Call for Papers - Deadline Approaching!

We are less than one month away from the abstract submission deadline. At this point, half of the speaker slots for the upcoming meeting are confirmed. Don't delay in submitting your abstract as last year more than 20% of submissions were rejected due to insufficient time and space. The conference has grown each year and last year we had close to 300 in attendance. With less than 100 speaker slots, this puts session space at a premium.

Early indications are that this year the conference will be even larger, putting more pressure on the few speaker slots. Submit your abstracts soon to guarantee a spot. The abstract deadline is June 3, but don't wait until the last minute! We received an overwhelming number of abstracts on the last couple of days last year, and many of these didn't end up in the program.

The call for abstracts is online and can be accessed by clicking here.

Rescued Turtles Produce Hatchlings 

These tiny hatchlings will grow to lengths of up to two feet

In October 2010, the TSA imported a group of 50 yellow-headed temple turtles (Heosemys annandalii) that had been confiscated from a large illegal shipment in Hong Kong (read the full story on the import here). The turtles are now being kept in an assurance colony at a private facility owned by TSA member Kenan Harkin. We are very pleased to announce that the first clutch of eggs from this group of turtles has hatched!

Considering that this group was destined for the markets in China, where they would have been killed to satisfy the demand for meat and turtle parts, this story is especially exciting. Not only were these individuals rescued, but producing hatchlings in their first year lends hope to this group becoming a very valuable assurance colony for this species. Thank you to all of the donors who made this import possible.

Click here to read the full story.  

Gearing up for Rafetus 2011

Emily compares notes with Dr. Gerald Kuchling in 2009

With both the male and female Rafetus up and basking, the 2011 breeding season is upon us and all those involved are gearing up for this year's work. Emily King, who has worked on the project team since 2008, will be based at the Suzhou Zoo throughout the breeding season and will be providing blog updates on this critical conservation breeding project. 

She left for China this week, but still managed to send us her first blog entry in which she introduces herself and shares her excitement about the potential for success in 2011. Click here to read the full story.

Animals Available

1.2 Serrated hinge-back tortoises (Kinixys erosa) are available for breeding loan to an experienced recipient. We would like these to be placed with someone who has success keeping Kinixys species.

CB 2010 Asian brown tortoises (Manouria emys emys) are available on loan.

CB 2011 Yellow-headed temple turtles (Heosemys annandalii) are available on loan.

Please contact Cris Hagen at chagen@turtlesurvival.org for details if interested.