Early Registration Discounts End Soon

We're just about six weeks away from the 9th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles. Early registration discounts end on July 8, so click here to register today and save!

This year we are honored to have Whit Gibbons from the Savannah River Ecology Lab and Dick Vogt from the National Institute of Amazonian Research in Brazil as featured speakers in a program that includes presentations from around the world. Join us for reports on new turtle conservation programs in South America, updates from on-going programs in India, Australia, and Malaysia (to name a few), more news on Asian chelonians, North American box turtles and a special session on the role of zoos in chelonian conservation that will illustrate current research methods and trends.

While you're making your plans, don't forget to book your room with our host, the Rosen Plaza Hotel. Book through this link to receive discounted conference rates on your room - which includes a voucher for free breakfast each morning!

Turtle Behavior - More Than Just Basking

Check out the TSA blog for the latest entry by Emily King. Emily is currently at the Suzhou Zoo working on the breeding project for the Critically Endangered Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) on behalf of the TSA.

In this latest article, she responds to a question that she hears often, "What exactly do you do on a daily basis?" As it turns out, behavioral observaton and data collection is a huge part of her job. Read the full story here.

Field Trip - Space Still Available

The TSA is partnering with the Central Florida Freshwater Turtle Study for the first time to offer conference attendees a unique field trip opportunity this August. A diverse group of professional scientists, educators, college students, and volunteers come from all over the country to conduct sampling studies under the authority of state park employees. The project, led by Eric Munscher (SWCA Environmental Consultants), is believed to be the 2nd longest running (13 years) and overall largest (seven state park springs) turtle population study currently going on in Florida.

Study volunteers snorkel the springs and all turtle species are captured, measured and marked. Invasive species are removed. The TSA is partnering with the study to provide volunteers on August 14 and August 18 for Wekiwa Springs and Blue Spring.
 
Space is very limited, so don't delay. Transportation to the sampling sites will be provided from the Rosen Plaza. Click here to learn more or register. 

Year of the Turtle 

In July, the Year of the Turtle News issue provides some information, and even entertainment, regarding recent turtle stories in the news.  It also highlights key people in turtle conservation:  John Behler, whom we lost in 2006, but he is not forgotten, and John Iverson, a professor (and TSA Board Member) who has been active in turtle conservation for many years. Other features include Citizen Science (volunteer) opportunities, and a species spotlight on the Yellow-blotched Map Turtle.