Zoo Knoxville welcomes critically endangered spider tortoise hatchling Zoo Knoxville has welcomed its latest animal, a Critically Endangered spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) which hatched this week. Spider tortoises are endemic to Madagascar and are the smallest of the island’s four native species. These tortoises are extremely vulnerable to poaching and illegal collection, which has greatly reduced its wild population. These tortoises are also unique in […]

Turtle defecates plastic after swimming in ocean filled with rubbish (video) A green turtle (Chelonia mydas) was rescued from a fishing net off the coast of Buenos Aires and taken to the Mundo Marino Foundation. Afterward, it was discovered that it had ingested large quantities of plastic which had been floating in the ocean. The turtle had no option but to allow the large quantities

Petticord explores a Kenyan ecosystem one tortoise at a time As Princeton senior Daniel Petticord was conceptualizing his thesis on animal movement in the African savanna, he could have chosen to study elephants, zebras, giraffes, impalas or any of the iconic animals that inhabit central Kenya. He chose the ubiquitous leopard tortoise. “I’ve always been a ‘dig around in the dirt and look for reptiles’

Highest number of leatherback sea turtle nests seen in Andaman Islands, India since 2010 Over 300 leatherback nests found in the nesting beaches of Little Andaman, where an average of about 150 nests are usually found every year. He added, “This is the highest number of nests recorded for turtles since the initiation of our monitoring camp in 2010. Existing literature on sea turtle monitoring

The Manchester-born conservationist who’s saving turtles in the Indian Ocean Martin Stelfox – A conservationist who has a penchant for all things reptile, is now dedicating his time and career to saving sea turtles. He is the founder and CEO of the turtle conservation charity “The Olive Ridley Project” (ORP), which was established in 2013 is based in the UK. I also had the pleasure

Dahanu in India to build centre dedicated to turtle conservation If all goes as planned Dahanu, could soon boast of a first of its kind state-of-the-art awareness and research centre dedicate to turtles, which would be set up close to the Dahanu beach. The centre will itself be designed in the shape of a giant green sea turtle. Members of NGO Wildlife Conservation and Animal

Matthew Kail sentenced to prison for involvement in black market trade stretching from South Carolina to Hong Kong U.S. District Judge Joe Anderson’s sentence makes Kail the second member of the ring to receive prison time. Baker received more than a year in prison at his sentencing hearing in March. At least three others with South Carolina connections have received probation and fines. The prison