World Turtle News

Protecting turtles; Community’s hard work is a model for others The effort to protect the reptiles of Long Point — dubbed the Long Point Causeway Improvement Project — began in 2006 when community members gathered to discuss the issue. The community began putting up fences in 2008, and two years later Levick said the number of turtles dying on the roadway had already been cut […]

University Program Implementing Important Head-starting Program for Native Turtle Species Biology students at Worcester State University have the opportunity to study one of their state’s most endangered turtle species, Pseudemys rubriventris. This project is a head-starting program headed by the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife which has been involved with the conservation of this species for 33 years. After being raised at the head-starting

Study of Gopherus agassizii shows translocated tortoises having possible mating issues Genetic testing of hatchling desert tortoises in California has shown that none of them are offspring of the 570 tortoises that were translocated to the area four years ago. While scientists aren’t sure why the introduced adult males aren’t breeding, this information can be used to look further into the issue of translocation as

Gopherus flavomarginatus Assurance Colony Brings Hope for a Nearly Extinct Species The world’s first Gopherus flavomarginatus head-starting program recently took off, as the initial group of hatchlings was released into their native habitat as a collaborative project between the Turtle Conservancy and Turner Endangered Species Fund (TESF). Assisted by Dr. Paul Gibbons from the Turtle Conservancy, the tortoises were radio-tagged before being sent on their

Pennsylvania relocating Pseudemys rubriventris for dam repairs Last year, the state released $25.7 million in capital budget funding to repair five “high-hazard, unsafe dams,” including Minsi Lake in Upper Mount Bethel Township. The 117-acre lake is home to a variety of aquatic plant and animal species, including redbelly turtles — also known as red-bellied turtles or red-bellied cooters. They’re on the threatened species list in

Massive Gopherus agassizii Relocation Project Finally Successfully Accomplished The most extensive Gopherus agassizii relocation project performed by the US Marine Corps was finally completed last month. Taking two weeks to complete, over 1100 tortoises were loaded into helicopters and transported to their new location. After each tortoise was captured, it was given a thorough health check before being making the flight. Biologists express concern over

Ontario Conservation Program Makes Great Leaps Towards Public Education One organization located in Ontario dedicates 100% of it’s efforts to the conservation of it’s native chelonians, in particular Chelydra serpentina . The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) has spent 15 years in the race to stop their extinction. In addition to their extensive educational programs, they also implement research projects and rehabilitate injured turtles at

University of Missouri-Columbia discovers genetic pathways changed in Chrysemis picta through BPA exposure It’s been known that exposure to Bisphenol A, a chemical found in many plastics that constantly finds its way into the environment, can affect the reproductive processes of the painted turtle. Scientists have recently discovered exactly how it occurs at the genetic level, and they hope that this knowledge will help others

Female Gopherus agassizii May be Insuring Species Survival at the Cost of Their Lives Joshua Tree National Park is a haven for numerous Gopherus agassizii, which continue to successfully reproduce year after year, despite a progressively severe drought. Recently a concerning number of deceased females have been discovered within the park, and biologists are working to determine the cause of this unusual die-off. Jeffey Lovich,