 80 cm of carapace length) and a member of the family Tryonichidae.

It is listed as critically endangered by IUCN (2018) and it was even suspected to be extinct until 2017, because no specimens were recorded in the wild between 1980 and 2016 and none surviving in the zoos since 2012.

Species Snapshot

It is believed that no more than 1% of this species’ historic population survives now in the wild.

Once found in a broad range of equatorial Africa, this species is now only known to be found in the White Nile river. Heavy fishing in this area results in this species being caught in bycatch and consumed locally. The knowledge we now have of a persisting population of Nubian Flapshell Turtles in northern Uganda is all-important to better strategizing conservation actions for this near-extinct species, yet we know nothing of its distribution nor population size, and the local communities are not at all aware of the biodiversity value of this species. What we do, however, know, is that the local population suffers from overfishing, as it is captured by local fishermen both for subsistence and, more worryingly, selling to the Chinese expat community. Habitat loss seems to be the least important threat factor, as the area is quite remote and not yet severely altered by development initiatives.