Matt Knight

After Hurricane Harvey, sulcata tortoise and other animals rescued by heroic humans Because they can’t swim, a sulcata tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) would have surely perished had it not been for the incredible actions by a number of people after the hurricane. Billy Hutson, Alen Pogue, Shane Montie, and others risked their safety in order to rescue numerous species including reptiles, dogs, cats, and even a […]

Scientific paper released regarding long-term monitoring of marine turtles by local communities In Lamu, local residents have teamed up with Kenya Wildlife Service to both monitor sea turtles and engage in their conservation. Turtles in the area are subject to illegal trade, pollution, poorly planned development, and becoming bycatch. However, this newly released paper, covering 17 years of data collection, will go a long way

Two-headed loggerhead turtle found by UCF interns As strange as it might seem, two-headed animals occur in nature on a regular basis! While they often don’t survive, this hatchling loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) appears to be fine. Kate Mansfield of the University of Central Florida’s Turtle Lab shared pictures of this amazing animal. Some good news: Poky, a missing sulcata tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata), has

Madagascar�s radiated tortoises have personalities, too Of course, turtle lovers know that they have personalities! Now, science has provided strong evidence in our favor. Dr. Andrea Currylow, who works at the University of Southern California, has been studying the relationship between behavior and chemical releases in radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata). One of these chemicals is corticosterone, also known as CORT. The results are very interesting!

At Gumbo Limbo, teen Maya Lambert gets wish granted to work with sea turtles Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Maya has always dreamed of working with sea turtles and had her first chance to do so thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation! She’ll look for nests, release hatchlings, and help care for patients at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. Have fun, Maya! Some of us are super

Staten Island Zoo unveils tribute to beloved tortoise Jalopy Jalopy the Galapagos tortoise (Geochelone nigra), humorously named after the regular mispronunciation of “Galapagos”, now has a tribute statue honoring her memory at the Staten Island Zoo in New York. After struggling with cancer, she passed in 1983. Jalopy came to the zoo in 1937 and was a beloved friend for decades, celebrated by both staff

In Sanibel FL, the Green Sea Turtles in Southwest Florida program is a success! For its first year, the Green Sea Turtles in Southwest Florida program has been a big success with a total of 202 sea turtles -consisting of 135 individuals, some of whom have returned more than once- and 20 successful nests! Funding for 8 satellite trackers has led to 7 turtles receiving

Hunting Island nesting numbers climbing after Hurricane Matthew, locals fiercely dedicated to protecting them Halfway through their nesting season, loggerheads on Hunting Island have made a significant rebound after Hurricane Matthew and helped bring the community together. Locals have spent over 30 years developing techniques to protect the turtles that include the best forms of nest protection and protection from predators, and now that nesting

Riversleigh Fossil Museum uncovers 24 million year old giant horned turtle (Meiolania platyceps) 14 years ago, the fossil was found but unidentified, but now it’s drawing attention from the scientific community. Alan Rackham, the museum’s director, says it was discovered in the Pacific Islands and will travel temporarily to the University of New South Wales for further study. The video of a lost and found