Michaela Wiersema

Conservationists Advocate To Prohibit Turtle Trapping In Effort To Conserve Declining State Population Thursday morning was an exciting day for many conservationists, as representatives from several groups attended the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for an important meeting. This was not a waste of time, however. The passionate attendees had a vital mission, to prevent the future decline of their native turtle species. As of […]

Successful Reproduction Of Critically Endangered Asian Turtle A Massive Feat For Conservation Siebenrockiella leytensis is a little-known and studied, highly secretive chelonian native to the Philippines, and unfortunately, this makes it a prime target for poachers since the species fetches an attractive price on the black market. As a result, these turtles are now listed as critically endangered and although there are many reports of

Confiscated Astrochelys Radiata Finally Arrive At Itampolo TSA Facility After months of hard work following the massive tortoise confiscation in Madagascar, the thousands of rehabilitated Astrochelys Radiata have finally taken up residence at a long-term care TSA facility in Itampolo. This is a massive milestone for all the TSA staff and volunteers as the transfer project has been a two month long endeavor, and nearly

Creating A Safe Haven For Native Australian Chelonians With The Goal Of Reintroduction Program In the northernmost part of Victoria, Australia is a plethora of incredible and beautiful ecosystems which support a wide variety of interesting as well as endangered wildlife. This region also supports three of Australia’s native turtles species, and two organizations, North Central Catchment Management Authority and Turtles Australia, have joined forces

Teen Conservationist An Inspiration For Generations To Come Spending hours in the hot sun to erect a enclosed pen- it sounds like a job which someone would hire out; however, this high schooler had other plans. Ben Voth is a passionate conservationist who lives in Agoura Hills, California. A member of Boy Scouts, he decided to use his learned skills to benefit the local wildlife,

Funded Partnership Seeks To Gain Valuable Population Data Through Head-Starting Program A multi-organizational partnership is well on it’s way to being the one of the most successful Gopherus agassizii conservation programs in North America. The San Diego Zoo Global conservationists, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Edwards Air Force Base, Cadiz, Inc., and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have joined forces to initiate a headstarting program

Turtle Rescue Continue Their Efforts Towards The Conservation of Malaclemys terrapin Sea Isle Terrapin Rescue staff have not had a dull moment this season; in fact, they have been nearly overwhelmed in their efforts to protect the native Malaclemys terrapin which has been in decline over recent years. In the town of Sea Isle in New York, Malaclemys terrapin are frequently observed making their way

Seemingly Innocent Beach Activity A Frightening Threat To Sea Turtle Populations It seems like the perfect way to spend a pleasant summer evening with family and friends on the beach, racing around with lights and buckets in an attempt to capture the most ghost crabs; however, believe it or not, this is actually a fatal practice. In reality, as sea turtles make their way to

Garden State Tortoise Shines Again And Steps Forward To Provide Beloved Tortoise A Forever Home Tommy has spent the last 35 years with Judith Patience in Asheville, North Carolina, and has been her beloved companion for all these years. Believe it or not, Tommy is a Desert Tortoise, and has been cared for with the precision and dedication that a mother would give to her