NAFTRG Wraps Up Another Great Year of Sampling

by¬†Eric Munscher 2015 marked the sixteenth continuous year of turtle research conducted by the North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group (NAFTRG). This year started with a ten-day trip in March to seven research sites in Florida including a new park – Weeki Wachee Springs. During that trip, the NAFTRG was able to capture and process […]

New Burmese Roofed Turtle Assurance Colony Established in February

by¬†Steve Platt (WCS Myanmar)¬† The WCS/TSA Turtle Team recently established a third Burmese Roofed Turtle (Batagur trivittata) assurance colony at an outpost of the Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary in the riverside hamlet of Htamanthi, Myanmar. With less than 10 adults remaining in the wild, the Burmese Roofed Turtle is considered the second-most endangered species of turtle […]

Surprises—and Successes—for the Hicatee Breeding Program in Belize

by¬†Howard Goldstein¬† Ranked among the list of the Top 25 Most Endangered chelonian species in the world, the Central American river turtle‚Äîalso known as the Hicatee‚Äîis threatened throughout its range by over-harvest in the wild as a food source. The TSA believes that any species ranked critically endangered (IUCN Red List) should have a captive […]

Legendary Turtle Dies in Vietnam

by¬†Rick Hudson¬† The Turtle Survival Alliance has confirmed that one of the world’s four known remaining Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtles (Rafetus swinhoei), has died in Vietnam. This turtle ‚Äì believed to be a male – was highly revered in Vietnam and was a long-time occupant of Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of downtown Hanoi. […]

Northern River Terrapins Released in the Sunderbans

by¬†Shailendra Singh¬† The northern river terrapin (Batagur baska) is one of the world’s most endangered turtles with fewer than 50 adults at four captive locations and very little evidence of surviving wild specimens. The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), in partnership with the West Bangal Forest Department, has been managing a conservation breeding program for this […]

Guest Post: Successful Propagation of the Chinese Big-headed Turtle at Prospect Park Zoo

by¬†Nichole Shelmidine The Turtle Survival Alliance partners with the Wildlife Conservation Society on a number of conservation projects globally. We are excited for their recent success in breeding Chinese big-headed turtles, a species that is notoriously difficult to reproduce in captivity. Their guest post below details this accomplishment, which can also be read about in […]

Nest Patrols Benefit Painted Terrapins in Indonesia

by¬†Joko Guntoro¬† The three-month nesting season for the painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis) is just ending. During that time, the nesting patrols spearheaded by the Satucita Foundation and the Agency of Natural Resources Conservation (BKSDA) Province Aceh (and supported by local volunteer fishermen) successfully saved and incubated 898 painted terrapin eggs from 55 nests. Additionally, the […]

TSA Expands Turtle Rescue Program in Myanmar

by¬†Rick Hudson¬† On May 14, a ceremony was held to dedicate the expansion of the Turtle Rescue Center (TRC) near May Myo. Organized by the TSA and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and attended by more than 80 Forest Department officials and workers, policemen and border inspectors, the event was highlight by a ceremonial passing of […]

River Terrapins Hatch Throughout Asia

by¬†Rick Hudson¬† Throughout Asia, from remote nesting beaches to captive breeding facilities, River Terrapins (genus Batagur) have recently completed their hatching season. The accounts below summarize information from the countries where TSA works on Batagur recovery programs including India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. The River Terrapins (Batagur) comprise six species of large, impressive, and at […]

Quarantine Building Nearing Completion

by¬†Admin¬† We are pleased to announce that the new Quarantine (QT) facility will soon be completed and operational at TSC. As a major breeding center dedicated to the long term species survival of the populations of over two dozen endangered turtle species, this new facility will greatly expand the Center’s ability to properly quarantine incoming […]

Breeding Season is in Full Swing at the TSC

by¬†Admin¬† Winter was very mild and spring seemed to arrive early in South Carolina in 2016. Numerous turtles were mating in March and April, with many species at the Turtle Survival Center (TSC) nesting about two weeks earlier this year than during the previous two years. June and July are the peaks of egg laying […]

Saving the World’s Rarest Freshwater Terrapin

-Peoples Trust for Endangered Species- PTES has been supporting Shailendra Singh, who works for Turtle Survival Alliance India, to tackle the threats facing these animals for a few years. Shai contacted us last week to say that in general work is going well. They started a captive breeding programme a few years ago with just […]