Overview

A report just published by the Turtle Conservation Coalition calls attention to the grave conservation status of the world's tortoises and freshwater turtles. According to Turtles in Trouble: The World’s 25+ Most Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles – 2018, more than half of the currently recognized 356 species of turtles and tortoises are threatened with extinction. Among all animals, only the nonhuman primates, with approximately 60% of species threatened with extinction, are in a more precarious state. The report updates earlier assessments, and adds two new species to the most endangered list.

The Turtle Conservation Coalition is an informal coalition of leading turtle conservation organizations, including Turtle Conservancy, IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, Turtle Survival Alliance, Global Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Chelonian Research Foundation, Turtle Conservation Fund, and Conservation International.

Top 25+

So which species of turtles and tortoises made the list? Click here to view the entire list online.

Download PDF

Download a compressed PDF version of the Turtles in Trouble: The World’s 25+ Most Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles 2018 publication.

Order a copy

This edition of the publication has been beautifully printed. The price per copy is $10 to cover shipping and processing.

The Turtle Conservation Coalition

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Turtles in Trouble

The last Pinta Island Tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonii) went extinct on June 24, 2012. The Turtle Conservation Coalition is a group of organizations working to prevent any further extinctions.