Endangered freshwater turtle spotted at Mossan Wetland along Ulsan's Hoeya River

The Ulsan city government announced Monday that three Reeves' turtles — a native freshwater species designated both a natural monument and a Class II endangered wild species — were observed at Mossan Wetland along the Hoeya River in Tongcheon-ri, Ungchon-myeon, Ulju-gun, during a wetland survey June 15.

Mossan Wetland is an oxbow lake formed when a bend of the middle Hoeya River was cut off from the main channel. Its slow-moving, shallow waters support a rich array of biodiversity, including aquatic plants such as yellow water lily, water chestnut, common reed, bulrush, iris and knotweed, as well as insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles and migratory birds.

The Reeves' turtle is one of Korea's two native freshwater turtle species, alongside the soft-shelled turtle. It has three prominent ridges running along its hard shell and is an omnivore that inhabits slow-moving paddies, irrigation channels, streams and reservoirs, feeding on aquatic insects, pond snails, fruit and vegetation.

Populations have declined sharply due to pesticide use in rice farming and river development. The Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy has listed the species as a Class II endangered wild species, while the Cultural Heritage Administration has designated it a natural monument.