Behler Turtle Conservation Award 2018
by Jordan Gray This year the 13th annual Behler Turtle Conservation Award celebrates and honors Russell A. Mittermeier for his half-century of dedication to science and conservation of turtles and primates, as well as being a world-leading global conservationist of the highest caliber. Russ has been a hard-core herpetologist since childhood, with a particular interest […]
Farewell! Au revoir! Veloma!
by Jordan Gray This past weekend, most of “Team Radiata 1” said goodbye to Madagascar and the nearly 10,000 Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) for which they had spent the better part of two weeks caring for. This amazing team of wildlife warriors was the first of several teams scheduled to depart the United States to […]
Veterinary Teamwork makes the Tortoise Dream Work!
by Jordan Gray To provide exceptional medical care to the thousands of Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) seized from wildlife traffickers on April 10, 2018 in Toliara, Madagascar, it takes an amazing assemblage of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and supporting animal care specialists! The veterinary team works at the treatment table inside the on-site clinic at Village […]
A Labor of Love!
by Jordan Gray We’ve all heard the phrase “It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it.” For our “Team Radiata 3” wave in Madagascar, this phrase is more of a calling‚Äîfueled by passion and love. Under the hot Malagasy sun, this amazing group of responders has been continuing the relief effort for the […]
Breakout Year for Burmese Roofed Turtles
by Jordan Gray Yangon, Myanmar‚ÄîTSA-Myanmar Director Kalyar Platt announced that this year’s hatching season for the critically endangered Burmese Roofed Turtle (Batagur trivittata) was record-breaking! At the recent conclusion of the hatching season, 223 of the grayish-green hatchlings had been produced between two of Myanmar’s four conservation facilities for the species. A hatchling Burmese Roofed […]
Southern Vietnam Box Turtle Hatches at the TSC!
By Cris Hagen, Nathan Haislip, Clint Doak, Carol Alvarez, John Greene, and Jordan Gray The year’s first hatchling Southern Vietnam Box Turtle breaks through its eggshell in the TSC’s incubator. Photo credit: Cris Hagen On June 8, 2018 the first hatchling Southern Vietnam Box Turtle (Cuora picturata) of the year pipped its egg at our […]
Species Spotlight Vol. 16
by¬†Jordan Gray¬† Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys sp.) Countries of Origin: United States of America IUCN Status: Vulnerable Estimated surviving population: Unknown Habitat: Rivers, creeks, spring runs, bayous, oxbows, river swamps, reservoirs Biology and Habits: Alligator Snapping Turtles are a benthic dweller of the waterbodies they inhabit, typically favoring the deepest part of the waterway. They […]
Historic Confiscation of Radiated Tortoises, Phase II: Transition to long-term care facility is complete
by Jordan Gray A large juvenile Radiated Tortoise sits beside the commemorative stone placed at our Itampolo tortoise facility. On a late June morning, 62 days after the nearly 10,000 Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) were seized from wildlife traffickers in Toliara, Madagascar, a large green truck departed the SOPTOM-CRCC “Village des Tortues” in Ifaty. Contained […]
Construction Projects Wrapping Up in Myanmar
Kalyar Platt, TSA’s new Turtle Conservation Coordinator in Myanmar has hit the ground running since starting in her position last month. Charged with overseeing the continued construction of multiple turtle facilities, she conducted site visits last week to evaluate the progress and make recommendations. The first was at the Lawkananda Wildlife Sanctuary, the most successful […]
Singapore Workshop Day 4 – Finding Optimism
by¬†Rick Hudson¬† Day 4 finally rolled around and it was time to sit back and listen to presentations on some of what are considered model programs for turtle conservation in the region. First up is the Cuc Phuong Turtle Conservation Center in Vietnam, perhaps the best known and respected of all the regional centers due […]
Forest Turtle Facility in Myanmar Receives Turtles
by¬†Heather Lowe¬† Kalyar Platt, the TSA’s Turtle Conservation Coordinator in Myanmar, recently returned to Yangon from the newly completed Arakan forest turtle (Heosemys depressa) facility in Gwa, Rakhine Region at the Taung-Nyo Forest Reserve. She will coordinate TSA support for in-situ propagation and assurance colony development for H. depressa at this site. During her visit, […]
The Radiated Tortoise Crisis: Developing a Plan of Action
by¬†Rick Hudson¬† TSA and The Orianne Society are launching a partnership to develop strategies for saving this iconic symbol of Madagascar’s southern spiny forest. We arrive in Madagascar around midnight on March 15 and by the time we get our bags and to the hotel it’s early morning on March 16. I am traveling with […]
