World Turtle News

Georgia Research Project Brings Hope For Gopherus Polyphemus Brantley and Charlton counties were once prime tortoise habitat; however, development has created a dire situation for the endangered Gopherus polyphemus, prompting action from conservationists to prevent their downfall. Beginning with the mining industry, this former haven has been transformed into a construction zone, and the tortoises are rapidly declining from the area. Dirk Stevenson, owner of […]

Lonesome George lives on: genome study of giant tortoises explores size, longevity, and resistance Comparison of these genomes with those of a diverse range of species unlocks a treasure trove of secrets about how giant tortoises get to be so large, long-lived (typically up to a century) and resistant to infections and cancer. Turtle News From Around the World Conservation USA: Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) released

NOAA Scientists Report Misconceptions Regarding Environmental Change On Sea Turtles As the winter looms over the horizon, already the weather has wreaked havoc on the sea turtle populations along the US coastline; specifically, the number of strandings has increased dramatically as conservationists work non-stop to rescue the sea turtles that become stranded on the beaches as a result of unexpected cold snaps. Contrary to the

Bangladeshi tribe that’s guarding turtles, co-authoring research papers In the beginning, Shahriar Caesar Rahman’s trips to the remote forests of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh would invariably end in frustration. Rahman was searching for reptiles, and based on what the local people were telling him, the largely unexplored forests of the Hill Tracts seemed to be home to a wide variety of them and

UPDATE: the 51 Indian star tortoises seized in Singapore now at Bannerghatta National Park’s quarantine center (Original story here) The tortoises are kept in a specially created 4,000 square feet enclosure. The area has been fenced off to keep elephants, leopards and the lone wild tiger at bay. A forest guard and a Wildlife SOS volunteer will monitor the animals round-the-clock. A special night kraal

Wildlife Reserve To Be Utilized As Vital Turtle Conservation Program Headquarters In the center of Uttar Pradesh, India, lies a small city known as Pilibhit, and unbeknownst to many, is also home of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. This wildlife sanctuary is also a gem of an ecosystem, featuring a massive plethora of flora and fauna, in addition to the variety of aquatic habitats which stem

Winter habitat management will help Blanding’s Turtles in spring Late summer and early fall is the time when eggs laid by New Hampshire turtles in the spring begin to hatch and future generations emerge from their upland nest chambers. With luck and excellent camouflage, these tiny hatchlings will make it to the safety of a pond, stream, or wetland. In an effort to move ahead

Chelonia Mydas Granted Incredible Chance At Life With State-Of-The-Art Prothesis If it wasn’t for Kevin Carroll, Rocky the sea turtle would likely not be here today. A professional Prosthetist, Carroll dedicates his days to designing the most ingenious ways of providing artificial limbs to amputees, and fortunately for Rocky, he has a soft spot for these massive ocean reptiles. This young Chelonia mydas was involved

Giant South American turtle (Podocnemis expansa) populations recovering in Brazilian Amazon The turtles’ recovery appears to have also buoyed beach biodiversity in these riverside habitats—and it’s all thanks to four decades of conservation efforts made by local communities. “Community engagement is an essential ingredient in wildlife and natural conservation,” says Kristen Conway-Gómez, a geographer and conservationist at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, who did not