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In Loving Memory of Ronald J. Brooks (1941 – 2023)

It is with great sorrow that we mourn the passing of fellow chelonian researcher and conservationist Ronald J. Brooks.

Ron was the recipient of the 5th Pritchard Turtle Conservation Lifetime Achievement Award (2022) for his outstanding long-term contributions to education, turtle ecology studies, and turtle conservation efforts in Canada.

Below is an excerpt from the article in the 2022 edition of Turtle Survival sharing his lifetime achievement award:

“His work on turtles has focused on the ecology, life history, and conservation of Canada’s populations of Snapping Turtles, Midland Painted Turtles, Wood Turtles, Blanding’s Turtles, Eastern Musk Turtles, Spiny Softshells, and Spotted Turtles. Most of these studies, often in collaboration with colleagues, were at the Algonquin Wildlife Research Station in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, where he was Director from 1983 through 2001.

Ron is especially proud of his work on the conservation of Canada’s turtles, and specifically that Snapping Turtles are no longer considered ‘vermin’ or ‘game species.’ Instead, they are regarded as a species at risk, with widespread popular public support for their protection.

We honor him for his important work on turtle ecology and conservation in Canada, and also for mentoring and educating many students.”

Thank you Ron for all you did to advance the knowledge of northern turtles, highlight their conservation needs, and train the next generation of turtle researchers.

See here for more information.
Photo courtesy of Doug Armstrong.