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Involving local people in the conservation of the critically endangered freshwater turtle Dermatemys mawii in southern Mexico

Abstract:

The Central American river turtle Dermatemys mawii is one of the most endangered species in the world, and continues to decline. In Mexico, this turtle is legally protected but, in the rural areas where it is found, local people are not aware of why it is important to conserve it. This study confirmed that D. mawii inhabits lakes in southern Mexico, and that these areas are among the last refuges for this species inside and outside protected areas in the wild. A lack of knowledge about its endangered status among local people means that a strategy of environmental education is needed.