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
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
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.
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
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…
Baby Alert!
2023 Southern Pacific Pond Turtle Field Season Recap
The end of summer marks the conclusion of the Turtle Conservancy’s 2023 Southern Pacific Pond Turtle field season. This was our second year researching and monitoring two populations of Southern Pacific Pond Turtle’s (Actinemys pallida) in Ventura County. Our endeavors are underpinned by shared concerns among biologists across California, who recognize the precarious state of this species…
First Ever Sulawesi Forest Turtle Hatched at the Turtle Conservancy
On September 20th, 2023, the very first two Sulawesi forest turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoia) hatched at the Turtle Conservancy. The Sulawesi forest turtle stands as one of the most mysterious and least-studied turtle species globally. It remains largely elusive in the wild, with limited observations and scant knowledge of its life history. Officially described for the first time in 1995, this turtle species is unique to Indonesia's Sulawesi island. Its name, Leucocephalon, highlights the distinct white head coloration seen in males, while "yuwonoi" refers to the natorious animal dealer Franck Yuwono, the initial collector of these turtles.
As its name suggests, the Sulawesi Forest Turtle inhabits cool mountain streams within the forests of northern Sulawesi. While juveniles primarily dwell in aquatic environments, adults split their time between the dense forest canopy during daylight hours and the streams during the night. Their diet is omnivorous, encompassing invertebrates, vegetation, and fruit.
This species holds the unfortunate distinction of being classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Like many endangered turtle and tortoise species, the Sulawesi Forest Turtle faces threats mainly from illegal wildlife trade and habitat destruction. In 1998, an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Sulawesi Forest Turtles were exported to China. The Indonesian government responded by prohibiting turtle exports in 2002, but illegal trade continues. Widespread deforestation due to agriculture, palm oil plantations, and other human activities has further decimated this species, especially given its limited range. Turtle Conservancy has been studying it since 2012, pinpointing the primary source of turtle exports for the wildlife trade in Sulawesi.
Even if we manage to curb exploitation and habitat loss, the Sulawesi Forest Turtle's recovery remains hindered by the fact that females typically lay only one or two eggs per clutch. While assurance colonies of these turtles do exist, the species has proven challenging to maintain and breed in captivity.
Turtle Conservancy received a group of Sulawesi Forest Turtles confiscated from the illegal trade, which are now housed at our conservation center in California. After several unsuccessful breeding seasons, we are thrilled to announce the hatching of the first two Sulawesi Forest Turtle at the Turtle Conservancy. This achievement signifies a new beginning in the battle to prevent the extinction of this critically endangered species.
The Turtle Conservancy is committed to expanding its breeding and research efforts to strengthen the population of Sulawesi Forest Turtles in captivity. The hatching of the first Sulawesi Forest Turtle at our center marks a significant milestone in the ongoing struggle to save this critically endangered species. It serves as a poignant reminder of the essential role played by dedicated conservation efforts, research, and collaboration in safeguarding our planet's most vulnerable wildlife. While challenges remain on the horizon, this hatchling represents hope for a brighter future for the Sulawesi Forest Turtle and underscores our collective responsibility to preserve Earth's biodiversity.
Endangered Turtle Hatches at the Turtle Conservancy
Hatchlings are always a source of excitement at the Turtle Conservancy, and some are particularly thrilling, like this adorable little Spiny Hill Turtle (Heosemys spinosa) that hatched on July tenth. Turtle Conservancy carefully incubated the egg for four months until this little one emerged into the world. Welcoming this little Spiny Hill Turtle represents renewed hope for the future of this endangered species…
High Schoolers Open their Doors to Confiscated Turtles
Education is the backbone of conservation, and we want to highlight one school that has incorporated lifesaving turtle conservation into their curriculum. Mount Olive High School, a public school in Morris County, New Jersey, goes beyond classroom teachings to engage students in hands-on work with animals in their greenhouse. The School opened their doors to turtles that United States Fish and Wildlife (USFW) confiscated from the global illegal wildlife trade…
Turtle Camp Recap
We have just concluded our second annual Turtle Camp: a week-long adventure camp, fully funded and organized by the Turtle Conservancy in collaboration with The Thacher School. Our campers, a group of enthusiastic 7th and 8th graders from schools across Los Angeles and Ventura County, embarked on a transformative journey filled with invaluable lessons, profound conservation efforts, lasting friendships, and, of course, unforgettable turtle encounters. Thanks to the generous support of anonymous donors, we provided twenty-five young minds with the opportunity to embrace their roles as budding conservationists. This generous grant has ignited a new generation of wildlife advocates, instilling a sense of purpose and dedication in each participant…
Earth Day Shell-ebrations!
Turtle Conservancy hosted a booth at two events in the month of April to celebrate Earth Day, one for the Ventura Earth Day Eco Fest hosted by Ventura Charter School (April 16th) and the other at Ojai Community Farmer’s Market (April 20th).
In many countries around the world, turtles are seen as guardians of our Mother Earth, so we were elated to celebrate Earth Week with our community members as a way to share our mission and the importance of turtles and their conservation.
A Turtley Amazing Field Trip
Second graders from Topa Topa Elementary visited the Turtle Conservancy bright eyed and ready to learn! Their visit to our center was a wonderful way to wrap up their “turtle week” at school where they had spent the past few days immersed in turtle curriculum taught by their teacher, Ms. Dvortcsak.
The students were excited to share their new knowledge with us and were also immersed in learning about individual species at our center. Meeting the Galapagos tortoises and getting to see newly hatched Burmese Star Tortoises were some of the major highlights.
The Love Lives of Turtles
As the weather warms up and the sun shines brighter, it seems like everyone is waking up from their winter slumber – including several species at the Turtle Conservancy that hibernate over winter.
After all, who wouldn't want to bask in the warm sun and soak up some rays after a long, cold winter? Plus, it's the perfect time to start looking for a mate.
Nature Journaling at the TC
The Turtle Conservancy was excited to host an event with The Channel Islands Nature Journalers: a Meet Up group of nature journalers who love to explore, observe, and document the natural world. Twice monthly, this group meets at a different location to observe nature deeply and record their observations through illustrations and writings…
Paleontologists Visit the Turtle Conservancy to Explore Questions About Turtle Evolution
Earlier this month, the TC was delighted to host paleontologist Dr. Walter Joyce and PhD student Léa Girard from the University of Fribourg Switzerland and facilitate their use of the Pritchard Collection for research. The visit marks a new chapter for the collection since it was incorporated into the TC nearly two years ago.
Recent Community Outreach Events
Last week, the Turtle Conservancy’s education team, Kelly Herbinson and Manci Rasmussen, presented at our local City Hall to the youth members of the Green Valley Project about our native Southern Pacific Pond Turtle. The focus was to discuss our current conservation efforts for the species, why the turtles are facing a population decline, and how their organization can aid in their conservation...
Geometric Tortoise Preserve Update
At the end of January, a contingent of TC staff and partners traveled to South Africa to reconnect with our Southern Africa Tortoise Conservation Trust (SATCT) staff and partners. After 3 years of zoom, this was the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that US-based conservationists were able to visit our Geometric Tortoise preserve. In addition to having our first in-person SATCT Trustee meeting since 2019, we held meetings with CapeNature, the environmental conservation government agency for the Western Cape. We also consulted and engaged with NGO colleagues and local scientists on future management plans and actions, and visited the tortoise headstarting facility at Elandsberg Nature Reserve (managed by our partners, the Mapula Trust)…
