A Julia butterfly on the nose of a yellow-spotted river turtle, Amazon Region, Ecuador

© Westend61/Getty Image

Shell yeah!. World Turtle Day

No need to hurry, because today marks the 25th anniversary of World Turtle Day. The American Tortoise Rescue (ATR) established World Turtle Day to raise awareness and protection efforts on May 23 each year. ATR has helped rehabilitate, rescue and rehome around 4,000 turtles and tortoises, working to protect them and their disappearing habitats. Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises of India (FTTI) is a citizen-driven initiative focused on documenting India's freshwater turtle and tortoise species. By sharing your turtle and tortoise observations, you help build a rich, collaborative database that highlights these often overlooked yet ecologically vital creatures. Every sighting plays a part in informing conservation priorities and protecting rare species and their habitats. Before contributing, please take a moment to review the observation guidelines.

Here we see a fascinating Amazonian phenomenon—a Julia butterfly on the nose of a yellow-spotted river turtle in Ecuador's Amazon River region. Butterflies in the Amazon are known to sip the tears of turtles, which provide a vital source of sodium, a mineral in short supply. The yellow-spotted river turtle is one of the largest river turtles in South America. While these turtles are well-adapted to the waters, they face a range of threats from humans, birds, snakes, large fish, frogs and mammals. In the 1960s, they were heavily exploited for the American pet trade, leading to strict regulations on their importation. Today, a captive, self-sustaining population exists in the United States, with some living over 30 years in captivity.