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Call to Action: America’s Turtles Need Your Help

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Wildlife Experts Agree: Native Turtles in the U.S. Are Under Siege From Illegal Collection

Combined with other threats, the toll from poaching could wipe out populations of native turtles.

For Immediate Release

Contacts:

Scott Buchanan, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; 401-782-3720; [email protected]

Dave Collins, Tennessee Aquarium; 423-785-4081; [email protected]

Jennifer Sevin, University of Richmond Biology Department; 804-287-6691; [email protected]

Cristina Jones, Arizona Game and Fish Department; 623.236.7767; [email protected]

Rob Vernon, Association of Zoos and Aquariums; 301-244-3352; [email protected]

Providence, Rhode Island (May 21, 2020) – The United States has a wildlife trafficking crisis closer to home than most people realize: native turtles are disappearing from lands and waters and ending up in the hands of poachers across the country.

For those who are witnessing this crisis first hand — conservation professionals, biologists, and wildlife law enforcement officials — there is a consensus that immediate action is needed to prevent the removal of native turtles from the wild before irreversible damage is done to both rare and more common species, from bog turtles to box turtles. The U.S. is a global biological hotspot for turtles, home to 57 species, including some that only live here.

Ahead of World Turtle Day®^‚ìá on Saturday, May 23, the Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles (CCITT) ‚Äì a partnership of state, federal, academic, and nonprofit conservation professionals — the Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC), the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance (WTA) are circulating a Call to Action Letter to galvanize support for coordinated efforts to address this threat within the conservation community.

“The turtle-trafficking crisis is an urgent conservation issue across the country, and we have to work together to confront it,” said Scott Buchanan, herpetologist with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and co-chair of CCITT. “By working together to develop and align resources ‚Äì law enforcement, scientific tools, housing capacity for confiscated turtles ‚Äì we can optimize our response and help prevent future damage to these sensitive species.”

Biologically, turtles are especially vulnerable to over-collection. Some species must reproduce for their entire lives to ensure just one hatchling survives to adulthood. And it takes years, often decades, for turtles to reach reproductive age, if they make it at all. Most fall victim to predators before they mature. Others fall victim to habitat loss and car strikes when crossing roads.

Taking just a few individuals from the wild can be the difference between population persistence and population loss. Yet some people take thousands.

Recently prosecuted criminal cases involve the collection of thousands of turtles from wild populations, well-organized black-market networks, and the exchange of hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit trade.

Illegal collection diminishes wild populations that are already stressed by other threats, pushing rare species toward extinction and making common species rare.

While illegal collection is not a new problem, there is substantial evidence that the threat has risen in the past several years in response to intensifying demand from both domestic and international markets.

In the Call to Action Letter, CCITT, PARC, AZA, and WTA are asking wildlife professionals to add their names in support of a set of priority actions for establishing a united front against criminals who are trafficking in the nation’s natural heritage, with the ultimate goal of protecting populations of wild North American turtles:

• Coordinate state regulations to help address current conservation risks to these species.

• Provide additional resources for wildlife law enforcement to prevent illegal collection and trafficking.

• Enhance public outreach that communicates the severity and scale of the crisis and works towards eliminating national and international demand for wild-collected turtles.

• Increase resources for emergency housing and care of confiscated turtles to relieve strain on law enforcement organizations.

• Implement science-based planning to guide housing, care, and management outcomes for confiscated turtles.

“Many AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums already work closely with law enforcement agencies to provide critical care and housing for victims of the illegal trade, including turtles,” said Dan Ashe, President and CEO of AZA. “For this reason, we are glad to partner with CCITT and PARC to help raise awareness of turtle trafficking. Both the AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) American turtle program and the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance are committed to educating the public about the conservation and protection of turtles.”

Wildlife scientists and conservation professionals are encouraged to read the letter and add their names in support at: https://bit.ly/WorldTurtleDayCalltoAction

About CCITT

Founded in 2018, the Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles is a grassroots working group composed of state and federal biologists, wildlife law enforcement personnel, legal professionals, academics, and members from non-governmental organizations. The intent of this group is to advance efforts to better understand, prevent, and eliminate the illegal collection and trade of North America’s native turtles – a threat that puts many species at risk.

About PARC

Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) is an inclusive partnership dedicated to the conservation of the herpetofauna‚Äìreptiles and amphibians‚Äìand their habitats. The diversity of our membership makes PARC the most comprehensive conservation effort ever undertaken for amphibians and reptiles. PARC’s mission is to forge proactive partnerships to conserve amphibians, reptiles, and the places they live. To help address the conservation crisis turtles are facing, PARC has created a National Turtle Networking Team to facilitate, coordinate, and guide North American turtle conservation. To learn more, visit www.parcplace.org.

About AZA

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and 12 other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.

About SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction combines the power of zoo and aquarium visitors with the resources and collective expertise of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and partners to save animals from extinction. Together we are working on saving the most vulnerable wildlife species from extinction and protecting them for future generations. To learn more, visit www.aza.org/aza-safe

SIGN THE CALL TO ACTION LETTER HERE!