Star Tortoise Workshops Hosted in Myanmar

by: Steve Platt The Burmese star tortoise (Geochelone platynota) is a Critically Endangered species endemic to the dry zone of central Myanmar. Star tortoises have long been harvested for food by local people, but high demand, first from food and traditional medicine markets in southern China, and later by pet markets in China, Japan, and […]

2012: A Year to Remember

by: Heather Lowe 2012 was the busiest and best in the history of the Turtle Survival Alliance. Here are just a few of the accomplishments that we’re so grateful for as the year draws to a close: Membership revenue and online sales account for just roughly 8% of our total revenue. The remainder of our […]

NAFTRG Conducts Turtle Sampling Trip in Florida

by: Eric Munscher The 14th annual spring Florida park sampling was a success despite harsh weather and atypical conditions. The NAFTRG sampled Manatee, Fanning, and Peacock Springs March 22-24, 2013. At the time of survey southern Georgia, where the Okefenokee Swamp gives rise to the Suwannee River, was heavily impacted by over 18 inches of […]

Home Sweet Home!

by: Heather Lowe It’s official! Rick Hudson (TSA President) and Scott Davis (TSA Executive Director) traveled to South Carolina on Monday, January 21, to sign the papers and officially purchase the Turtle Survival Center. To achieve our goal of zero turtle extinctions, we have long recognized the need for a dedicated center to build up […]

NAFTRG Conducts Surveys in Florida and Expands its Reach

by: Eric Munscher The 14th annual summer Florida park sampling occurred during late July despite extremely harsh weather and atypical conditions. The NAFTRG sampled Manatee Springs July 19-21, 2013. Prior to, and during, our visit to Manatee Springs, the Suwannee River drainage area was subjected to torrential rain. The Suwannee River swelled its banks and […]

Turtle Confiscations in Myanmar

by: Rick Hudson The TSA’s new Turtle Rescue Center (TRC) in Myanmar is a busy place these days after the second recent confiscation of Yellow Tortoises (Indotestudo elongata). A total of 136 tortoises have arrived at the TRC in two shipments in September, turned over by the Myanmar Forestry Department. The tortoises are being treated […]

Madagascar Tortoise Smugglers Sentenced

by: Heather Lowe The TSA is thrilled to announce that a verdict has been reached in a tortoise smuggling case in Madagascar from July 2011. One of the smugglers arrested, along with three accomplices, were sentenced this week to two years in prison and a fine equivalent to $574,000 USD. This is the highest fine […]

NAFTRG Conducts Turtle Surveys in Texas

by: Heather Lowe The North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group (NAFTRG) sampled the Comal Springs in New Braunfels, Texas for the fifth time (second time in 2013) from April 12 -14. Comal Springs is the headwaters to the Comal River and represents a very important ecological region in Texas. The study site is in Landa […]

Dr. Terry Norton Joins the Team at the TSC

by: Heather Lowe The TSA is pleased to announce that Dr. Terry M. Norton has joined the TSA team as consulting veterinarian for the Turtle Survival Center (TSC) in South Carolina. Terry has long been associated with the TSA and was one of the vet practitioners that worked with us during the big Hong Kong […]

River Terrapin Hatchlings Found in the Wild

by: Heather Lowe The Sundarbans Batatgur or Northern River Terrapin (Batagur baska) is generally considered to be functionally extinct in thewild, with no known nesting populations remaining. However, two juveniles were recently caught by fishermen in Bangladesh! A small field team, led by Rupali Ghosh, was traveling in the south of Bangladesh this June to […]

Turtle Rescue Center Opens in Madagascar

by: Rick Hudson The TSA Madagascar Program is pleased to announce that the first of four planned tortoise rescue centers in the south has been built at Ambovombe, the administrative capital of the Androy Region. The native people – known as Tandroy – have traditionally held the strongest taboos (known as fady) against harming tortoises […]

More Good News for River Terrapins in Bangladesh

by: Heather Lowe There is much reason to celebrate in Bangladesh with the recent discovery of TWO additional Sundarbans Batagur, or Northern River Terrapins (Batagur baska). The first was a healthy adult female that was discovered by Rupali Ghosh (TSA) in a private pond. This beautiful female was living on her own in the small […]