America's Largest Private Turtle Collection: Saving Endangered Species from Extinction

The video explores a secret Manhattan apartment housing over 1300 endangered turtles, rescued by Richard August and the Tewksbury Institute of Herpetology. The institute collaborates with international organizations to track illegal turtle trade. In Manhattan's Chinatown, turtles are sold illegally, with some species like the Chinese soft shell turtle being new to U.S. markets. While importing these turtles isn't illegal, selling them for food is. The video highlights the lucrative trade in rare turtles, often sold for thousands of dollars due to misconceptions about their medicinal properties. The institute aims to breed critically endangered species like the Burmese forest turtle in captivity to prevent extinction.

Why is the Burmese forest turtle critically endangered?

What are the potential consequences if nothing is done to protect endangered turtles?