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Symposium Wrap Up
From Scott Davis, Executive Director:
The 2009 Conference was a big success, with 200 turtle and tortoise enthusiasts gathered in St. Louis for three days packed with talks and events revolving around the central theme of turtle conservation. Those of you who couldn't make it missed a great meeting, and I hope that you will be able to join us next year in Orlando. The meeting would not have succeeded without the able efforts of our Conference Committee Chair, Lonnie McCaskill, our Program Chairs, Chuck Schaffer and Andrew Walde, St Louis Zoo Event Coordinator Jennifer Poindexter and our TSA Program Coordinator, Heather Lowe (an island of calm in the storm). On auction night, Brian Horne and Andrew Walde stepped into the ring for the first time and raised over $18,000 for turtle conservation. On banquet night, the St. Louis Zoo hosted TSA for a tour of their world class herp exhibits followed by a wonderful meal and awards presentations. The Zoo also took our first Conference Photo (see below), and we plan for this to become an annual event.
Whenever you thank people, there is always a risk that you will leave someone out. Nevertheless, I will risk it and thank our conference sponsors ZooMed, Conservation International, Chelonian Research Foundation, Sheena Koeth, Reptiles Magazine, St Louis Zoo and Brett and Nancy Stearns and our invaluable corps of volunteers: Andy Daneault, Beth Walton, Bradley Martin, Carla Eisemberg, Cris Hagen, Kate Duffy, Nancy Reinert , Rick Schaffer, Robert Villa (our AV guru), Rose Tremblay, Scott Hendrickson, Sheri Sanders and Wendy Crofut. Thanks to your help, we had another great meeting.
 Conference attendees invade Turtle Park in St. Louis!
Special congratulations to Dr. Gerald Kuchling who received the 2009 Behler Turtle Conservation Award. The Behler Award is presented by the TSA and the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group and is co-sponsored by Conservation International, Chelonian Research Foundation, Chelonian Research Institute, Behler Chelonian Center, Deborah Behler, World Chelonian Trust, Brett and Nancy Stearns and Wildlife Conservation Society.
Congratulations also to the winners of this year's Student Presentation Awards, sponsored by the Chelonian Research Foundation: Kate Hodges (left), Megan Rasmussen (right), Tsilavo H. Rafeliarisoa, Carla Eisemberg (middle) and Rick Schaffer.
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Construction scheduled to begin on Rafetus barrier
In the July 17 e-newsletter, we updated you on the need for a barrier around the Rafetus pond at the Suzhou Zoo. A barrier is urgently needed to reduce the amount of garbage being thrown into the pond with the turtles. The female (the last known of her species!) has been observed eating plastic and there is serious concern for her health. The recent symposium in St. Louis provided a fantastic forum for the TSA Board of Directors to meet with Dr. Gerald Kuchling, who has been spearheading this breeding project.
Rather than waiting until $30,000 could be raised for a barrier around the entire exhibit, the TSA instead crafted a proposal to the Suzhou Zoo to provide $15,000 immediately to build a barrier around just the small pond as a critical first step. Thanks to the generosity of the TSA Board - specifically Chuck Landrey, Pat Koval, Walter Sedgwick and Anders Rhodin - the funds for this first step were committed almost immediately, contingent on a proposed agreement with the Suzhou Zoo. The agreement letter was drafted in both English and Chinese and delivered to the Zoo by Dr. Kuchling this week. The terms of the proposal included an agreement by the Zoo to follow the nutrition and husbandry recommendations of Dr. Kuchling and the TSA in an effort to increase the chances of a successful clutch in 2010. The Zoo's director agreed and construction is scheduled to begin immediately!
Upon his arrival at the Zoo, Dr. Kuchling's team candled all of the eggs that were currently in the incubators and as we feared, none were viable. However, given the other progress made this week we are hopeful that 2010 will bring better news. The swift action taken this week is a great example of the TSA's ability to respond quickly to conservation needs and we would like to thank everyone who has contributed their time and resources to this important project.
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Animal Management Update
The TSA has the following animals available for placement per the conditions outlined below:
- 12 captive born 2008 Burmese brown tortoises, Manouria emys emys. Available for purchase, $50 each plus shipping for current TSA members, $80 each for non-members.
- 4 adult male cherry head red foot tortoises. Available for purchase by experienced recipients, $100 each plus shipping for current TSA members, $175 each for non-members. Please send a brief letter of interest outlining experience with this species.
- 5 adult "black" Reeves turtles. Available for adoption for cost of shipping.
- 2 male yellow spotted sideneck turtles (approx. 8 inches), Podocnemis unifilis. Available as loan transfer to current TSA members from current holder plus cost of shipping.
- 2 male and 3 female pig nose turtles (approx. 6-8 inches), Carettochelys insculpta. Available as loan transfer to current TSA members from current holder plus cost of shipping.
- 2 male, 4 female and 2 juvenile spider tortoises, Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides. These are available on long term breeding loan for a $200 per animal contribution to the TSA Madagascar fund.
Please contact Dwight Lawson (dlawson@zooatlanta.org). |
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