Murder on Moín Beach
Jairo Mora Sandoval was killed trying to protect Costa Rica’s sea turtles from poachers. But on the beach where he died, poachers still rule. Did Jairo die in vain? A story from Issue 3 of The Tortoise Magazine.
AZA Certification
“By meeting the highest standards, the Turtle Conservancy has shown it is a true leader in wildlife conservation.” “It takes hard work and dedication to meet Association of Zoos and Aquariums Standards,” said AZA Interim President and CEO Kris Veers at the Turtle Conservancy's 5-year recertification hearing.
Wild Ploughshare Tortoises in More Danger Than Ever
Resurrecting Lonesome George
The Untimely Death of Great-Grandfather Turtle
In Memory of Douglas Tompkins
Racing Extinction
Tune in Dec. 2 at 9PM ET/PT as Discovery premieres Academy Award-Winner Louie Psihoyos’ Racing Extinction in more than 220 countries and territories around the world. The problems are overwhelming but the solutions can start with you. #StartWith1Thing
Star Tortoise Trade, Ivory Surveys and Much More
‘Shocking’ scale of illegal trade in Indian star tortoise uncovered
Geometric Tortoise Preserve Update
Field Trip
Turtle Conservancy’s Maurice Rodrigues, James Liu, Max Maurer, and Christian Maurer participated in a local turtle survey. Masters student Thomas J. Duchak and Dr. Russell L. Burke (both of Hofstra University) are continuing a long-term (since 1998) study of a Wood Turtle population in New Jersey...
UPDATE: Philippine Forest Turtle Rescue
New Hatchlings!
A Benefit Auction for the Turtle Conservancy
TC Film about the Philippines Turtle Crisis
DISCLAIMER: This film contains graphic depictions of sick or deceased turtles that may be difficult for some viewers.
In June of this year, more than 3,800 Critically Endangered Palawan Forest Turtles were confiscated by authorities on Palawan Island in the Philippines. Within 36 hours, the TC’s Dr. Paul Gibbons and many other organizations and individuals from around the world flew there to help rehabilitate these turtles and return them to the wild. The TC’s James Liu went undercover there to get to the bottom of this global crisis and to capture it all on film. This TC film production, directed by James Liu, captures events at the crisis center, and records on hidden camera his visit the restaurant where the Philippine Forest Turtle was first rediscovered in 2001. James also managed to track down and interview one of the poachers of the confiscated turtles. What might have become a terrible tragedy turned into an amazing success story, due to the collaboration between organizations and individuals to save these turtles. We could not have done this important work without the incredibly generous support of donations from so many – thank you!
Annual Ploughshare Working Group Meeting in Madagascar
The shell of a Critically Endangered Radiated Tortoise for sale in a tourist market in Antananarivo.
Eric Goode attended a meeting of the International Angonoka Working Group at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust offices in Madagascar where the dire situation of the Critically Endangered Ploughshare Tortoise was discussed. In attendance were the Malagasy government, TRAFFIC, Durrell, and Owen Griffiths of Beanka, among others. This tortoise is in grave danger of extinction in the wild, and it is difficult to remain optimistic about its future. On a positive note, the Malagasy government approved of a select group of ex situ facilities, including the TC and Durrell, having confiscated Ploughshare Tortoises. Owen Griffiths’s new conservation project, Beanka, located on the west coast of Madagascar, is set to open in 2016 and will include a research station, a program introducing juvenile Aldabra Tortoises, and a new secure area for Ploughshares.
The Mexican Tortoise Project
A Leisurely Journal of Travel and Research. A story from Issue 3 of The Tortoise Magazine.
UPDATE: Crisis in the Philippines
A week ago we were alerted to the hearbreaking news that over 4,000 endangered turtles were confiscated from a well-organized syndicate of poachers in the Philippines, destined for the illegal food and pet trade markets in East Asia. Of these 4,000 animals, nearly 3,800 were Philippine Forest Turtles (Siebenrockiella leytensis), a Critically Endangered species that is endemic to the Island of Palawan.
Crisis in the Philippines
Authorities in Palawan confiscated over 4,000 turtles just before they were to be shipped out from their native island in the Philippines. More than 3,800 of them were endemic Philippine Forest Turtles (Siebenrockiella leytensis), a species that exists only in a very small area in the northern end of Palawan.