Turtle species nears extinction as last known female dies

The Yangtze giant softshell turtle, a critically endangered species that has populated the earth for 270 million years - outliving the dinosaurs - has taken a step closer to extinction following the death of the only known female.

The female turtle died after an artificial insemination procedure at the Suzhou Zoo in Jiangsu province on Saturday. Though Chinese and foreign experts confirmed that it was healthy before the surgery, the animal went into a coma and never woke up.

The operation went well, according to the zoo. The female turtle was more than 90 years old and had gone through four such procedures.