The
Critically Endangered Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) gets
its name from its flat and relatively soft shell which it expands to
wedge itself in rock crevices in order to avoid predators. Unfortunately
this East African species cannot escape habitat destruction and
collection for the pet trade. We currently have an assurance colony of
this species at out conservation center with the hope that one day we
won’t have to.
Critically Endangered – Radiated Tortoise
(Astrochelys radiata).Although this species has survived for thousands
of years in Madagascar, nothing could have prepared it for the onset of mankind. Humans
have had a huge impact including habitat destruction, collection for
the international wildlife trade, and collection for utilization by
local people.Find out more about these turtles:
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Radiatedtortoise.cfm
http://www.arkive.org/radiated-tortoise/astrochelys-radiata/
… and ongoing conservation efforts:
http://madagascarpartnership.org/home/radiated_tortoise_project
Happy Friday! We photographed this Critically Endangered hatchling Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Jamaica as it slipped into its watery new home. Shot at Chris Blackwell’s renowned GoldenEye Hotel and Resort.
Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
The Radiated Tortoise is endemic to Madagascar, preferring to live in the dry brush and thorn forests in the southern portion of the island. They graze on grasses, which make up most of their diet, but will also feed on cacti and fruits if they find them. They are very long lived, with estimated lifespans of up to 100 years. The oldest verified Radiated Tortoise belonged to the royal family of Tonga and lived to be 188 years old.
These tortoises are classed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, as they have disappeared from 40% of their native range, and are experiencing ongoing population decline. In fact, it is estimated that they will be extinct within the next 50 years if current trends continue. Threats to the population are mainly habitat loss due to human expansion, and exploitation for the pet trade and for food by local people.
Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
The Radiated Tortoise is endemic to Madagascar, preferring to live in the dry brush and thorn forests in the southern portion of the island. They graze on grasses, which make up most of their diet, but will also feed on cacti and fruits if they find them. They are very long lived, with estimated lifespans of up to 100 years. The oldest verified Radiated Tortoise belonged to the royal family of Tonga and lived to be 188 years old.
These tortoises are classed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, as they have disappeared from 40% of their native range, and are experiencing ongoing population decline. In fact, it is estimated that they will be extinct within the next 50 years if current trends continue. Threats to the population are mainly habitat loss due to human expansion, and exploitation for the pet trade and for food by local people.
Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
The Radiated Tortoise is endemic to Madagascar, preferring to live in the dry brush and thorn forests in the southern portion of the island. They graze on grasses, which make up most of their diet, but will also feed on cacti and fruits if they find them. They are very long lived, with estimated lifespans of up to 100 years. The oldest verified Radiated Tortoise belonged to the royal family of Tonga and lived to be 188 years old.
These tortoises are classed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, as they have disappeared from 40% of their native range, and are experiencing ongoing population decline. In fact, it is estimated that they will be extinct within the next 50 years if current trends continue. Threats to the population are mainly habitat loss due to human expansion, and exploitation for the pet trade and for food by local people.
These lovely ladies show off some of Myanmar’s most beautiful residents. Burmese Star Tortoises (Geochelone platynota) are listed as Critically Endangered and have become ecologically extinct in the wild. The Turtle Conservancy breeds more of these amazing animals than anyone else in the United States.
Sea Turtle Preservation Society Volunteers Work to Save Archie the Hawksbill Sea Turtle! With only 3 flippers this little guy washed ashore lucky to be found by Brevard county volunteers.
INDIALANTIC — Critically weakened, missing a front flipper, the baby hawksbill sea turtle plopped its tiny beak atop a digital scale, barely even wriggling.
Nicknamed Archie, the struggling reptile was discovered by a surprised couple Sunday in the Banana River, near a dock amid Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands.
“Because it’s such a rare turtle — very endangered — we’ll get him over to SeaWorld this afternoon and make sure that they get him some food and some nourishment,” explained Debby Livingston, a Sea Turtle Preservation Society board member, pointing a pen at Archie before a crowd of onlookers.
Archie weighs a mere 2.2 ounces and carries two white barnacles on his 75-millimeter carapace. Livingston surmised that he hatched a few weeks ago outside Brevard County, swam offshore to the Sargasso Sea, and was washed back in a clump of seaweed, exhausted.
“He is definitely having issues right now. He’s very lethargic. He’s probably not had anything to drink or eat. And he’s been thrown back from the Sargassum line — which is 25 miles away,” Livingston said.
Archie’s appearance stole the show during the Sea Turtle Preservation Society’s third annual World Sea Turtle Day celebration at its South Miramar Avenue storefront.
The Indialantic non-profit wildlife group’s open house also marked the birthday of Archie Carr. The pioneering conservationist’s namesake national wildlife preserve protects 20 miles of prime sea turtle nesting habitat in Brevard and Indian River counties.
Hawksbills are a federal endangered species and the Sunshine State’s rarest sea turtles, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports. Adults can grow to 200 pounds, primarily on a diet of sponges.
Satellite Beach STPS volunteer Ann Zscheile detailed “washbacks” like Archie in her book, “Wilbur the Washback Sea Turtle.” This tome tells the tale of Wilbur, a baby loggerhead whose seaweed home was blown back to Brevard by Hurricane Noel in 2007.
Zscheile, who helped rescue Wilbur, later co-founded the organization’s Sea Turtle Emergency Response Program.
“They cannot make that swim again back to the seaweed. They’re exhausted. People put them back in the water, but they don’t have that yolk energy of a hatchling,” Zscheile said.
“They’re doomed, unless we pick them up,” she said.
Sea Turtle Preservation Society Volunteers Work to Save Archie the Hawksbill Sea Turtle! With only 3 flippers this little guy washed ashore lucky to be found by Brevard county volunteers.
INDIALANTIC — Critically weakened, missing a front flipper, the baby hawksbill sea turtle plopped its tiny beak atop a digital scale, barely even wriggling.
Nicknamed Archie, the struggling reptile was discovered by a surprised couple Sunday in the Banana River, near a dock amid Cocoa Beach’s Thousand Islands.
“Because it’s such a rare turtle — very endangered — we’ll get him over to SeaWorld this afternoon and make sure that they get him some food and some nourishment,” explained Debby Livingston, a Sea Turtle Preservation Society board member, pointing a pen at Archie before a crowd of onlookers.
Archie weighs a mere 2.2 ounces and carries two white barnacles on his 75-millimeter carapace. Livingston surmised that he hatched a few weeks ago outside Brevard County, swam offshore to the Sargasso Sea, and was washed back in a clump of seaweed, exhausted.
“He is definitely having issues right now. He’s very lethargic. He’s probably not had anything to drink or eat. And he’s been thrown back from the Sargassum line — which is 25 miles away,” Livingston said.
Archie’s appearance stole the show during the Sea Turtle Preservation Society’s third annual World Sea Turtle Day celebration at its South Miramar Avenue storefront.
The Indialantic non-profit wildlife group’s open house also marked the birthday of Archie Carr. The pioneering conservationist’s namesake national wildlife preserve protects 20 miles of prime sea turtle nesting habitat in Brevard and Indian River counties.
Hawksbills are a federal endangered species and the Sunshine State’s rarest sea turtles, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports. Adults can grow to 200 pounds, primarily on a diet of sponges.
Satellite Beach STPS volunteer Ann Zscheile detailed “washbacks” like Archie in her book, “Wilbur the Washback Sea Turtle.” This tome tells the tale of Wilbur, a baby loggerhead whose seaweed home was blown back to Brevard by Hurricane Noel in 2007.
Zscheile, who helped rescue Wilbur, later co-founded the organization’s Sea Turtle Emergency Response Program.
“They cannot make that swim again back to the seaweed. They’re exhausted. People put them back in the water, but they don’t have that yolk energy of a hatchling,” Zscheile said.
“They’re doomed, unless we pick them up,” she said.
What about tortoises? The beautiful Burmese Star Tortoise needs your help! Already declared critically endangered, this tortoise needs more than just that lable to be saved!
Sign petition to help save the critically endangered Burmese Star Tortoise!
Decimated by illegal hunting for both food and the pet trade along with habitat loss, many turtle species will go extinct in the next decade unless drastic conservation measures are taken, according to the report, which was released at a regional workshop hosted by Wildlife Reserves Singapore and WCS.
What about tortoises? The beautiful Burmese Star Tortoise needs your help! Already declared critically endangered, this tortoise needs more than just that lable to be saved!
Sign petition to help save the critically endangered Burmese Star Tortoise!
Decimated by illegal hunting for both food and the pet trade along with habitat loss, many turtle species will go extinct in the next decade unless drastic conservation measures are taken, according to the report, which was released at a regional workshop hosted by Wildlife Reserves Singapore and WCS.