Michaela Wiersema

Lone Star State Makes Huge Leap Forward Towards Conserving Native Chelonians It’s been a long and arduous journey, but conservationists won a massive victory in the name of conservation last week. Following in the footsteps of multiple other US states, Texas officially declared a ban on the commercial harvesting of their native turtles, and thus took a major step towards encouraging a rebound of the […]

World-Class Chelonian Conservancy At The Forefront Of Geochelone Nigra Conservation Efforts Nestled in the heart of Florida is a jewel not known to many, but in fact is one of the most important conservation facilities in the world. Three Jays Tortoise Sanctuary has been working with Geochelone nigra as an official licensed breeding center for 6 years and approximately one hundred healthy hatchlings have come

Volunteer Program Paves The Way For Sea Turtle Conservation On The Gulf Coast A visitor to the Fort Morgan beach on the Alabama coast might be surprised to see a small group of people intently working on something in the sand; in fact, these are members of “Share The Beach”, a volunteer-run organization which dedicates its efforts to protecting and collecting data on each one

Uproar Develops Over Unwanted Sea Turtle Nests On Private Land A small and little-known but wealthy community on the coast of Florida has a very unusual complaint to make. The residents of Belleair Shore are clashing with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium regarding unwanted sea turtle nests on what they say is private property. Believe it or not, the landowners report that they are upset about

Sea Turtle Inc. Interns Experience Conservation At Its Best In The Rio Grande Valley South Padre Island is home to Sea Turtle Inc., which is a rescue facility dedicated to the education, rehabilitation, and conservation of sea turtles from around the world. With the recent unveiling of a brand new center expansion, this world-class organization is heading the way for the preservation of these endangered

Researchers Race To Save Rescued Victim Of Shocking Trash Ingestion Researchers in Kinmen have been struggling in a valiant attempt to save an unfortunate Chelonia mydas, which was rescued in Liaoluo just last month. The sick turtle is the victim of littering, and because of the ingestion of the trash, has been expelling pieces for nearly two weeks. As staff work to rehabilitate this as

Scientists Researching Fatal Disease Dangerously Affecting Native Populations Of Actinemys Marmorata Scientists from around the country have been delving deep into a mysterious case which is threatening the wipe out the population of Actinemys marmorata in the state of Washington in the United States. This ravaging condition, which has yet to be dubbed a title, manifests itself in serious and highly damaging lesions on the

Couple’s Passion Turns Into Incredible Reptile Rehabilitation Operation It all started with a little Testudo horsfieldii given to Traci years ago. Little did she know that this was only the beginning of a life-changing adventure which would prove to be the most rewarding experience of her career. Her husband Greg is equally as passionate for chelonians along with other reptiles, and his carpentry skills have