Major Anti-Poaching Operation in Madagascar Leads to 23 Arrests and Rescue of Over 3,200 Endangered Tortoises
For Immediate Release Major Anti-Poaching Operation in Madagascar Leads to 23 Arrests and Rescue of Over 3,200 Endangered Tortoises February 19, 2025 CONTACT: Jordan Gray, Turtle Survival Alliance, (912) 659-0978, jgray@turtlesurvival.org Antananarivo, Madagascar – Turtle Survival Alliance announces that a nationwide anti-poaching operation has resulted in the arrest of 23 individuals involved in illegal tortoise […]
Funding Freeze Puts Turtles at Risk—Stand With Us
An Open Letter from Turtle Survival Alliance President & CEO February 10, 2025 Dear Friends, Partners, and Supporters, We are facing an unprecedented challenge that threatens the very foundation of our work to save the world’s most endangered turtles and tortoises. On Monday, January 27th, the White House issued an order freezing all federal grants […]
Update from Madagascar: Recovering from the Receding Floods
by Hery Lova Razafimamonjiraibe As our team continues to respond to the devastating flooding at our Lavavolo Tortoise Center in Madagascar, we are grateful to supporters like you for stepping up during this crisis. With the floodwaters having receded, we are working towards stability and recovery for the tortoises in our care. Thanks to your […]
Update from Madagascar: Tortoises in Triage
Due to the catastrophic flooding in Madagascar on January 16, 2025, we have mobilized efforts to save as many tortoises as possible. The next step in our recovery is triage and care. At this critical time, veterinary students from the University of Antananarivo’s Department of Veterinary Sciences and Medicine, along with logistical support from our […]
Catastrophic Flooding Engulfs Lavavolo Tortoise Center
For Immediate Release Catastrophic Flooding Engulfs Lavavolo Tortoise Center January 17, 2025 CONTACT: Jordan Gray, Turtle Survival Alliance, (912) 659-0978, jgray@turtlesurvival.org Antananarivo, Madagascar – Turtle Survival Alliance announced today that torrential rains from Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi have triggered devastating floods in Madagascar’s Atsimo-Andrefana Region, submerging the Lavavolo Tortoise Center (LTC). The cyclone swept past southern […]
Landmark Rewilding Effort in Bangladesh’s Forests
For Immediate Release Landmark Rewilding: Two Critically Endangered Tortoise Species Reintroduced to Bangladesh Forests December 30, 2024 CONTACT: Jordan Gray, Turtle Survival Alliance, (912) 659-0978, jgray@turtlesurvival.org In a historic milestone for wildlife conservation in Bangladesh, Turtle Survival Alliance, Creative Conservation Alliance, and the Bangladesh Forest Department successfully reintroduced two critically endangered tortoise species to their […]
Historic Repatriation of 912 Critically Endangered Tortoises Seized in Thailand
For Immediate Release Turtle Survival Alliance Announces Historic Repatriation of 912 Critically Endangered Tortoises Seized in Thailand December 13, 2024 CONTACT: Jordan Gray, Turtle Survival Alliance, (912) 659-0978, jgray@turtlesurvival.org Antananarivo, Madagascar – Turtle Survival Alliance is proud to announce the successful repatriation of 912 endangered tortoises to Madagascar, following their seizure in a landmark international […]
Tails from the Turtle Survival Center: Volume 2
Tails from the Turtle Survival Center: Turtle School and Hatching Season By A.J. Fetterman, Chelonian Keeper II, Turtle Survival Center Summer has come and gone in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, which means it’s time for another update from the Turtle Survival Center (TSC) and a check in with me, A.J. Since my last update, we talked […]
100th Indochinese Box Turtle Hatches at TSC
The 100th Indochinese Box Turtle (Cuora galbinifrons) hatched at the Turtle Survival Center this week! We first started producing hatchlings of this critically endangered species in 2016. Building a genetically diverse assurance colony of this species preserves its existence. This species, and many others at the TSC, have had their populations decimated by the pet […]
La Carranchina Natural Reserve Designated as a Key Biodiversity Area
Recently, our collaborative work toward the designation of the first Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) based on distinct genetic diversity came to fruition in Colombia. Research on the critically endangered Dahl’s Toad Headed Turtle (Mesoclemmys dahli) by Turtle Survival Alliance and Wildlife Conservation Society revealed four genetically distinct subpopulations with limited gene flow, leading to high […]
