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

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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 conservation efforts. ATR has helped rehabilitate, rescue, and rehome thousands of turtles and tortoises, working to protect them and their disappearing habitats.

Here we see a fascinating 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 water, they face a range of threats from humans and a variety of animals. In the 1960s, they were heavily exploited for the American pet trade, leading to strict regulations on their importation. Today, a self-sustaining population exists in the US, with some living over 30 years in captivity.