60 Minutes: The Race to Save the Tortoise

Turtle Ball

On September 28 the Turtle Conservancy held its third annual Turtle Ball at The Bowery Hotel in New York City.

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The Tortoise is a magazine dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of tortoises and turtles and their habitats worldwide.

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Christopher Walken Supports Turtle Conservation

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SE Asia Wildlife Trade

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PROMOTING THE WONDER OF TURTLES

The Turtle Conservancy is dedicated to protecting threatened turtles and tortoises and their habitats worldwide, and to promoting their appreciation by people everywhere.

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Two brave armed guards in Madagascar with one of the precious lives they are dedicated to protecting, a beautiful Ploughshare Tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora), one of the most critically endangered species of tortoises.
2018 was one of the worst years ever for tortoise #poaching. These pressures are especially hard on the beautiful endemic species of Madagascar, such as the Ploughshare. Their #beauty and rarity makes them a valuable species of “luxury pet”, and rampant poaching has resulted in their rapid decline. The #PloughshareTortoise could be extinct in the wild in as little as TWO YEARS if we don’t act fast. Please help us celebrate #turtles and #tortoises for #WorldTurtleDay; tell your friends about the plight of turtles worldwide, make an educational post on social media, share our content, and consider becoming a member of the #TurtleConservancy or making a donation to our mission. With your support, we will be able to protect even more land around the world for all #wildlife, as well as continue our mission in #Madagascar to end the poaching of tortoises for food and the illegal pet trade. Let’s put an end to it, together. Help us take a stand, visit the link in our bio to learn more!! #turtleconservancy #saveturtles

This is the Sinaloan Thornscrub Tortoise (Gopherus evgoodei). This beautiful tortoise is new to science, described as a species as recently as 2016; until then it was considered a southern population of the Desert Tortoise. In contrast to the Mojave and Sonoran Desert Tortoises, who predictably inhabit desert ecosystems, the Sinaloan Thornscrub Tortoise inhabits tropical deciduous thornscrub in the montane foothills of Pacific Mexico. The #TurtleConservancy secured ~1,000 acres of Tropical Deciduous Forest in southern Sonora, Mexico, for the protection of this vulnerable species. This project will not only contribute to the survival of a unique tortoise but also the rich biodiversity associated with this ecosystem, safeguarding the globally endangered Tropical Deciduous Forest ecosystem compromised of 36 families of tropical trees, 48 species of orchids, the highest diversity of birds in Sonora, 5 species of wild cats, and 79 species of amphibians and reptiles. Our members, donors, and supporters make this truly impactful work possible! .
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#turtleconservation #wildlifepreserve #wildlifeconservation #wildlife #turtles #tortoises #turtlesofinstagram #tortoisesofinstagram #wildlife #WorldTurtleDay #WorldTurtleDay2019

#WorldTurtleDay is right around the corner, and we want to #shellebrate some of the endangered species we are working hard to protect! Meet the Bolson Tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus). This beautiful, hardy burrower is North America's largest terrestrial reptile! It comes from the Chihuahuan Grasslands of Northern Mexico and digs its own burrows to escape the extremes of weather and predators, and these burrows in turn support the survival of many other species. The #TurtleConservancy and partners @rainforesttrust, Andy Sabin Family Foundation, HABIO, and @global_wildlife_conservation, have secured protection of over 43,000 acres of Bolson Tortoise habitat, so that the tortoises and all the other plants and animals they share their world with will be safe and able to thrive in their natural homes. When you become a member of the TC or make a donation, you are putting funds directly towards projects like this! .
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#turtleconservancy #wildlifepreserve #turtleconservation #wildlifeconservation #wildlife #tortoises #bolsontortoise #mexico #tortoisesofinstagram #turtlesofinstagram

World Turtle Day is May 23rd— just around the corner! The future of turtles and tortoises is in our hands. Turtles are the most endangered group of vertebrates in the world. Of the 356 species of turtles and tortoises worldwide, approximately 61% are threatened or already extinct. Every year species are rapidly declining and ultimately going extinct due to pressures from climate change, the pet trade, habitat destruction, human consumption, traditional medicine, invasive species and more. Within the next two decades, over one-third of the world’s turtle and tortoise species could be gone forever. Please consider helping us #shellabrate turtles this year by becoming a member of the #TurtleConservancy, making a donation, and telling your friends about turtles!! 🐢
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#worldturtleday #turtleconservancy #wildlifepreserve #turtleconservation #wildlifeconservation #wildlife #turtles #tortoises #tortoisesofinstagram

#MondayMood 😫 Tag someone who might relate to this sheepish little dude. Can anyone guess the (endangered) species? 🐢
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#turtleconservancy #turtleconservation #wildlifeconservation #turtlesofinstagram #wildlife #turtles #tortoises #tortoisesofinstagram #animals #monday #mondayblues

After decades of Mexico’s borders being closed to wildlife trade, the Mexican Spotted Wood Turtle (Rhinoclemmys rubida rubida) has been increasingly seen for sale illegally in the United States and further abroad. This rise in pet sales is a big problem for this and many other species native to Mexico, and worldwide! Turtles and tortoises don’t make very good pets, but if you must have one please consider adopting one, and only purchase captive-bred animals! .
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#turtleconservancy #turtles #tortoises #saveturtles #turtleconservation #conservation #wildlife #wildlifeconservation #tortoises

The San are a small tribe from Namibia living in the Western Kalahari Desert. The government of Namibia created a preserve of 2.2 million acres in the desert which is the home of about 2,300 San, who coexist in this harsh environment with chelonians. Around their villages, we found Leopard Tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) and Kakahari Tent Tortoises (Psammobates oculiferus). These two species show impressive signs of adaptation, living in the desert in excruciating conditions where temperature can reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit! .
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#turtleconservancy #wildlifepreserve #turtles #turtleconservation #tortoises #animals #wildlife #africa #conservation

It’s #endangeredspeciesday!! Although we wish there was no need for such a day, it’s important to acknowledge it! Please consider helping us protect turtles and tortoises worldwide, like the beautiful #ploughsharetortoise, one of the world’s most critically endangered. They are named after their elongate gular scute that juts out under their chin, used to fight rivals and harass females. We work closely with our partners @durrell_jerseyzoo to save these animals in their native #Madagascar by stopping poaching and trying to breed them in captivity. Go to turtleconservancy.org/donate to do your part, or become a member today!! .
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#endangeredspecies #tgif #turtleconservancy #wildlifeconservation #conservation #turtleconservation #tortoises

The Burmese Roofed Turtle (Batagur trivittata) used to be abundant throughout Myanmar, inhabiting the Chindwin, Sittaung and Thanlwin rivers. Unfortunately, their eggs are commonly harvested and the poaching paired with rampant habitat loss has led to their rapid decline. The species was though to be extinct until researchers rediscovered them in the early 2000s! .
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#turtleconservancy #wildlife #wildlifeconservation #turtles #turtle #turtlesofinstagram #conservation #battagur

Looking out at our beautiful preserve in Mapimí, Mexico, vital habitat of the Bolson tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus), you can imagine just why we are so committed to protecting land all around the world. Sadly, only 15% of the world’s lands and 5% of the world’s oceans are protected. We ALL depend on nature for our existence on this planet, and that’s why we hope you’ll sign and share the #GlobalDealForNature petition, urging world leaders to protect half of the Earth’s lands and seas. Visit the link in our bio to sign now and learn more through the @leonardodicapriofdn!
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#environmentalist #savetheplanet #wildlifepreserve #turtleconservancy #mothernature #nature #earth #everydayisearthday #savetheearth

@turtletweets

We present a new wildlife game! Guess who’s older, the turtle/tortoise or sirdavidattenborough! 🐢🐢🐢 Hint:… https://t.co/7fkiTg8E0E
about 2 weeks ago
RT @NatGeo: Unlike carnivores who get sodium from meat, butterflies have to find other sources—like turtle tears https://t.co/FGgwI4EE7N
about 2 weeks ago
RT @oceana: Sea turtles have some special sidekicks. #TurtleTuesday https://t.co/jxdCUEgNOo
about 2 weeks ago
Horrible! https://t.co/U2IxC3Pw1u
about 2 weeks ago
Terrestrial turtles living in humid environments like rainforest often develop green algae on their carapace. 💚 Can… https://t.co/OscjE12z58
about 2 weeks ago
Am I cute or what? This baby Angulate Tortoise was born in our #ConservationCenter in California. This species is c… https://t.co/QMpHsG2NdX
about 2 weeks ago
RT @KHayhoe: One of the most encouraging studies I've seen in a long time! @DanielleFLawson and colleagues found that kids can c… https://t.co/McSr7FHQOR
about 2 weeks ago
https://t.co/fM7N5MdJE4
about 2 weeks ago
This is a Big-headed Turtle from Southeast Asia. They are known to be excellent climbers because of their long, dex… https://t.co/59x1AVPLv7
about 2 weeks ago
Our partnership with the Turner Endangered Species Fund in New Mexico produced an outstanding number of Bolson Tort… https://t.co/VKRHtOeRso
about 2 weeks ago

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