Second TSC Cuora Complex Update
by¬†Howard Goldstein¬† 2017 is poised to be another great year for the Turtle Survival Center (TSC), as a second Cuora Complex moves ever nearer to completion. The genus Cuora, or Asian Box Turtles, comprises some of the most critically endangered turtle species in the world, as its members are highly sought for the international pet […]
NAFTRG Autumn Surveys
by¬†Eric Munscher¬† In mid-September the Turtle Survival Alliance’s North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group (TSA-NAFTRG) conducted another exploratory survey of several southeastern/south-central Pennsylvania stream and wetland communities for a new potential long-term chelonian research site. With the focal species and habitat requirements being that of the North American Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta), this potential study […]
Update on Big-Headed Turtle Confiscation in Burma
by¬†Rick Hudson¬† Since we first broadcast the news of the Big-Headed Turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) confiscation in Burma on 7 November 2016, Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) staff and personnel have been busy organizing an effective response. We are grateful to the Myanmar Forestry Department for making the arrests and working with the TSA/Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) […]
Art Auction for the Turtle Survival Alliance’s Tortoise Conservation Center in Madagascar
Radical Radiated, an original art quilt, has been crafted and donated by Joanna Ellis to raise funds for the rebuilding of the Turtle Survival Alliance’s Tortoise Conservation Center (TCC), our central base of operations in southern Madagascar. The TCC is the linchpin in TSA’s effort to restore depleted populations or Radiated Tortoises with animals seized […]
NAFTRG End-of-Year 2016 Report
by¬†Eric Munscher and Jordan Gray¬† Another field year has closed for the Turtle Survival Alliance’s North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group (TSA-NAFTRG), and one word describes 2016 best: Eventful. For the third year in a row we captured and processed over 3,000 turtles representing 23 taxa. This species total is the highest diversity we have […]
TSA Colombia Expansion
by Rick Hudson TSA Expands Scope of Turtle Conservation Activities in Colombia Podocnemis expansa basking aggregate Photo courtesy of Gabriela Garza A TSA delegation recently returned from Colombia, having reviewed nearly the full scope of the joint Wildlife Conservation Society/Turtle Survival Alliance turtle conservation program there. Rick Hudson (President/CEO) and new Board member Tim Gregory […]
In Memoriam of TSA Europe Chair Henk Zwartepoorte
by Ron de Bruin On October 28, Henk Zwartepoorte died unexpectedly while on holiday in Australia. He was 67 years old. Henk was a passionate leader in the turtle conservation community. Because of his friendly and approachable nature Henk had an extensive network of people involved in turtle care, biology, and conservation around the world. […]
2017 Will Be a Breakout Year for Hicatee
by¬†Howard Goldstein¬† When the Hicatee Conservation and Research Center (HCRC) first opened five years ago as a joint program of the TSA and the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE), it was envisioned to one day become a world-class facility for the study and captive breeding of the critically endangered Central American River […]
Nearly 600 Painted Terrapin Hatchlings Released
by¬†Joko Guntoro and Howard Goldstein¬† The Painted Terrapin (Batagur borneoensis¬†) was once widespread throughout southern Thailand, peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, and Sumatra, Indonesia, but it’s populations have plummeted due to unrestricted hunting, egg collection, and habitat destruction. On 30 December 2016, nearly 600 hatchlings of this critically endangered species were released into native habitat […]
Faces of the TSA Vol.1
by¬†Jordan Gray¬† The Turtle Survival Alliance is excited to bring you a new segment featuring the people who make the TSA great! Without dedicated researchers, conservationists, educators, husbandry technicians and so on, the TSA would not be able to fulfill its mission of “Zero Turtle Extinctions”. We think it is time to regularly introduce you […]
NAFTRG Begins AST Assessment
by¬†Jordan Gray¬† TSA-North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group Begins Alligator Snapping Turtle Population Assessment Carl Franklin with two large Alligator Snapping Turtles image courtesy Eric Munscher When they say “Everything’s Bigger in Texas” they aren’t kidding! With 34 native taxa of turtle and tortoise, Texas has more chelonian diversity than most countries. Of these 34 […]
More Improvements Made in Big-Headed Turtle Rescue
by¬†Howard Goldstein¬† The futures of the Big-Headed Turtles confiscated in Myanmar last month are rapidly improving, thanks to the combined rescue efforts of Turtle Survival Alliance, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Wildlife Reserves Singapore. On 7 November 2016, TSA first announced that the Myanmar authorities had confiscated 800 Big-Headed Turtles from the illegal wildlife trade, and […]
