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Turtle Month 2025
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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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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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Belize 7 Belize 3 Belize 6 Belize 8 Belize 4 Belize 2 Belize 9

Program

Belize

Saving the Central American River Turtle

The Central American River Turtle is in decline across its range in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, and is listed as one of the top 25 most endangered species of freshwater turtle in the world. Turtle Survival Alliance and our partners work to ensure the long-term survival of the critically endangered Central American River Turtle (locally known as Hicatee), in Belize through a combination of legislative action, community enforcement and involvement, protection of key areas, population monitoring and augmentation, and essential natural history research.

In 2014, Turtle Survival Alliance established an assurance colony, the Hicatee Conservation and Research Center (HCRC), in partnership with the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE), on their biological reserve and field station. The HCRC comprises multiple large ponds that house a large adult breeding colony, an incubation facility, and grow-out ponds for hundreds of juveniles, successfully rearing Hicatee for eventual reintroduction to the wild.
Additionally, Turtle Survival Alliance North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group, in collaboration with the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE) performs biannual surveys to identify and quantify the species, abundance, and demographics of the freshwater and terrestrial turtles inhabiting BFREE’s 1,153-acre biological field station and reserve in the foothills of the Maya Mountains. In 2021, through land acquisitions, Turtle Survival Alliance and our partners Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Re:Wild, purchased 12,140 ha of forested land surrounding Cox Lagoon, protecting the Lagoon and all that inhabit it. This acquisition is vital as a potential area recovery of the Central American River Turtle in the species’ first entirely protected habitat.

Key Species

Key Species

Dermatemys mawii

Central American River Turtle

Critically Endangered

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Belize

Lead Partners and Supporters

Government of Belize – Belize Fisheries Department, Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE), Zoo New England, Missouri State University, Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic, Belize Zoo, Birmingham Zoo, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Conservation Society – Belize, Jacksonville Zoo, Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

Program Team

Jacob Marlin
Executive Director

Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education

Heather Barrett
Deputy Director

Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education

Ed Boles
Dermatemys Program Coordinator

Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education

Tom Pop
Hicatee Conservation & Research Center Manager

Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education

Jonathan Dubon
Wildlife Fellow Alum, Current Student at University of Belize

Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education

Barney Hall
Wildlife Fellow

Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education

Robynn Phillips
Outreach and Communications Coordinator

Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education

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