Sulawesi Expedition

Sulawesi Expedition

The Turtle Conservancy recently returned from a three week tour in Indonesia. The team held meetings with conservation groups and animal dealers about ways to help the two endemic species on the island of Sulawesi, the Sulawesi Forest Turtle and the Forsten's Tortoise.

Wildlife Reserves Singapore

Wildlife Reserves Singapore

TC director, Eric Goode, sat down with Wildlife Reserves Singapore conservation director, Dr. Sonja Luz, and discussed issues of illegal trade, confiscations of Ploughshare Tortoises in Southeast Asia, and identified species both organizations can team up with and save from extinction.

China's Booming Turtle Trade

China's Booming Turtle Trade

On April 24th, Turtle Conservancy traveled to Shunde, China to present to the Shunde Turtle Breeder's Association. This turtle expo and conference was host to over 160 different breeding operations and 10,000 visitors...

Racing Extinction

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

Star Tortoise Trade, Ivory Surveys and Much More

The October issue of the TRAFFIC Bulletin, has been published and features a number of papers highlighting the emerging online trade in wildlife.

‘Shocking’ scale of illegal trade in Indian star tortoise uncovered

‘Shocking’ scale of illegal trade in Indian star tortoise uncovered

Over 55,000 star tortoises illegally collected from just one “trade hub” in south India in one year, study found.

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!

UPDATE: Crisis in the Philippines

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

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.

Ploughshare Tortoise Confiscation Update

Ploughshare Tortoise Confiscation Update

Just before the Holidays, Turtle Conservancy’s Managing Director and veterinarian, Dr. Paul Gibbons, returned to Bangkok, Thailand together with representatives from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Richard Lewis and Tsanta Fiderana Rakotonanahary from Madagascar. The purpose of this visit was to teach a seminar on managing the health and husbandry of large groups of confiscated turtles and tortoises, and to monitor the status of the confiscated Ploughshare Tortoises that we assisted with in May 2013.