2011 Designated YEAR OF THE TURTLE!

                                       2011

                                                 Year of the Turtle

 

Turtle conservation groups in partnership with PARC designated 2011 as the Year of the Turtle

Check Out All of Our Year of the Turtle Partners

 Year of the Turtle Newsletter

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

  Year of the Turtle Calendar

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

IUCN Releases Top 25+ Turtles in Trouble List - Read Our Press Release

Top 25 Turtles in Trouble Information Flip Cards

Why Turtles, and Why Now?

Turtles are disappearing from the planet faster than any other group of animal. Today, nearly 50% of turtle species are identified as threatened with extinction. However, it's not too late for our turtle heritage to be salvaged. The United States has more endemic turtle species than anywhere on Earth; a turtle biodiversity hotspot. Our careful stewardship can preserve the rare species and keep 'common species common.'

Throughout the year, we will be raising awareness of the issues surrounding turtles through press releases, newsletters, photo contests, and related events. We believe that citizens, natural resource managers, scientists, and the pet and food and related industries can work together to address issues and to help ensure long-term survival of turtle species and populations.

 

Download the Year of the Turtle Screensaver! (compatible with all versions of Windows)

2011 State of the Turtle - French version - Spanish version

Turtle Relocation, Reintroduction, Translocation, and Headstarting

USA Turtle Mapping Project

The 10th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles will be hosted August 16-19, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona. The meeting, sponsored by Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc., is co-hosted by the Turtle Survival Alliance and the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG)

Get involved in a citizen science program for turtles! View our list of programs that are available to the public HERE

 

2011 Year of the Turtle Video

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

(Directed/Edited by John White, Virginia Herpetological Society, additional footage provided by Brian Zarate, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program)

 

Threats to US Turtles

The bad news is humans cause the largest harm to turtle populations, but the good news is we have the power to make positive changes toward turtle survival. The largest threats to turtle populations include (with the top 3 caused primarily by humans):

• habitat loss and degradation
• overharvest of wild turtles for food, traditional medicines, and pets
• mortality from roads, agricultural machinery, fishing bycatch, and predators
• invasive exotic species and diseases
• loss of unique genetic makeup due to hybridization
• climate change

Bookmark www.yearoftheturtle.org, for more information on how you can get involved!

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for our monthly newsletters, containing:

• A downloadable turtle photo calendar for each month, including a photo contest – your photo could be in the calendar!
• Information about turtle conservation efforts and groups, and how you can help
• Interviews with turtle experts, and answers to selected questions that YOU send us!
• Information on how you can help spread the word about turtles
• Educational materials
• Turtle art, poetry, and cultural information
• ... and much, MUCH, more!

Year of the Turtle Information and Products

* 2011 Year of the Turtle Flyer 1 (PDF)

* 2011 Year of the Turtle Flyer 2 (PDF)

 

View video on bog turtle conservation in the Northeast - HERE

 

Acknowledging past Year of the Turtle events and products 

* 2006 Year of the Turtle - Bangladesh - Poster

* Marine Turtle Trade in Bangledesh - Abstract