Where is the world's largest nesting site of endangered giant river turtles?

The answer

In 2025, researchers identified the world's largest known nesting site of endangered giant South American river turtles (Podocnemis expansa) along the Guaporé River on the Brazil-Bolivia border. Scientists recorded more than 41,000 of these large reptiles - the biggest freshwater turtles in South America, reaching up to 90 cm in length and 60 kg in weight - congregating to nest along the river's sandy banks. The discovery is critical for conservation because giant river turtles have been heavily hunted for their eggs and meat for centuries, causing population crashes across the Amazon basin. The remote location of the nesting site may have helped protect this population from exploitation.