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.
Leatherback Sea Turtle
Tampa Bay
Turtle & Tortoise
Society, Inc.
Spider Tortoise
Monthly Newsletter
May 2021 Issue
Meeting Date: May 8, 2021, starts at 7:00pm.
Guest speaker: Ralph Till will discuss some different techniques used by several different breeders
and how they have been successful.
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,
I would like to thank Chris Lechowicz from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation for his
presentation last month. I found it both informative and enlightening as to the status of turtle and
tortoises. The discussion afterwards is always interesting, and this was no exception.
We had a meeting of the TBTTS board last week (via zoom) to discuss anything club related. As a 501c3
organization, we look to assist local organizations that the board feels do the most for turtles and
tortoises. The list is endless, but it always gravitates back to the endless challenges faced by the groups
that do rescue and rehabilitation.
We decided that this year, 2021, we'll assist three well known groups:
Central Florida Wildlife Center, Inc
Turtle Rescue USA
Swamp Girl Adventures
Each of the above groups makes it their goal to ensure that our turtles and tortoises will have a safe
home, despite being overwhelmed at times with animal injuries, surrenders and neglect. The TBTTS
Board is thrilled to be in the position to assist these fine groups. Details will follow soon.
As for a speaker this month, I will be the guest and am going to discuss some different techniques used
by several different breeders and how they have been successful. I'll post the Zoom link in several days.
Remember the date, May 10th, 2021 @ 7:00
Since it's inception, I have been the president and treasurer of the TBTTS. It's been both fun and
rewarding, but the time has come to step down. I'm comfortable with what I have achieved with the
group, but feel that new leadership can take it in a new direction. I'll be 70yrs old in a few months and
with covid finally slowing down (I hope) my plan is to enjoy my later years with my wife and do the
traveling. I am NOT running for any position and will NOT accept any nomination. My intent is to finish
out the year and gladly assist the newly elected with my experiences. Remember that elections are held
in November, so there is plenty of time for all to decide. Hopefully we'll be able to have in person
meetings by then.
Thank you,
Ralph Till
Rascal1843@aol.com
Upcoming Club Speakers
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 – May 1st & 2nd 2021
Repticon Tampa – June 12th & 13th 2021
Repticon Sarasota – June 26th & 27th 2021
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
Repticon Orlando – December 4th & 5th 2021
Turtles/Tortoises Videos
Diving with Sea Turtles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWfTBkTJOH8
Rescue Baby turtles get a dream home:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfr7CqgeH4c
Tracking Giant Galapagos Tortoises:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEp6pkkYOgE
Turtles/Tortoises in the News
185 Baby Galapagos Tortoises Seized from Illegal Traffickers:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/29/climate/galapagos-tortoises-smuggling.html?auth=login-
google&fbclid=IwAR1xxjlnPxU05V2KraOy0gtxuidWkmyD9JVXBIOuT3xzwGbICMhQp-yKLNQ
Baby gopher tortoises sprout in Eckerd greenhouse:
http://www.theonlinecurrent.com/science_and_technology/baby-gopher-tortoises-sprout-in-
eckerd-greenhouse/article_a928eca6-9090-11eb-b0f6-
3b248d50afe7.html?fbclid=IwAR2N9Lq588EKWE_IKPdcq5CYe0zIaxQiz9Sa44O0C4yOzq659MJO4n
_Ijsg
Turtles all the way down:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_all_the_way_down?fbclid=IwAR3qQiw1-469_5wfFcupFonh-
vpe68CEygM_bvH1KETpPMvX8QpgK-E_-P0
Kidz Korner
Turtle/Tortoise Tender Tales (rescue stories)
This story come from Central Florida Wild Center/Turtle Rescue USA:
2/28/21
3/3/21
3/6/21 3/15/21
3/21/21 3/23/21 This is what healthy poop should look like
We had 2 sulcatas that were surrendered on 2/20/21 to Kim. About a week into me having them I noticed that
they were not really pooping. I reached out to Amanda to figure out what to do. She had told me to give them
some mineral oil and really sop their food with water. A few days later Apollo starting pooping on 2/28/21 and it
was like a mud puddle. Turned out he was so impacted with sand and since they both were housed together, it
could also mean that Tarzan was impacted as well. Over the next several days I was able to get Apollo to poop
more and more. His poop was getting formed better but was still nothing but sand. Tarzan on the other hand still
was not. Amanda had sent me a medication to give him to see if that would work better. By now I have gone throw
a half bottle of mineral oil and was more nervous by the day. We had decided that he needed to go Amanda for
treatment and was scheduled to go to her on 3/6/21. However finally on 3/4/21 he pooped and it was nothing but
sand. We still decided that it was best for him to still go to her since I was having such a difficult time getting
Tarzan to poop. Now in Amanda’s care:
The eyes of this tortoise were so inquisitive and friendly it was love at first site. I attempted to give him an enema
but he was just too strong and I was afraid to break his tail. If you give an enema wrong you can pierce their
bladder and kill them. So that was out. With a large angry tortoise I decided to hydrate him manually and gave him
a large amount of Ic fluids. I let him absorb them and feed him water melon to get the impacted sand loosened up.
Still no poop. I knew it was in there because he ate huge amounts of food for several days. Finally I decided to
vibrate him with a very powerful massage tool. This did the trick out from the depths of his intestines came pounds
of nasty sand and brown fluid. There is no telling how long this had been stuck in him. He had a course of
antibiotics for any abrasions causes by the sand. He had another massive offering of pure sand. The fourth time it
was comprised of all grasses and weeds. He could have easily died. These tortoises were not being taken care of.
We imagine they ate the sand because that is all there was. They are very lucky we got to them in time. All
together this 33 pound tortoise passed 4 pounds of solid sand. This is why it is always important to feed them on
some type of plate instead of directly on the ground.
Regards, Amanda & Kim
Central Florida Wild Center/Turtle Rescue USA www.turtlerescueusa.com
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/turtlerescueusa
Classified Section
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