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.
Mississippi Map Turtle
Albino Mississippi Map Turtle
Tampa Bay
Turtle & Tortoise
Society, Inc.
Yellowfoot Tortoise
Wood Turtle
Monthly Newsletter
August 2021 Issue
Meeting Date: August 14th, starts at 7:00pm.
Guest speaker: Ralph will send out the notification for the Zoom meeting.
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/
Note from the Newsletter Editor
Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to let everyone know there will not be a newsletter coming in Sept or Oct. I have to travel to NY
for work and will be gone from 8/25 to 10/6.
Regards,
Kim Illum
Upcoming Club Speakers
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 Tampa – August 28th & 29th 2021
Daytona National Reptile Breeders Expo – August 19th – 21st 2021
Repticon FIRE show – September 11th & 12th 2021
Repticon Kissimmee – September 25th & 26th 2021
Repticon Tampa – November 13th & 14th 2021
Repticon Orlando – December 4th & 5th 2021
Turtles/Tortoises Videos
Chocolate Sea Turtle:
https://www.facebook.com/amauryguichon.chef/videos/297820201934682
Tortoise enjoying her slide:
https://www.facebook.com/FishersFarmPark/videos/193852492609375
Scarey turtle in the woods, LOL:
https://www.facebook.com/Ajnagekoms904/videos/4452168941464610
Turtles/Tortoises in the News
Dog and giant 70-pound tortoise named Godzilla rescued from hole:
https://www.wesh.com/article/dog-and-giant-70-pound-tortoise-named-godzilla-rescued-from-
hole/26482416?fbclid=IwAR1XdToZ1IdKPkQLzcLCBo-muumHZJtniNY1sKe7LoXRg5GfvVrPcbimq_k
UF researchers discover new disease fatal to gopher tortoises:
https://m.ufhealth.org/news/2021/uf-researchers-discover-new-disease-fatal-gopher-
tortoises?fbclid=IwAR2b7bM6ssUiq55zHGl6T7D3F_qQvPap7I7Mt144bJr3MMDMTsE-o0YK93I
Central Mississippi Turtle Rescue had an article posted on snapping turtles:
https://www.facebook.com/christy.milbourne/posts/10220612373879618
Kidz Korner
Turtle/Tortoise Tender Tales (rescue stories)
This rescue story is brought to you by Central Florida Wildlife Center:
These 14 little babies (peninsula cooters) got an enclosure upgrade. Their mama was hit by a car and
unfortunately did not make it. The eggs were cut out of her, incubated and hatched out. They started
out in a small tank with just a few inches of water.
Then went to a land water tub that used as water only for a little bit deeper water to build up their little
legs and start to learn breathing floating techniques.
Now they were moved to a 110 gallon stock tank with deeper water so they can learn to dive down,
develop their leg muscles more and further their breathing floating techniques more. We will also
increase the water depth more and more each week.
They are doing great with eating a variety of water plants as well as some romaine and spring mix. Not
too much interest with minnows yet as to be expected but are in there since its something that they will
see in the wild.
Just a little bit more size on them and they soon will be ready to be released.
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
On 8/20/21, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM Turtle Talks at the Daytona Hilton in the Grand Ballroom Area South
Tower and everyone is invited:
Speakers at Turtle Night:
7:00 PM - Chris Lechowicz: Solving the World Turtle Crisis - A Cooperative Effort
8:00 PM - David Rostal: My Career Chasing Turtles and Tortoises
9:00 PM - Jeremy Thompson: Breeding Hingeback Tortoises - "The Big Four"
10:00 PM - Quetzal Dwyer: Turtle Husbandry and Breeding Outdoors in Costa Rica
Also going on 8/20/21, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM Symposium at the Daytona Hilton Hotel (Grand Ballroom
Area South Tower) hosted by Pinellas County Reptiles (Everyone invited).
7:00 PM - Philip McCormick: Zoo Med's efforts and contributions
7:30 PM - Phill Goss: history, present & future of USARK
8:00 PM - Eugene Bessette: FL-USARK current events & challenges
8:30 PM - Bob Vu: Successes with his annual auctions
9:00 PM - Colette Adams : CrocFest fund raising efforts and successes
9:30 PM - Michael Cole: FL-USARK fundraising efforts and challenges plus TapKat sweepstakes going
forward.
10:00 PM - Panel Q & A session
On 8/21/21: The National Reptile Breeders Expo is open 10am-5pm.
Then 8:00 PM - 12:00 PM Auction at the Daytona Hilton Hotel , new location Grand Ballroom South
Tower. Everyone is invited.
On 8/22/21: The National Reptile Breeders Expo is open 10am-5pm.
For info visit: http://www.reptilebreedersexpo.com/index.htm
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