‘Go Be Happy’: Thousands of Baby River Turtles Released in Peruvian Jungle

Baby river turtles native to the Amazon rainforest are seen before being freed in Iquitos, Peru, November 4, 2021. Picture taken November 4, 2021. (Reuters)
Baby river turtles native to the Amazon rainforest are seen before being freed in Iquitos, Peru, November 4, 2021. Picture taken November 4, 2021. (Reuters)
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‘Go Be Happy’: Thousands of Baby River Turtles Released in Peruvian Jungle

Baby river turtles native to the Amazon rainforest are seen before being freed in Iquitos, Peru, November 4, 2021. Picture taken November 4, 2021. (Reuters)
Baby river turtles native to the Amazon rainforest are seen before being freed in Iquitos, Peru, November 4, 2021. Picture taken November 4, 2021. (Reuters)

Some 3,000 baby river turtles native to the Amazon rainforest were released into a Peruvian river on Thursday after hatching from eggs kept on artificial beaches as part of a conservation effort.

The river turtles are considered “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and have for many years been killed for human consumption, or kept as pets.

“The importance lies in the conservation of the species in the area because it has already been threatened for a long time,” said Sabrina Pipa, a biologist who works on the protection of freshwater turtles.

“The objective is the repopulation of the species.”

The turtles carry the scientific name Podocnemis unifilis, but Peruvians call them taricayas. They are yellow-spotted and the baby ones measure just a couple of inches.

Peru has the second largest share of the Amazon rainforest after Brazil.

Scientists agree that conserving the Amazon rainforest is vital to avoid catastrophic climate change because of its ability to absorb greenhouse gases.

But over the past two decades, more than 19,700 square kilometers (7,600 square miles) of the Peruvian Amazon have been destroyed.

Pipa said the taricaya project began in 2019 and had protected about 6,000 river turtles, in addition to those conserved this year.

People gathered in the city of Iquitos to see the baby turtles make their way down a river beach towards the water.

“Go! Go be happy!,” one onlooker chanted.



Diriyah Company Sets Guinness World Record for Largest Construction Safety Lesson

Diriyah Company Sets Guinness World Record for Largest Construction Safety Lesson
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Diriyah Company Sets Guinness World Record for Largest Construction Safety Lesson

Diriyah Company Sets Guinness World Record for Largest Construction Safety Lesson

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Company has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest construction safety lesson, with the participation of 2,864 workers in Diriyah's Wadi Safar development. The record was achieved in collaboration with Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting Company (RTCC).

In a statement, Diriyah Company said the World Record certification ceremony was held at its head office on Monday.

The 30-minute safety lesson, conducted by a single safety instructor, focused on the "Top Five Critical Safety Hazards in the Construction Industry." The lesson highlighted the importance of safe working practices and personal responsibility by touching on key health and safety measures directly relevant to their daily tasks on-site and is part of a broader commitment to safety training.

Ongoing assessments will be conducted on-site, and additional training will be provided by Diriyah Company's Occupational Health, Safety, & Security program.

To accommodate the scale of the exercise, a dedicated outdoor venue with a specially designed stage was constructed, creating an environment conducive to learning while supporting the official record attempt. A structured entry and exit system using special gates was implemented to measure participation and uphold the integrity of the record attempt. This method provided a precise number of attendees, ensuring compliance with the record requirements.

Through this initiative, Diriyah Company not only set a new benchmark in construction safety training but also reinforced its solid commitment to workers' well-being.

Group CEO of Diriyah Company Jerry Inzerillo said: "This new world record, in which Diriyah's project staff gathered in Wadi Safar, one of Diriyah Company's masterplans covering an area of over 62 sq km, demonstrates our unwavering commitment to safety and our goal of ensuring everyone returns home safely to their families."

"Our health and safety management system goes above and beyond to ensure and protect the welfare of employees, contractors, and on-site teams working across the Diriyah project," he added.

Diriyah Company upholds the highest safety standards across its construction and development sites, reinforced by regular training sessions for both internal teams and external contractors.

To date, Diriyah Company has achieved a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.015 for ongoing infrastructure projects.

Wadi Safar, one of Diriyah Company's masterplans, is an exclusive sanctuary of refinement and well-being built from a rich cultural heritage. It features a range of exclusive residential options and internationally renowned hospitality, retail, and leisure venues.

In July 2024, a $2.13 billion joint venture construction contract was awarded for the development of the Royal Equestrian & Polo Club, Wadi Safar, and world-class hotels Aman Wadi Safar, Six Senses Wadi Safar, The Chedi Wadi Safar, and the Faena Wadi Safar.

Wadi Safar is also the location for the prestigious Royal Golf Club, Wadi Safar, and the 27-hole signature championship golf course designed by golf legend Greg Norman.