European Pond Turtle

My life in the natural world is full of ‘Wow!’ moments. Today was one of them. It was a multiple ‘Wow!’ when I spotted a small black head in the water of the stream at Parco della Caffarella in Rome.

Pond Turtle - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

There’s a European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis, in the stream. Yes, ‘Wow!’

Isn’t it fabulous?

Pond Turtle - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

We used to have them in the UK after the last Ice Age. The went extinct there 4,000 years ago. With climate change they could easily live here again now. The usual life span of the European Pond Turtle is between 40 and 60 years. They can live over 100 years.

Pond Turtle - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

They are an exceptional animal.

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