Sick Turtle Makes a Recovery Thanks to the Help of the Ojai Raptor Center

Sick Turtle Makes a Recovery Thanks to the Help of the Ojai Raptor Center

This spring, our staff discovered an oral/respiratory infection in our largest male Chinese big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum), hampering his ability to eat, breathe, and swim. After weeks of treatment and antibiotics, we found him unresponsive in his infirmary tank. Immediate CPR was administered. (Yes, you can give a turtle CPR!) After regaining consciousness, we contacted Ojai Raptor Center (ORC) to use their oxygen ICU cage and surgical suite...

Swimming for the Good of Turtles

Swimming for the Good of Turtles

On September 24th, musician, actor, artist, and ultra-marathon swimmer Joel Virgel will embark on an incredible 21-mile swim from Catalina Island to the California mainland—a distance comparable to the legendary English Channel swim.

Even more inspiring, Joel is undertaking this challenge to raise funds for the Turtle Conservancy.

Turtles Steal the Show at Ojai 4th of July Parade

Turtles Steal the Show at Ojai 4th of July Parade

This Fourth of July, the Turtle Conservancy put on a show bigger than ever! Our turtle float was a hit once again, this year with a few additions, including a rider,  an egg hatching to reveal an adorable baby, a dancing turtle, and even a mariachi band. We love not only spreading joy during this parade, but also a message of conservation with signs including messages like “Save the water shed” 

We extend a warm thank you to our Ojai community to for the love shown to the TC during the 4th of July parade!

Act Local and Protect Southern CA’s ONLY Native Freshwater Turtle

Act Local and Protect Southern CA’s ONLY Native Freshwater Turtle

The Turtle Conservancy is preparing for the 2024 field season of our Southwestern Pond Turtle Conservation Program, which is committed to safeguarding California's s only native freshwater turtle, Actinemys pallida. As we return to our established research sites in Ventura County, we aim to assess how the native turtle populations have fared against the multitude of threats humans have thrown at them.

TC Turtles Donate Blood For Science

TC Turtles Donate Blood For Science


The Turtle Conservancy recently hosted Dr. Zach Bell, a guest researcher from Okinawa, Japan, at our Conservation Center. Dr. Bell stands as one of the few scholars delving into the population dynamics of Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtles  (Geoemyda japonica) in their native habitat of Okinawa, Japan. After years of navigating the sensitive and guarded culture of turtle research on the lush Japanese Island of Okinawa, Dr. Bell and his partner, Aya Narukiyo, successfully joining a multi-decade long project to study the population, range, behavior, and life cycles of the elusive Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle led by researcher ​Tsutomu Otani…

Updates from our Conservation Center

Updates from our Conservation Center

During the winter months, the Turtle Conservancy’s Conservation Center experiences a tranquil period. Many species enter hibernation, while others seek refuge in our climate-controlled indoor habitats during inclement weather. This lull in activity provides the Turtles Conservancy Staff with the perfect opportunity to embark on various updates and improvements around the center, and they've been hard at work!

Engaging Minds and Cultivating Conservation: Educational Outreach and Volunteer Partnerships

Engaging Minds and Cultivating Conservation: Educational Outreach and Volunteer Partnerships

On March 6th, Manci, the Assistant Director of Education at the Turtle Conservancy, brought a wave of excitement to the Chadwick School as she visited to enlighten both 3rd and 1st-grade classes about the fascinating life cycle of turtles. The classroom buzzed with curiosity as students eagerly listened and participated in discussions, their eyes wide with wonder at the mysteries of the turtle world. Manci's interactive approach not only brought the subject to life but also allowed the children to see, touch, and inquire about real turtle shells and preserved eggs, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for these remarkable creatures.

Reproducing Giants: Guest Speaker Stefan Merz Shares His Expertise on Aldabra Tortoise Propagation 

Reproducing Giants: Guest Speaker Stefan Merz Shares His Expertise on Aldabra Tortoise Propagation 

We were delighted to welcome Dr. Stefan Merz from Germany, who holds the distinction of being the sole individual in Europe with a breeding group of Aldabra tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea). Dr. Merz has amassed invaluable expertise in the physiology, behavior, habitat requirements, ecology and reproductive patterns of Aldabra Tortoises through his expeditions to their native island…

Turtle Conservancy Board Chair, Anders Rhodin, Awarded the International Sea Turtle Society Lifetime Achievement Award

Turtle Conservancy Board Chair, Anders Rhodin, Awarded the International Sea Turtle Society Lifetime Achievement Award

Turtle Conservancy Board Chair, Anders Rhodin, was awarded the International Sea Turtle Society Lifetime Achievement Award; an annual award honoring an individual who has had a significant impact on sea turtle biology and conservation through the course of their career.

Rhodin joins some of the giants in the sea turtle world, including past recipients Archie Carr and Peter Pritchard…

Turtle Conservancy Hosts Its First Teacher Workshop

Turtle Conservancy Hosts Its First Teacher Workshop

We are thrilled to announce an exciting partnership between the Turtle Conservancy (TC) and the MERITO Foundation, aimed at fostering environmental education in Ventura County. Last week, the TC and MERITO hosted six middle school teachers from the De Anza Middle School (DATA) at our conservation center. This collaborative effort allowed educators to benefit from professional development opportunities offered by MERITO's renowned program, enhancing their knowledge and skills in environmental education…

New Network Gives Hope to Animals Trafficked Through Illegal Wildlife Trade

New Network Gives Hope to Animals Trafficked  Through Illegal Wildlife Trade

The Turtle Conservancy is proud to be a part of the Wildlife Confiscations Network in southern California, just launched by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The network is a pilot program of AZA’s Wildlife Trafficking Alliance that provides a coordinated response for the care and wellbeing of wildlife confiscated from illegal trade…

Turtle Conservancy and Western University Team Up To Train the Next Generation of Wildlife Veterinarians

Turtle Conservancy and Western University Team Up To Train the Next Generation of Wildlife Veterinarians

On Sunday, October 22nd, 30 veterinary students from Western University of Health and Science embarked on a day dedicated to turtle medicine at the TC. Under the guidance of Dr. Curtis Eng, Director of Clinical Rotations at Western University, and visiting veterinarian Dr. Jonathan Ho, these students had the unique opportunity to interact closely with some of the TC residents. The day was structured around several educational stations…

Embracing Our Local Community 

Embracing Our Local Community 

Our conservation center is at the heart of the small, tightly knit, town of Ojai, CA. Since 1917, Ojai has hosted a yearly Ojai Day featuring local vendors, non profits, and artists. The TC was happy to host yet another booth at Ojai Day where we had the opportunity to engage with the community and inspire care for turtle conservation…

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes federal protections for both species of Western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata and A. pallida) under the Endangered Species Act

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes federal protections for both species of Western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata and A. pallida) under the Endangered Species Act

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed federal protections for both species of western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata), namely the northwestern pond turtle and the southwestern pond turtle, under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These turtles, residing across several states in the western U.S., are facing threats from worsening drought conditions, habitat loss, fragmentation, and predation by invasive species. The Service's decision to list them as threatened under the ESA is based on a Species Status Assessment, indicating their increasing risk of extinction due to population losses and reduced genetic diversity. A 4(d) rule is also proposed, allowing activities like wildfire suppression, habitat restoration, and non-native species removal that support turtle conservation…

Endangered Tortoises Released On New Mexico Ranch

Endangered Tortoises Released On New Mexico Ranch

We are excited to share some heartwarming news from the plains of New Mexico. In a remarkable conservation effort, on September 22nd, our partners at the Turner Endangered Species Fund (TESF) celebrated the release of 20 Bolson tortoises marking a significant milestone in the preservation of this critically endangered species.


In the article written by Huffington Post, program director, Chris Weise, shared the importance of the release of headstarted tortoises. “The releases are the essential step to getting them back on the ground and letting them be wild tortoises,” she said. “To us, this is the pinnacle of what we do” …