Tracking the desert tortoise with Dave Hansen
The state reptile of California and “poster child” for our Mojave Desert is the tortoise. The desert tortoise, weighing in at about 8 to 15 pounds, grows slowly and may live 50 to 80 years. It has roamed our landscape for many thousands of years.
Sadly, today the tortoise is a threatened species protected by federal law. In some areas its population has declined by as much as 90% since the 1980s. A couple of significant threats to the tortoise are humans and ravens, the latter following human population development as an easy source of food from our trash.
Job Openings with theTurtleRoom
TheTurtleRoom is looking for several individuals passionate about turtle conservation to join our volunteer staff team in a variety of specific roles! Two of these openings relate directly to this World Turtle News blog feature. We also have several other opportunities available for a variety of talents. Please check out this page for more details on each position, the requirements, and responsibilities. We look forward to hearing from you.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
Philippines: 55 hawksbill sea turtle hatchlings (Eretmochelys imbricata) released in Magsaysay
Ecology
India: star tortoises (Geochelone elegans) spotted on roads in Thengumarahada, drivers advised to be careful
Miscellany
USA: sulcata tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) found in Roswell, NM
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Photo from Dave Hansen.