Cambodia's Royal Turtle is nearly extinct, with fewer than 10 left in the wild, because increased sand dredging and illegal clearance of flooded forest have shrunk its habitat, a conservationist group warned. The Wildlife Conservation Society said that for several years the small remaining population of Royal Turtles has been successfully protected in the Sre Ambel river system by a joint project of the government's Fishery Administration and WCS. But a recent increase in disturbance along the river system in Koh Khang province, the only place the turtle is still found in Cambodia, is putting the species at great risk, it said.

Grauer's gorilla population down 77%

The Grauer's gorilla, the world's largest primate, has been a source of continual worry for conservationists for more than two decades. Long-standing conflict in the deep jungles of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo left experts with no choice but to guess at how that gorilla subspecies may be faring. Now, with tensions abating somewhat, researchers finally have an updated gorilla head count — one that confirms their fears. According to findings compiled by an international team of conservationists, Grauer's gorilla populations have plummeted 77 percent over the last 20 years, with fewer than 3,800 of the animals remaining.

China gives update on Mars mission

Work is proceeding quickly on China's planned mission to land a rover on Mars by 2020, the chief administrator of the country's ambitious space program said. Formally announced in January, China's Mars voyage will attempt to recreate the success of the U.S. Viking 1 mission that landed a rover on the planet four decades ago. "What we would like to do is to orbit Mars, make a landing, and rove around for reconnaissance in one mission, which is quite a challenge," China National Space Administration head Xu Dazhe said.

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