TSA Magazine Archives
Download back issues of Turtle Survival, the TSA's annual publication, below. Members receive the full-color magazine each year, as a benefit of their membership in the TSA. To purchase print copies of back issues, visit our STORE!
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About Turtle Survival Alliance
The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) was formed in 2001 as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) partnership for sustainable captive management of freshwater turtles and tortoises, and initially designated a Task Force of the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. The TSA arose in response to the rampant and unsustainable harvest of Asian turtle populations to supply Chinese markets, a situation known as the Asian Turtle Crisis.
Since forming, the TSA has become recognized as a global force for turtle conservation, capable of taking swift and decisive action on behalf of critically endangered turtles and tortoises. Although the TSA was organized in response to the Asian Turtle Crisis, the group has been expanded as our understanding of the scope of turtle and tortoise declines has become better understood. The TSA has been particularly involved in recovery efforts where a managed breeding component is part of an overall survival strategy. The TSA employs a comprehensive strategy for evaluating the most critically endangered chelonians that identifies whether a species is prioritized for a captive program or through range country efforts, or a combination of both.
In the past 13 years, TSA secured nonprofit 501(c)(3) status (2005) and has centralized its base operations in South Carolina by opening the Turtle Survival Center (2013). The Turtle Survival Center, which now has AZA certification (2018), is home to a collection of more than 700 turtles and tortoises, representing 30 of the world’s critically endangered species. The TSA has also grown internationally, with significant field projects or programs in Madagascar, Myanmar and India, and additional projects in Belize, Colombia, and throughout Asia.
Today, the TSA is an action-oriented global partnership, focusing on species that are at high risk of extinction, and working in turtle diversity hotspots around the world. Widely recognized as a global catalyst for turtle conservation based on its reputation for swift and decisive action, the TSA has made a bold commitment to zero turtle extinctions in the 21st Century. The TSA is a recognized force for turtle conservation globally. TSA’s conservation actions utilize a three-pronged approach:
1. Restoring populations in the wild where possible;
2. Securing species in captivity through assurance colonies; and
3. Building the capacity to restore, secure and conserve species within their range country.
Mata Mata Turtle
Tampa Bay
Turtle & Tortoise
Society, Inc.
Hingeback Tortoise
Monthly Newsletter
December 2020 Issue
Meeting Date: No Meeting for the month of December
Misc Notes
Please update your email information with Ralph Till at rascal1843@aol.com. We only use this
information for club business and it helps for club members to stay up to date on any last minutes
changes that may occur. It will also help ensure that you receive your electronic copy of our
monthly newsletter.
If you would like to submit an article or pictures to be published in the next upcoming newsletter,
please email it to Kim at sparty@tampabay.rr.com. Please submit by the end of the month to be
published in the next month’s newsletter.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the officers listed below:
Elected & Appointed Officers
President - Ralph Till
727-515-7443 Rascal1843@aol.com
Vice President – Mark Randall
20smoke@mindspring.com
Treasurer/Membership - Ralph Till
727-515-7443 Rascal1843@aol.com
Secretary/Public Relations - Kim Illum
sparty@tampabay.rr.com
Newsletter Editor – Mark & Kim Illum
sparty@tampabay.rr.com
Facebook Coordinator – Ralph, Mark R & Kim
https://www.facebook.com/groups/704741876316303/
New Website under construction:
http://www.tbtts.org/
RALPH'S RAMBLINGS
Hello Everyone,
Another month of covid-19 with no end in sight. Not what everyone wants to hear for sure. We all just
need to ride this one out and hope for the best. I know that I am.
A special thanks to Connor Belfiglio for his presentation last month during our Zoom meeting. I have a
special fondness for individuals that are willing to take their passion to a higher level, and are also willing
to share their experiences along the way. Well done!
A reminder that unfortunately the decision has been made to cancel our annual joint Christmas party.
With covid restrictions still limiting capacity in the classroom to 15 persons, it just didn't seem possible.
Sorry.
As mentioned in last months newsletter, we had club elections. Since no one expressed any interest in
running for any of the positions, we conducted a vote during the last zoom meeting and the results were
as follows, President, Ralph Till. Vice President, Mark Randall. Secretary/Public Relations, Kim Illum.
Treasurer, Ralph Till.
For the month of December, it was decided to NOT have a monthly meeting. The board will still meet via
zoom.
I'm looking for a hatchling Florida yellow belly turtle for the big tank at Moccasin Lake Nature Park. If you
can provide one, please let me know.
I hope that you all have a great holiday season and I wish you all the best.
Thanks,
Ralph
Upcoming Club Speakers
January 9, 2021 – TBD
February 13, 2021 – TBD
March 13, 2021 – TBD
April 10, 2021 – TBD
May 8, 2021 – TBD
June 12, 2021 – TBD
July 10, 2021 – TBD
August 14, 2021 – TBD
September 11, 2021 – No speaker, this is our annual auction - pending
October 9, 2021 – TBD
November 13, 2021 – No guest speaker, this is our annual election night (current members only)
December 11, 2021 – No guest speaker, our annual Christmas party (current members only)
NOTE: If you would be interested in doing a talk, pls contact Ralph Till at Rascal1843@aol.com for
additional information.
Upcoming Club Events
Upcoming reptile shows
Repticon Orlando – December 5th & 6th 2020
Repticon Orlando – January 23rd & 24th 2021
Repticon Tampa – February 27th & 28th 2021 – volunteers needed
Repticon Kissimmee – April 17th & 18th 2021
Repticon Tampa – June 12th & 13th 2021 – volunteers needed
Repticon Orlando – July 17th & 18th 2021
Daytona National Reptile Breeders Expo – August 19th – 21st 2021
Repticon FIRE show – TBA
Repticon Kissimmee – September 25th & 26th 2021
Repticon Tampa – November 13th & 14th 2021 – volunteers needed
Repticon Orlando – December 4th & 5th 2021
Turtles/Tortoises Videos
This giant turtle got stuck in a marsh:
https://www.facebook.com/165966513596327/videos/826041581543834
Anyone else put pants on their tortoise:
Gopher tortoise release:
https://www.facebook.com/SwampGirlAdventures/videos/1791420041027009
Turtles/Tortoises in the News
Rare yellow turtle spotted for the 2nd time:
https://www.cnet.com/news/rare-yellow-turtle-spotted-for-only-second-time-looks-like-melted-
cheese/?ServiceType=facebook_page&ftag=COS-05-10aaa0a&UniqueID=51796204-1D38-11EB-
BE4D-BE274D484DA4&TheTime=2020-11-
02T18%3A22%3A08&PostType=link&fbclid=IwAR3Px0dkOvVw0EO_S-IvtSZL2h9lJ9LOYd2MO-
sHcxJ62OAuXQlBWkHQmKQ
Rare Turtle Species That Was Declared Extinct In The Wild Was Revived In An Indian Temple Pond:
https://edu.thinking-minds.net/rare-turtle-species-that-was-declared-extinct-in-the-wild-was-
revived-by-an-indian-
temple?fbclid=IwAR2OUHfhcnbvP0YBmjJsomHO3c964TLfr4VFn2Vnxql_nurwvhEsBSOD_ko
Tortoise hatchlings found to orient toward objects resembling faces:
https://phys.org/news/2020-09-tortoise-hatchlings-resembling.html
Kidz Korner
Turtle/Tortoise Tender Tales (rescue stories)
This rescue story is brought to you by Central Florida Wildlife Center:
There isn't a creature more adorable then a hatching gopher tortoise. Hatching gopher tortoises
typically emerge from their nests between august and November. Sadly only a small percentage of then
will make it to adulthood as they have many predators such as raccoons, foxes, skunks, armadillos and
snakes, fire ants and unattended dogs. Another predator of hatchling gopher tortoises is humans.
Since they are so tiny and cute people feel the need to protect them by ripping them from the wild and
placing them in unnatural habitats. Usually when something goes wrong with them they seek out the
help of a rescue.
We take many tortoises into out rescue that were taken from the wild and kept as pets! This is highly
illegal and so damaging-to them. A slurry of activity around them, loud noises and improper set ups are
not only damaging to them mentally but also physically!
We recently took in a gopher tortoise kept in a 10 gallon aquarium on playsand for 3 years. As you can
see from the picture the tortoise almost resembles a sulcata in coloration. The lack of sunlight did not
allow the shell to darken as it naturally would in a wild baby. This tortoise was impacted with sand so
badly it took me a week to clear the intestines. A normal hatching hatches quite golden and darkens as
they age. See the difference in coloration:
Illegal kept gopher Wild younger gopher
This tortoise that was kept from sunlight is still very light in color. The tortoise is outdoors and
maintaining its weight on a natural diet of grazing weeds and grasses. When the shell darkens allowing
him to blend into the environment the little guy will be released to live his best tortoise life!
Please if you want to help the hatching gopher tortoises, pay attentions to your dogs and let them be
free as nature intended.
Thank you guys so very much!
Amanda Ebenhack
Central Florida Wildlife Center / Turtle Rescue USA
www.turtlerescueusa.com https://www.facebook.com/turtlerescueusa
Link for 12/12 @ 10am Diamondback webinar:
https://www.facebook.com/events/336081784368588/
Classified Section
Available to club members, 2020 c/b bred Redfoot tortoise, approximately 4 months old. Comes with a 40
gallon breeder with screen top. A donation of $75.00 dollars to the TBTTS is all that is needed for you to
own this little guy. Contact Ralph Till at rascal1843@aol.com.
You may place your animals, items, services that you have for sale in the club’s newsletter. Ads will
run month to month and you must renew it for every month that you would like. Ads are free to up
to date/paid members, or $5.00 per month ($8.00 for 2 months) for non-members.
Adoptions
Looking to re-home out your reptile? Place a free ad for any reptile that you are looking to adopt
out (free ads are for reptiles which does NOT have a re-homing fee).
Advertising Rates
1/8th Page = $8 per issue or $75 per year (savings of $21).
1/4th Page = $11 per issue or $100 per year (savings of $32).
1/2 Page = $16 per issue or $150 per year (savings of $42).
Full Page = $25 per issue or $225 per year (savings of $75).
Pricing includes art/graphics/color, however you send the advertisement will be published in our
electronic newsletter.
Please email over the Classified/Adoptions/Advertisement info by the end of the month to: Kim at
sparty@tampabay.rr.com
All payments for advertisements should be sent directly to:
Moccasin Lake Nature Park
c/o Tampa Bay Turtle & Tortoise Society, Inc.
2750 Park Trail Ln.
Clearwater, FL 33759
Other Herp Societies
The Turtle & Tortoise Club of Florida – Orlando Chapter
Meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7pm
Location: Oakland Nature Preserve, 747 Machete Trail, Oakland, FL 34787
Suncoast Herpetological Society Inc.
website: http://www.kingsnake.com/suncoastherpsociety/SHSHome.htm
meets on the 4th Saturday of the month at 6:00pm.
Location: Moccasin Lake Nature Park 2750 Park Trail Ln. Clearwater, FL 33759
Central Florida Herpetological Society
website: Centralfloridaherpsociety.org
meets on the 4th Sunday of every other month at 2:00 PM but you want to be there between 1:00 -
1:30 PM for parking
Location: Orlando Public Library, Downtown Branch, Anderson Room 3rd Floor, 101 East Central
Blvd Orlando, FL 32801
Calusa Herpetological Society
website: calusaherp.org
meets on the first Thursday at 7:00 PM
Location: In the Iona house at the Calusa Nature Center
Jacksonville Herpetological Society
website: jaxherp.tripod.com
meets first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 PM
Location: Museum of Science and History (MOSH), Museum circle, Jacksonville, FL
Membership and Newsletter subscription form
Annual membership fee: $20.00 per year, and the membership includes:
- Electronic Monthly newsletter sent to your email address
- Free Classified’s in newsletter (members only) as well as low cost
advertisement rates.
- Annual Auction, Christmas Party, and Office Elections
- Monthly Meetings in an indoor classroom setting that consists of the
following:
- Different guest speaker each month
- Raffle Prizes
- Info about upcoming events/reptile shows/field trips/etc..
Date/Time: Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month at 7:00pm
Meeting Address: Moccasin Lake Nature Park 2750 Park Trail Ln.
Clearwater, FL 33759
NEW: We now accept PayPal for membership fees: president@tbtts.org
Complete the form below and bring it with you to the next upcoming meeting
or mail it along with payment to:
Moccasin Lake Nature Park
c/o Tampa Bay Turtle & Tortoise Society, Inc.
2750 Park Trail Ln.
Clearwater, FL 33759
Check one:
_______ New Membership _______ Membership Renewal
Name: _________________________________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zipcode: ___________________________________________________________________
Email: _______________________________________ Phone#: ________________________________
NOTE: We would never sell or trade your information. This information is strictly for club use only.
Answer Key