World's Largest Turtle Maternity Ward Found in Amazon: 41,000 Pregnant Turtles Gather

• Discovery of the world's largest 'maternity ward' for Giant South American River Turtles (Podocnemis expansa) on the Guaporé River, bordering Brazil and Bolivia.
• Over 41,000 pregnant turtles gather annually on a vast sandy bank to lay eggs, a significant increase from previous estimates of 16,000.
• Scientists from the University of Florida and WCS used drones and statistical modeling in 2025 to accurately count the aggregation.
• The species is listed as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List, facing threats from illegal hunting, habitat destruction, and climate change.
• Accurate data from this study is crucial for effective conservation efforts and can be applied to monitor other remote wildlife.