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The Turtle Conservancy secured approximately 1,000 acres of Tropical Deciduous Forest in southern Sonora, Mexico, for the protection of this newly described species. The property targeted for this land acquisition has been identified for its excellent tortoise habitat, and for its ideal location adjoining a nature reserve, the Reserva Monte Mojino. This project will not only contribute to the survival of a unique tortoise but also the rich biodiversity associated with this ecosystem. This protected area will safeguard the globally endangered Tropical Deciduous Forest ecosystem supporting 36 families of tropical trees, 48 species of orchids, the highest diversity of birds in Sonora, 5 species of wild cats, and 79 species of amphibians and reptiles. The entire area will be owned and managed by Nature and Culture International, the organization that currently manages the Reserva Monte Mojino.

What else are we protecting in San Pablo? 

2016 Bioblitz List of Biodiversity:

• 226 bird species at last known count

• Five species of cats: Jaguar, Margay, Ocelot, Bobcat, Mountain Lion

• Five species of turtles: Painted Wood Turtle (Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima rogerbarbouri), Spotted Box Turtle (Terrapene nelsoni), Alamos Mud Turtle (Kinosternon alamosae), Mexican Mud Turtle (Kinosternon integrum), Goode's Thornscrub Tortoise (Gopherus evgoodei)

• 21 species of snakes

• 10 species of lizards were observed, including the Mexican Beaded Lizard

• Six species of bats were known to live here before the BioBlitz; after four days of sampling 22 species of bats were captured

• Also captured / observed were 10 amphibians, six fish, and seven small mammals in Sherman traps (also never done in the area before, identification of these is not complete)

A NEw Species!

Goode's Thornscrub Tortoise (Gopherus evgoodei)

A team of scientists from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada have recently described a new species of Desert Tortoise found in Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico. But instead of following the standard describing and naming process, the researchers behind this effort decided to try an innovative approach that would support their science with tangible conservation actions. They reached out to Eric Goode, founder and president of the Turtle Conservancy, with the idea of auctioning off the naming rights for the new species at the annual Turtle Ball. 

The new species description, published in ZooKeys, can be accessed here >

Dr. Taylor Edwards of the University of Arizona and lead author on the scientific paper describing the new species explains his motivation: “I figure if we are introducing a new species to the world and we already know that it and its habitat is imperiled, why not start it out with a trust fund?”

On September 28, 2015, the Turtle Conservancy held its third annual Turtle Ball at The Bowery Hotel in New York City. The highlight of the evening was a bid for the right to name the new tortoise, which raised $100,000 solely for the purchase of land in Mexico to protect this new species. With only a little over 50 living species of tortoises currently known to science, this was a unique opportunity to be a part of this unprecedented naming auction. However, instead of a single bidder winning the auction, four organizations came together to contribute funds toward this project: The Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, Global Wildlife Conservation, Rainforest Trust, and the Turtle Conservancy were motivated to pool together this donation in the name of Eric Goode for his work preserving turtles and tortoises around the world. Learn more >

The newly described species, G. evgoodei; painting by Hector Sanchez.

For more information on the research leading up to this project, see the article published in The Tortoise magazine: The Mexican Tortoise Project