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TURTLE SURVIVAL ALLIANCE
Transforming passion for turtles into effective conservation action
through a global network of living collections and recovery programs
AUGUST 2009
WWW.TURTLESURVIVAL.ORG
Peter Praschag, Behler Chelonian CenterThe Northern Spider Tortoise,
(Pyxis arachnoides brygooi)
See Cover Story on p.5
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AUGUST 2009 TURTLE SURVIVAL ALL IANCE
From the Pres ident 's Desk
Abi l i ty to respond rapidly i s what sets TSA apar t
As I write this letter, we have just received news that the female Rafetus has laid her first clutch of 56 eggs at Suzhou Zoo for the 2009
season. After suffering last year's disappointing news, the TSA regrouped and is giving it 100%, addressing some of the problems seen in
2008. We hope to be able to report soon that the world's population of Rafetus has grown by fourteen-fold and to show the first photographs
of a live hatchling R. swinhoei. When Dr. Gerald Kuchling's email message arrived with this much-anticipated news, he requested that we try
and find funding for a camcorder to mount over the Rafetus nesting beach that would make finding eggs easier. I forwarded the email to the
new TSA Board and almost immediately David Shapiro responded from Hong Kong, offering up the $1,400 requested. It struck me later
what an amazing example this was of the TSA network's strength, and our ability to respond to turtle conservation issues around the globe.
No other turtle conservation organization is positioned to respond as rapidly or effectively as the TSA.
Another notable strength of the TSA is our global network of
veterinarians that can mobilize quickly when situations demand.
When a disease problem was identified in the only range country
assurance colony for the endangered Philippine forest turtle
(Siebenrockiella leytensis), the TSA sent Dr. Nimal Fernando
from Ocean Park Hong Kong to Palawan to investigate. Later in
September, a TSA team will follow up with a site visit to help design
a new filtration system to imp