Michaela Wiersema

Turtle Tracking: How One Group’s Data Tells The Story of an Ecosystem’s Health Last month the North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group conducted studies on 1,047 turtles in North-Central Florida. The group consisted of many dedicated volunteers who took detailed measurements and recorded valuable data as well as microchipping each turtle captured. Data such as growth rate and lifespan were important aspects of the study, […]

Olive Ridley turtle rescue efforts: Madras HC imposes cost on Tamil Nadu govt The Madras high court has made the decision to fine the Tamil Nadu government due to the fact that they disobeyed orders to take action against the sea turtle murders that have been occuring along the coast. The high court presented an order to hire a non-governement agency involved with sea turtle

Bali police release into the wild 31 sea turtles who had been captured by a gang of poachers Bali police raided the home base of a group of wildife smugglers last week, reclaiming 31 sea turtles destined for the Asian markets in southern China. They are commonly used in tradtional Chinese medecine. The authorities, assisted by tourists as well as naturalists, released these endangered reptiles

Bill passed to officially ban Diamondback Terrapin harvesting in New Jersey New Jersey’s native Diamondback Terrapins may soon become illegal to capture after a bill was unanimously passed in the Assembly. If the bill is passed, the species will be classified as a nongame indiginous species. One of the greatest threats to Diamondback Terrapins include harvesting for the Asian markets as well as road mortalities.

Massive Confiscation of Products Made From Sea Turtle Carapaces in Java Java police conficated a large amount of products made from turtle carapaces in Ciliacap, Java on April 1. The suspect is known as a vendor of animal parts and police are still attempting to track down the supplier of these products. Among the items confiscated were eight Hawksbill Sea Turtle carapaces and several other

Attempted Tortoise Smuggling at an Airport Sixty Leopard Tortoises were discovered packed into small boxes at Schiphol over the weekend. The Dutch Food Safety authority reported that they could not move around at all inside the boxes. These tortoises, on their way to Hong Kong, did not have valid CITES papers. Turtle News From Around the World Conservation Sea Turtles released at Laguna Phuket An