Diamondback Terrapins on the move So it’s starting to warm up in North American and the Diamondback terrapins are stirring into life as the Turtle Journal team are finding out. The Brevard Zoo in Florida would like the public to report sightings of the East Coast Diamondback Terrapin, they are concerned about their population. A vet in the UK examines 162 tortoise for post hibernation […]

Too Shy to be Saved? The Pacific Pond Turtle’s best defense may be its undoing. Its shyness protects it from human visitors, but also keeps us from studying it and knowing where it is living. The biggest threat to this turtle is the destruction of its habitat and the recent drought in part of its range. Without being able to know exactly where this reclusive

Rare turtle, once thought extinct, has its numbers bolstered by reintroduction program Wildlife Conservation Society and Turtle Survival Alliance, along with the collaboration of the Myanmar Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, have re-introduced 60 Batagur trivittata (Mynamar Roofed Turtle) into the wild. In addition, there are 600 more in captive breeding programs throughout Myanmar, including 300 at a facility opened in 2011 to increase

Sea Turtle Conservation Group Will Sue Fort Lauderdale If Necessary In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, darkness around the beaches is a problem for businesses who say they’re losing out on potential customers because of safety concerns. Traffic is also affected in some parts. The city’s Conference Committee Agenda took up surveys to draw these conclusions. However, darkness is a very good thing for freshly hatched sea

Swings and Roundabouts A number of the stories today highlight that illegal trade in turtles and tortoises still continues relatively unabated. A seizure of turtles in Hong Kong is waiting to be returned to Pakistan once the transport costs are paid, more individuals are arrested for selling the rarest tortoise in the world, and another pair of smugglers is caught. On the plus side, more

Adopt Me! The Arizona Game and Fish Department held an adoption day on Saturday for their Gopher tortoises (Gopherus morafkai) . The event allowed pre-approved applicants to choose a tortoise to take home. Each adoptie was required to complete a check list and provide photographic evidence of the environment the tortoise would be living in. The AZGF webiste has all the information. Turtle News From

South Pacific’s Largest Hawksbill Turtle Rookery Recovering After 150 years of exploitation, the largest Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Rookery shows significant signs of recovery. This local population, studied for 22 years to date, shows a 200% increase from when the study started. Collaborative conservation efforts must continue, but the success at Arnavon Community Marine Conservation Area is very encouraging for the long-term growth of