Malagasy Tortoise Coordinator Hired
 We are pleased to announce that the TSA has hired Herilala Randriamahazo, recently with WCS Madagascar and a long - time tortoise conservation biologist, as our full-time Malagasy Tortoise Conservation Coordinator. He started on September 1 and will work out of the office of the Henry Doorly Zoo's Madagascar Biodiversity Program in the capitol city of Antananarivo. HDZ will provide him with office support including internet and phone. Herilala brings a lot to the table politically because his reputation is well established in Antananarivo, both within the Government and the Conservation NGO community. He speaks fluent English and Japanese as well as several dialects of Malagash. He is a dynamic speaker and able to command a room and chair meetings with confidence. Read more |
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World's Rarest Eggs Fail to Develop
 The female Rafetus nested this year during the night of June 16 (63 eggs), again during the night of July 2 (63 eggs), and laid a third clutch on July 17. All eggs of the first two clutches were numbered and about half of those eggs were artificially incubated (29, 31 and 33 degrees Celsius, various substrates), the other half was left in the nests constructed by the female. The third nest was not disturbed at all and the eggs were left in place, without being handled. Dr. Gerald Kuchling checked and candled the artificially incubated eggs on July 3, July 5, and August 9. Apart from 2-3 eggs of each clutch which showed yolk sedimentation and had a possible white blotch (no clear banding) all eggs (which were not cracked and rotten) appeared homogenous - which indicates that they were not fertilized. |
| A Great Time Had By All
Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc. was the title sponsor of the 2010 conference | The 8th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles was attended by 289 turtle folks from 22 countries.
Held in Orlando at the spacious and elegant Rosen Plaza, many attendees took advantage of the location and brought their families along to enjoy Orlando's many attractions.
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