Our staff are hard at work building expanded enclosures for several species at the Conservation Center. Since opening in 2005, the Turtle Conservancy has continuously updated the center to provide turtles and tortoises with naturalistic, spacious habitats.

Right now, our team is creating new desert-inspired landscapes—mimicking the Sonoran Desert for the Bolson Tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus) and the Mojave Desert for the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii).

As our Galapagos Tortoises (Chelonoidis niger) continue to grow, they’ll move into a larger habitat designed to encourage their natural behaviors. Their new space will include ponds for soaking on hot days, foliage for foraging, and cacti for shell scratching.

At the Turtle Conservancy, we’re committed to giving our animals the opportunity to live as naturally as possible, safe from the threats of poaching and habitat loss. Not only does each turtle assure that these species will live on, these animals serve as ambassadors for turtles worldwide, sparking curiosity and inspiring people to get involved in conservation.

Want to meet them yourself? Visit our Conservation Center in Ojai, CA by becoming a member today at turtleconservancy.org/membership.