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Turtle Month 2025
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    • Explore Turtles & Tortoises Around the World
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  • About Us
    • Who We Are
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    • Strategic Plan 2025
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Turtle Survival Center
    • Global Projects
    • Volunteer Science
    • Confiscation to Conservation
    • Annual Symposium 2025
    • News & Events
  • What You Can Do
    • Explore Turtles & Tortoises Around the World
    • Virtual Outreach Experience
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    • Drink Beer. Save Turtles.®
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Why Turtles?

Found around the world in rivers, deserts, jungles, and our own backyards, it’s easy to assume tortoises and freshwater turtles will always be here. But the very traits that once helped them survive render them vulnerable to extinction today.
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Our Initiatives

  • Turtle Survival Center
  • Global Projects
  • Volunteer Science
  • Confiscation to Conservation
  • Annual Symposium

Our Programs

Protecting the world’s most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles

We All Play a Role.

To save turtles, we all play a role. Every day, tortoises and freshwater turtles around the globe face pressing threats. Your support equips us to support species where and how they need us most.

Turtles are ancient and remarkable creatures who deserve a champion. When you stand with us, you help ensure their continued survival. Together, we can create a world with zero turtle extinctions.

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Learn & Discover

  • Explore Turtles & Tortoises Around the World
  • Virtual Outreach Experience

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CONSERVATION IN ACTION

Turtle Survival Center

Located in Cross, South Carolina, the Turtle Survival Center (TSC) was founded to support our mission of zero turtle extinctions worldwide. Since 2013, we have established scientifically managed populations of critically endangered species and provided involvement opportunities for turtle conservationists of all ages.

The TSC is home to more than 750 turtles and tortoises, including 23 of the world’s most endangered species. Here, the species maintained for population management have been carefully chosen based on conservation status, lack of effective protection in the wild, poor history of captive-breeding success, and ability to thrive in South Carolina’s mild, subtropical climate.

IMG_2725

Our Approach

We believe that, when appropriate, ex situ (in captivity) conservation should be used to support in situ (in nature) conservation. We seek to accomplish this by integrating TSC programs with our field programs, as well as those of our partner organizations and governments. Providing viable options for the future, offspring produced from our breeding programs can be used for wild population augmentation or reintroduction.

Species at the TSC

  • Rote Island Snake-necked Turtle (Chelodina mccordi)
  • Southeast Asian Box Turtle (Cuora amboinensis)
  • Yellow-headed Box Turtle (Cuora aurocapitata)
  • Bourret’s Box Turtle (Cuora bourreti)
  • Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle (Cuora cyclornata)
  • Yellow-margined Box Turtle (Cuora flavomarginata)
  • Indochinese Box Turtle (Cuora galbinifrons)
  • McCord’s Box Turtle (Cuora mccordi)
  • Keeled Box Turtle (Cuora mouhotii)
  • Pan’s Box Turtle (Cuora pani)
  • Southern Vietnam Box Turtle (Cuora picturata)
  • Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle (Cuora trifasciata)
  • Zhou’s Box Turtle (Cuora zhoui)
  • Burmese Star Tortoise (Geochelone platynota)
  • Arakan Forest Turtle (Heosemys depressa)
  • Spiny Turtle (Heosemys spinosa)
  • Forsten’s Tortoise (Indotestudo forstenii)
  • Sulawesi Forest Turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoi)
  • Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys phayrei)
  • Vietnamese Pond Turtle (Mauremys annamensis)
  • Red-necked Pond Turtle (Mauremys nigricans)
  • Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle (Mauremys sinensis)
  • Big-headed Turtle (Platysternon megacephalum)
  • Beale’s Eyed Turtle (Sacalia bealei)
  • Flattened Musk Turtle (Sternotherus depressus)

Internships

The TSC offers internship opportunities for students age 18 and up. Explore our current internship listings at the link below.

View Current Openings

Sponsorship

Interested in donating to the TSC or sponsoring our conservation efforts, both on site and around the globe? We’d love to connect.
Explore Partnerships

Volunteer Opportunities

We host regular on-site volunteer events for individuals and groups. Please contact Clinton Doak at the link below for more information.
Inquire

School Trips

We welcome young turtle conservationists to learn about captive husbandry, chelonian reproductive biology, veterinary care and more.
Inquire

Learn from Us

Our next Chelonian Biology, Conservation, and Management Course will be held September 21 – 27, 2025. Read for more information!
Learn More
The Turtle Survival Center is an Accredited Related Facility of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
About Us
  • Who We Are
  • Staff & Board
  • Publications
  • Financials & Policies
  • Strategic Plan 2025
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
What We Do
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  • Annual Symposium 2025
What You Can Do
  • Explore Turtles & Tortoises
  • Virtual Outreach Experience
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