Exploring Lake Khanka: Home to the Chinese softshell turtle
Learn about the Chinese softshell turtle of Lake Khanka.
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Transcript
The banks of Lake Khanka on the border between Russia and China - it's a haven for birds and home to some unusual animals, the Chinese softshell turtle. Lake Khanka is one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia and a breeding site for nearly 5,000 pairs of herrings.
The softshell turtle has its most northerly refuge here on the lake and it's surprisingly resilient. For seven months of the year, the lake is covered in a thick sheet of ice. The turtles have to make the most of the short summer. They take every opportunity to haul out onto the sandbanks to soak up the sun’s warming rays. But not everyone is willing to share their sun bed. As so often, the smaller ones have to make way for the bigger and stronger. But eventually everyone finds a place in the sun.
The softshell turtle has its most northerly refuge here on the lake and it's surprisingly resilient. For seven months of the year, the lake is covered in a thick sheet of ice. The turtles have to make the most of the short summer. They take every opportunity to haul out onto the sandbanks to soak up the sun’s warming rays. But not everyone is willing to share their sun bed. As so often, the smaller ones have to make way for the bigger and stronger. But eventually everyone finds a place in the sun.