TSC Hatches Seven Species
by Jordan Gray Autumn is always a busy time at the Turtle Survival Center as we welcome new members of endangered species of turtles and tortoises into the world. In the last two months we have greeted an additional seven species of terrestrial and freshwater turtle to the TSC. 1. Southeast Asian Box Turtle (Cuora […]
Faces of the TSA Vol.10
by¬†Jordan Gray¬† Who: Carl J. Franklin What: Herpetologist, Biological Curator and Collections Manager at the Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center, University of Texas-Arlington Where: Arlington, Texas, USA Jordan Gray: What is your earliest childhood memory with a turtle or tortoise? Carl Franklin:¬†It’s a coin toss from when I was 3. My dad brought a […]
CCA Establishes Community Conservation Areas in Bangladesh
By Scott Trageser The past year ended up being a great year for the turtles and tortoises of Bangladesh! Earlier in the year, the Creative Conservation Alliance (CCA) established the first in-country breeding center aimed at establishing breeding populations for any and all of the seven taxa of turtle and tortoise that inhabit the Chittagong […]
Fine Tuning the Strategy to Save Madagascar’s Iconic Radiated Tortoise
by Jordan Gray With the impending rainy season looming and an outbreak of pneumonic plague quickly becoming an epidemic on the island nation of Madagascar, Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) President Rick Hudson and Utah Hogle Zoo’s (UHZ) Christina Castellano had little time to waste this October. On October 9th, after having received last-minute doses of […]
Species Spotlight Vol. 15
by Jordan Gray Yellow (Golden)-headed Box Turtle (Cuora aurocapitata) Countries of Origin: China (Anhui Province) IUCN Status: Critically Endangered Estimated surviving population: Considered functionally extinct Habitat: Clear, fast-flowing, hillside streams Biology and Habits: Little has been documented regarding the wild ecology of the Yellow-headed Box Turtle. A highly aquatic species, this turtle rarely leaves the […]
Update 3 from Madagascar
by Jordan Gray Ifaty, Madagascar – TSA Madagascar is getting the job done as Team Radiata #1 nears arrival at Village des tortues. This, from Aina Tiana Rak-“Six local volunteers from different institutions joined us yesterday at Village des tortues. They helped to soak, build shelter houses, and distribute water for the tortoises!”! Helping hands […]
Radiated Tortoise Seizure – Day 2
by Jordan Gray Ifaty, Madagascar – Triage efforts are underway by our TSA-Madagascar staff and partners in the region for the nearly 10,000 Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) seized from a single residence in Toliara on April 10th. All are being temporarily housed at “Villages de Tortues” in Ifaty while they receive initial in-processing, health evaluations, […]
Painted Terrapins found in North Sumatra
by Jordan Gray Our partner Joko Guntoro of the Satucita Foundation reports that in the past two months, two female critically endangered Painted Terrapins (Batagur borneoensis) have been found in the province of North Sumatra, Indonesia. These two specimens are the first Painted Terrapins to be identified by the Satucita Foundation in the province. On […]
Species Spotlight Vol. 11
by Jordan Gray Burmese Star Tortoise (Geochelone platynota) Countries of Origin: Myanmar IUCN Status: Critically Endangered Estimated surviving population: 14,000+ in assurance colonies and in situ sanctuaries. Habitat: Grasslands, scrub forest, and dry forests of the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar, also known as the Irrawaddy Dry Forests. Habits: Burmese Star Tortoises are most active […]
TSA Programs make an Impact for 20 of the Top 25 Most Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles – 2018
by Jordan Gray A newly released report by the TSA and fellow turtle conservation organizations, collectively known as the Turtle Conservation Coalition, entitled “Turtles in Trouble: The World’s 25+ Most Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles ‚Äì 2018” shows that tortoises and freshwater turtles are facing an almost unparalleled extinction crisis. This report indicates that over […]
Species Spotlight Vol. 12
by¬†Jordan Gray Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) Countries of Origin:¬†Madagascar IUCN Status:¬†Critically Endangered Estimated surviving population:¬†Declining rapidly Habitat:¬†Xeric spiny forests, sandy coastal scrub, and rocky coastal outcroppings of the limestone-based Mahafaly and Karimbola plateaus of southwestern Madagascar. Biology and Habits:¬†Radiated Tortoises are most active during the morning hours of 6:30 ‚Äì 10:00 AM and late afternoon […]
Monumental Radiated Tortoise Seizure!
by Jordan Gray Breaking News – Nearly 11,000 Radiated Tortoises Seized in Madagascar! A confiscation of monumental proportions, and the largest for tortoises or freshwater turtles in the history of the Turtle Survival Alliance has occurred in Madagascar. On the night of April 10, 2018, TSA staff were alerted to a confiscation of 10,976 Radiated […]
