News & Events

The Turtle With The Permanent Smile

In Myanmar, we are witnessing historic conservation success for a smiling turtle once feared extinct. Recently dubbed “the turtle with the permanent smile” by numerous acclaimed news outlets, the Burmese Roofed Turtle (Batagur trivittata) is doing everything in its power to endure, with the help of a few committed organizations, and a lot of passionate individuals.

Regarded as Critically Endangered, the wild population of the charismatic Burmese Roofed Turtle numbers just over a handful. However, more than a decade of intensive efforts by a Turtle Survival Alliance/Wildlife Conservation Society/Myanmar Forest Department collaborative has increased the turtle’s captive population in its native country to nearly 1,000. And, many of these turtles are being released in remote areas for their wild population’s persistence. Extinction is no longer an option.

Please consider MAKING A DONATION to help our collaborative continue this important work. The survival of the Burmese Roofed Turtle depends on it.

To learn all about this program, become a TSA MEMBER today, and receive our 2019, and upcoming 2020 annual publication, Turtle Survival, delivered straight to your door!

Want to read more? Check out the recent articles highlighting this conservation success story by The New York Times, Mongabay, Vice, and The Guardian:

The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/science/burmese-roofed-turtle-myanmar-extinction.html

Mongabay: https://news.mongabay.com/2020/08/back-from-the-brink-baby-burmese-roofed-turtles-make-their-debut/

Vice World News: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/wxqa9y/smiling-turtles-saved-from-extinction-myanmar

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/sep/09/myanmar-smiling-turtle-breeding-success