Skip to content

Join us for Turtle Month!

Turtle Month 2025
  • Turtle Survival Center
  • Annual Symposium 2025
  • News & Events
  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Turtle Survival Center
  • Annual Symposium 2025
  • News & Events
  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • What We Do
  • What You Can do
Donate
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Staff & Board
    • Publications
    • Financials & Policies
    • 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
    • Donate
    • Become a Member
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Drink Beer. Save Turtles.®
  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Staff & Board
    • Publications
    • Financials & Policies
    • 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
    • Donate
    • Become a Member
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Drink Beer. Save Turtles.®
  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Who We Are
  • Staff & Board
  • Publications
  • Financials & Policies
  • Strategic Plan 2025
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

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.
Support Our Work

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.

Support Our Work

Learn & Discover

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

Make an Impact

  • Donate
  • Become a Member
  • Corporate Partnership
  • Drink Beer. Save Turtles®

News & Events

Species Spotlight! Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle!

  • April 25, 2023
Celebrate DNA Day with Turtle Survival Alliance!

On this day in 1953, the structure of DNA was published. This achievement has not only served human-kind, but now serves critical to conservation actions for many species of animals, including turtles and tortoises.

Today’s Species Spotlights feature two species that have been heavily hybridized in captive propagation operations for the food, pet, and medicinal trades. Now that their wild populations are so low, DNA analysis is crucial to properly defining and managing genetically “pure” lines of these animals.

Turtle Survival Alliance partnered with Natalia Gallego and the Brad Shaffer Lab at UCLA to accurately verify the species identities of the Chinese and Vietnamese three-striped box turtles that we manage at the Turtle Survival Center.

First up, the Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle!

Common name: Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle

Scientific name: Cuora cyclornata

Countries of origin: China, Laos, Vietnam

Habitat: Hill streams and marshes in low to mid-elevation evergreen forests

Threats: Collection for the pet, food, and medicinal trades, habitat destruction, and genetic pollution through hybridization

Wild Population: Decreasing; estimated population reduction greater than 95%; fewer than 500 animals estimated to remain in the wild

Conservation: Captive breeding and assurance colonies; genetic studies and management; field surveys; protected in the wild in China and Vietnam; CITES Appendix II

Graphic: Jordan Gray
Turtle Photo: Jordan Gray

You can help us care for Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtles at our Turtle Survival Center by donating to our Turtle Month campaign today! https://give.turtlesurviva1.wpenginepowered.com/2023-Turtle-Month-ON

**Turtle Survival Alliance strives to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please contact Jordan Gray at jgray@turtlesurvival.org**

For #TurtleMonth, April 22nd, to May 23rd, we are highlighting the 25 endangered species managed at our Turtle Survival Center, as well as the 8 native species that find refuge on our 51-acre property in South Carolina!
#nationaldnaday #worlddnaday #internationaldnaday
About Us
  • Who We Are
  • Staff & Board
  • Publications
  • Financials & Policies
  • Strategic Plan 2025
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
What We Do
  • Turtle Survival Center
  • Madagascar
  • NAFTRG
  • AZA SAFE
  • Annual Symposium 2025
What You Can Do
  • Explore Turtles & Tortoises
  • Virtual Outreach Experience
  • Become a Member
  • Drink Beer. Save Turtles.®
  • News & Events
Donate
Subscribe for Turtle Newsletter
© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy

Subscribe for Turtle News

Subscribe to receive the Turtle Survival Alliance email newsletter and stay up-to-date on the latest in turtle conservation.