From July 20–25, 2025, we, the Turtle Survival Alliance and IUCN SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, hosted the 23rd Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. This annual meeting brings together herpetologists, biologists, veterinarians, and more, gathering to share their knowledge, achievements, and progress in the chelonian research and conservation field.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our presenting sponsor, the Tennessee Aquarium, for graciously hosting the Icebreaker Social in their River Journeys exhibit, providing meeting spaces for the workshops and wet lab, and offering attendees the opportunity to tour their world-class facility. Equally important to the success of this event were our generous sponsors and supporters, including anonymous donors, the Patricia and Stuart Salenger Foundation, Chattanooga Zoo, Little Ray’s Exhibitions, Chelonian Research Foundation, Kristin Berry, Chattanooga Convention Center, Chattanooga Marriott Downtown, John Iverson, Robert Krause, The Quixotic Fund, Anders Rhodin, SWCA Environmental Consultants, and Visit Chattanooga. Their invaluable contributions made this gathering possible.
This year’s keynote address was delivered by Bradley Trevor Greive, a New York Times best-selling author and internationally recognized wildlife advocate from Tasmania. His keynote provided a thought-provoking and entertaining take on the personal and professional challenges conservationists face today. Fittingly, this year’s global theme was carried through in our featured session, Down Under, which highlighted turtle research and conservation efforts across Australia. This directly connected to Greive’s roots and reinforced the international scope of work presented at the Annual Symposium.
Amid the ballrooms of the Chattanooga Convention Center, 15 oral sessions and a poster session reflected the theme Resilience: Protecting Turtles in a Changing World, highlighting both the endurance of turtles amid mounting environmental threats and the unwavering determination of those working to ensure their survival. A total of 127 presentations representing 15 countries showcased the global reach and collaborative spirit driving turtle conservation forward. As challenges like habitat destruction, climate change, illegal trade, and emerging diseases continue to reshape the landscapes turtles inhabit, resilience emerges not only as a defining trait of the animals themselves, but also of the conservation community committed to protecting them.
Throughout the week, symposium attendees explored a lively vendor hall featuring Adventure Time Eli, Cold Blooded Caffeine Co., Holohil, Little Ray’s Exhibitions, Michael Krick Books, Sonotronics, Turtle Conservancy, and Turtle Survival Alliance, offering everything from essential field gear to turtle-themed swag. Hosted within this vibrant space, the always-anticipated annual silent auction concluded with enthusiastic bidders securing a diverse array of treasures, from high-value collectibles and culturally significant artifacts to creative artworks and personally crafted items, all provided by symposium attendees from around the world and supporting turtle conservation efforts.
Continuing what is becoming a yearly tradition, the book signing event featured a diverse group of authors shaping the field of turtle conservation. Anthony Pierlioni signed copies of his newest titles, Turtle Preservation: The Ultimate Guide to Turtle Husbandry (co-authored with Russ Gurley) and The Great American Turtle Chase, both released in 2024. Other featured authors included Whit Gibbons and Jeffrey Lovich for the updated Turtles of the World; Whit Gibbons, Tracey Tuberville, and Kurt Buhlmann for Turtles of the Southeast; and Whit and Parker Gibbons for Aquatic and Terrestrial Vertebrates of the Black River Cypress Reserve.
As a fresh and exciting addition to this year’s Annual Symposium, we introduced a “movie night” double-feature, complete with popcorn, candy, and refreshing beverages. In first film, an episode titled The Slowest Stampede on Earth, from the acclaimed PBS Nature series In Her Nature, highlighted inspiring women driving Turtle Survival Alliance’s efforts to protect Madagascar’s critically endangered Radiated Tortoise. Following that, attendees were captivated by The Last Spotted Turtles of New England, a stunning new documentary by filmmaker Ari Taub. The night was a perfect blend of inspiration, education, and community, bringing the stories of turtles and their protectors vividly to life on the big screen.
The 23rd Annual Symposium concluded with the Awards Banquet, collectively honoring this year’s Behler and Pritchard Turtle Conservation Award recipients and applauding the efforts of the Student Award winners for Best Papers and Posters, sponsored by the Chelonian Research Foundation. Arthur Georges, winner of the 20th Behler Turtle Conservation Award, provided an in-depth and often humorous look back at his life and career in the ecology, taxonomy, and conservation of turtles of Australasia.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the Turtle Survival Alliance staff and board of directors, the IUCN SSC Turtle and Tortoise Freshwater Specialist Group, workshop presenters, session and poster chairs and presenters, “movie night” documentarians, awards judging committees, Lauren Groth, Jen Gibbons, and every attendee. This event would not have been possible without your invaluable contributions.
We look forward to seeing all of you again in 2026!
Header image: The Chattanooga Convention Center, our venue for the Symposium. Photo by Samantha Nottingham
