Turtle Conservancy News and Program Updates
Along with interfering in American elections, the Russians have now established themselves at the Turtle Conservancy–Russian tortoises, that is. Ten of the tortoises arrived over this summer as homeless rescues, abandoned when their owners tired of them. Our Russians are settling in nicely; they are completely uninterested in computers, so we're not concerned about their hacking into our systems...
The 7th issue of The Tortoise is here! 148 pages of full-color exploration of how turtles and tortoises influence people, politics and the arts. The feature articles span the globe, from Robert Kennedy Jr’s animal filled life to an Amazonian eco-travel expedition in Peru to the turtle collectors of Europe. This issue of The Tortoise Magazine will be sure to captivate conservationists, art enthusiasts, and world travelers alike.
Get your issue today, by purchasing any tier TC Membership on our website or by purchasing directly from our store. If you are a current member you will be receiving your copy of Issue 7 in the coming weeks.
In mid-June, a team of researchers from TC and HABIO, TC’s Mexican sister organization, spent nearly a week in Mexico’s Bolson de Mapimí to survey the Critically Endangered Bolson Tortoise. In 2016, HABIO and TC purchased the 43,000-acre San Ignacio Ranch at the heart of Mexico’s Bolson de Mapimí desert plateau; at the time the ranch was understood to be inhabited by a good population of tortoises, but no systematic population survey has ever been carried out…
The Turtle Conservancy’s Geometric Tortoise Preserve near Cape Town just got ten new residents! In a recent joint effort between our preserve, CapeNature and an adjoining farm owner we were able to rescue ten geometric tortoises from unsuitable habitat associated with a new 25 acres farm reservoir development…
As previously reported, 10,976 Critically Endangered Radiated tortoises were discovered in Toliara, a town on the southwestern coast of Madagascar. Authorities received complaints of a disturbing smell of death and excrement coming from a two-story house. Upon inspection, thousands of juvenile tortoises occupied the floors, sinks, and bathtubs. They had no food, no water and were lying in their own waste. Over 500 were already dead…
Why bother saving turtles and tortoises from extinction? Do they even really matter??
Of course they do! Besides being absolutely adorable, turtles are critical components of ecosystems around the globe. Turtles and tortoises play vital roles in seed dispersal and vegetation control, they are ecosystem engineers creating burrows for other species, and cultural icons throughout the world.
In honor of World Turtle Day®, everything in our online store is 25% off! All proceeds help support turtle programs around the world - land purchases, research grants, habitat restoration and releases! Also be sure to check out our new membership levels to get the latest turtle and tortoise publications.
World Turtle Day®, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is intended to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.
Thank you New York! Despite the blistering cold, several thousand New Yorkers attended the Earth Day Initiative in Union Square on April 14th to learn about ways they can help the planet.
The Turtle Conservancy was there to educate the public about one of the most imperiled groups of vertebrates on the planet - turtles and tortoises! Over half of the 350+ species are threatened with extinction. We also taught people about our native turtles, the issues with single use plastics, and what everyone can do to combat climate change.
For New Yorkers that missed it, email us so we can keep you up-to-date on events and volunteer opportunities in the city!
Today is Earth Day, an opportunity to celebrate our planet and support the protection of the environment. The Turtle Conservancy has preserved 53,000 acres of critical habitat around the globe. With your support we will continue our crusade to protect turtles and tortoises and their habitats. Please consider supporting the work of the Turtle Conservancy on this day for the Earth.
