tortoise news

Another day, another dead wildlife ranger. Where is the outrage? Protecting wildlife is no longer just a case of stopping poaching by poor local villagers. Illegal wildlife crime is now estimated to be worth more than $20bn (£16bn) per year, ranked only behind drugs, weapons and human trafficking in the criminal value chain. Rangers face well-organised criminal gangs and hardened armed militia. Rebel groups often […]

Turtle murder mystery at Misery Bay solved The case of the mysterious deaths of over 71 turtles in 2013 at Misery Bay Provincial Park has finally been closed and a plan has been recommended to hopefully catch any future mortalities more quickly at the park. “The turtles most likely died due to a predation event, but I believe that the deaths may have resulted from

Land reclamation in Malaysia puts environment and turtles at risk The island of Pulau Upeh is only a few kilometres north of the UNESCO-listed city. For generations it has been the state’s major nesting site for the critically-endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), but reclamation is encroaching. Once two kilometres out to sea, Pulau Upeh is now only 600 metres offshore. The effect on the turtle

Glover’s Reef in Belize provides refuge for sea turtle Threatened hawksbill sea turtle are thriving in the protected water of Glover’s Reef, one of the world’s great barrier reef system in Belize. A recent study showed that the coral reefs around the atoll are home to more than 1,000 young hawksbill turtles. “The findings of our research show that juvenile hawksbill turtles are thriving at

Prince Harry visits the turtle sanctuary at St Vincent and the Grenadines The prince visited the turtle conservation project at Colonarie beach on St Vincent and the Grenadines. Even since turtles have become endangered in the Caribbean, nations have allowed coastal communities to carry on hunting turtles for one month each year when they are most numerous. But from January that will no longer be

Red Cliffs project to restore burned tortoise habitat Mohave desert landscapes are not adapted to wildfire because plants and shrubs were too widely spread to carry a fire very far. However, invasive annual species such as cheat grass now provide a continuous fuel source that can fuel fires which take decades or centuries to heal. This week, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources staff along

Too hot to hatch: dry, hot weather impacting Queensland’s endangered bum-breathing turtle Researchers say it is not a pretty story for Queensland’s endangered Mary River Turtle this year, which is having an ‘extremely unusual’ nesting season. Hot and dry weather has had a significant impact on the timing of the nesting with turtles only now starting to lay their eggs, about a month later than

Sea Turtle Superheroes There’s never a dull moment. Calls for help can come at any time. “We’re 24/7,” Howell said. “We’ll go out at night to pick up turtles that have swallowed fishing hooks. We’ve had turtles entangled in shoe laces, dragging a shoe…” Whatever the case may be the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network—led by NOAA Fisheries and made up of federal, state,

Big-Headed Turtle Update from the TSA it has been on the social media since November 7th, the TSA is facing another crisis, this time, regarding Platysternon megacephalum the big-headed turtle. Indeed, more than 800 turtles were confiscated from two Chinese traders. The turtle have then been given to the TSA who is in charge their rehabilitation at the May Myo turtle rescue center. Turtle News