The Hicatee Turtle – Belize’s National Treasure
Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE), Turtle Survival Alliance, and partners are once again observing October as Hicatee Awareness Month. Throughout the month, activities and events will celebrate the beloved Central American River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii) ‚Äì locally known as the Hicatee. This year’s message encourages national pride of this rare and unique […]
Radiated Tortoise Relief Effort Update
Since Saturday morning, TSA Madagscar lead veterinarian Dr. Ny Aina Tiana Rakotoarisoa and keepers Avimasy, Jos√©, and Tsito have been on the ground performing health assessments and providing medical and husbandry care for the more than 7,000 Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) seized from wildlife traffickers in a remote village in southwestern Madagascar. With support from […]
Massive Radiated Tortoise Seizure
For Immediate Release October 27, 2018 Charleston, South Carolina ‚Äì It’s happened again. Only 6 months after more than 10,000 Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) were seized in southwest Madagascar, we are heartbroken to announce the government of Madagascar has seized another mind-boggling 7,347 of the critically endangered animals from wildlife traffickers. Packed like sardines, the […]
Team Work Makes The Snapper Dream Work!
This past weekend, our TSA-North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group (TSA-NAFTRG) performed their regular sampling for our long-term population monitoring and species distribution assessment for Western Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) in southeast Texas, and boy, was it a doozy! Joined by Dr. Day Ligon of Missouri State University and Dr. Denise Thompson, the team, […]
Rescued Tortoises Find Save Haven In Madagascar
In the two weeks since our last update, the TSA Madagscar team deployed to assist the more than 7,000 Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) seized from wildlife traffickers in southwestern Madagascar have worked with steadfast resolve. In a remote village near the town of Betioky, veterinarian Dr. Ny Aina Tiana Rakotoarisoa and keepers Avimasy, Jos√©, and […]
Singapore Turtle Conservation Workshop – Day 2
Jordan Gray Feb 2, 2017 Singapore Turtle Conservation Workshop – Day 2 by¬†Rick Hudson¬†on¬†February 23, 2011 On Tuesday morning – day two of the workshop – the seventy workshop participants reviewed the “Red List,” an internationally recognized database of the world’s most vulnerable species. Participants from countries throughout Asia provided the most up-to-date information on […]
TSA’s Turtle Month Turtle Heroes – Week 1
Welcome to TSA’s Turtle Month! Every day, from Earth Day through World Turtle Day®® on May 23rd, TSA is highlighting the people who make possible our collaborative programs across the world for the preservation of threatened turtles and tortoises……
Species Spotlight: Bourret’s Box Turtle
Bourret’s Box Turtle (Cuora bourreti) Countries of Origin: Laos, Vietnam IUCN Status: Critically Endangered Habitat: Mountainous evergreen forests Size: < 20 cm (~8 in.) Fast Facts: – Described to science in 1994 by Fritz Jürgen Obst and Michael Reimann. – Named in honor of René Léon Bourret (1884-1957), a French zoologist and herpetologist. – Males […]
The Gift of Freedom!
On Saturday, December 25th, our TSA India Program gave the gift of freedom to 259 freshwater turtles- rewilding them to the Gomti and Sarju rivers of northern India. TSA partners Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force and Uttar Pradesh Forest Department seized the turtles from wildlife traffickers just over a month ago. The seized turtles […]
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Honors Conservationist Rick Hudson with Prestigious Award and $50K Grant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:Nicolle Gómez RaceyColumbus Zoo and AquariumVice President, Communications and MarketingOffice: 614-645-3411Cell: 614-843-3611nicolle.racey@columbuszoo.org Jen FieldsColumbus Zoo and AquariumDirector of CommunicationsOffice: 614-645-3579Cell: 614-595-8989jen.fields@columbuszoo.org Avery ElanderFort Worth ZooDirector of Communicationsaelander@fortworthzoo.org Powell, OH- The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is proud to name Rick Hudson as the recipient of the Zoo’s 2021 Commitment to Conservation Award. Hudson […]
Species Spotlight: Pink-ringed Tent Turtle
Ping-ringed Tent Turtle (Pangshura tentoria circumdata) Countries of Origin: India, Nepal IUCN Status: Least Concern Habitat: Large to small rivers of northern India and southern Nepal including the Chambal, Ganges, Ghaghra, Hindon, Koshi, and Yamuna Size: Males ‚⧠8 cm (3.1 in.); Females ‚⧠27 cm (10.6 in.) Factoids: – Named for the pink coloration […]
Saving Batagur Baska
After the release of the report, conservationists and teams of the TSA were set on a single mission: To find and rescue Batagur baska! In 2008, TSA India’s Dr. Shailendra Singh had an epiphany… (Read the full article by Ayushi Calyani in the Madras Courier HERE)
