Watch | 17,000 baby turtles released in the Amazon

About 17,000 endangered Taricaya turtle babies have been released in Peru's Amazon region as part of efforts to conserve the majestic species on the verge of extinction. The Taricaya were once in abundance along the Amazon but due to development and logging in the region their population numbers have been under pressure. Peru's government has classified the animals as “vulnerable” and officials hope that the mass release of the turtles will give the area a population boost.