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!
DONATE HERE
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.
Ryukya Black Breasted Leaf Turtle
Tampa Bay
Turtle & Tortoise
Society, Inc.
Red Necked Pond Turtle
Monthly Newsletter
November 2020 Issue
Meeting Date: November 14, 2020 Meeting time 7pm. This will be a Zoom meeting. Ralph will
send everyone the sign-in and password as the time draws near and is for current members only at
this time.
This is also our annual elections for office positions.
Guest Speaker: Connor Belfiglio sharing his experience working with uncommon tortoise species.
His journey deciding to focus on Radiated, Bowsprit, and Galapagos tortoises.
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 has passed and still Covid-19 dictates our lives. It's unfortunate at best, but it's something
that we're just going to have to deal with for awhile longer it seems.
On the positive side, it's allowing many of us to spend additional time with our turtle/tortoise collections. I
know that I've taken this time to perform some long needed upgrades. Hopefully you have been able to
do the same.
Last month we were privileged to have Amanda Ebenhack from the Central Florida Wildlife Center as our
speaker. Those of you who logged in to our Zoom broadcast were treated to an outstanding presentation
from an individual who is a passionate as one can be about our Florida turtles & tortoises. It is this
passion that influenced the Board of the TBTTS to make the donation to her organization that we did.
Thank you Amanda.
This month (November 14th) our guest speaker is member Connor Belfiglio on how he got started and
what his goals are. I encourage everyone to login and enjoy Connor's presentation, it should be fun! I'll
post the Zoom link next week.
I would also like to take a moment to say thank you to Lloyd Simmons for his assistance and thank you to
the Friends of Moccasin Lake for providing the audio/visual equipment that we use for our broadcasts.
This month we'll be using a new microphone to enhance the audio.
After meeting with the Suncoast Herp Society, the unfortunate decision has been made to cancel our
annual Christmas party. With the restrictions imposed as a result of covid-19, the maximum persons
allowed in the classroom is still at 15, hardly enough to have a proper party. Sorry, this is usually a great
time to rub elbows with fellow herpers but it's not going to happen this year.
A reminder that if your membership is up for renewal ($20.00) we have a Paypal address,
"president@tbtts.org"
This month is also our scheduled elections, if anyone has any interest in any of the clubs positions,
please let us know.
Enough for now, looking forward to seeing (on zoom) everyone on November 14th @ 7:00.
Thanks,
Ralph
Current nominees are:
President: Ralph Till
Vice President: Mark Randall
Newsletter/Secretary: Kim Illum
Treasurer: Ralph Till
Membership: Kim Illum
Marketing/Social Media/ PR person: Anyone??
If anyone else is interested in running for any other the other positions, please let either Ralph or
Kim know.
Voting will be by a simple show of hands, so the more people present the better.
Note: you must be a paid member to vote.
Re-Cap from last month’s meeting
Last month’s guest speaker was: Amanda Ebenhack from the Central Florida Wildlife Center. Amanda
is a licensed wildlife rehabber and shared on some of her expierences with rehabbing our native
gopher tortoises and turtles.
Upcoming Club Speakers
December 12, 2020 – TBD
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 Tampa – November 14th & 15th 2020
Repticon Orlando – December 5th & 6th 2020
Turtles/Tortoises Videos
Ethel the ghost:
https://www.facebook.com/etheltheglamourtort/videos/339641747322297
2020 – Year of the Turtle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ49udSupco
WHD 2020: Happy Hollow 3 Desert Tortoise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a5vEPFoRNQ
Turtles/Tortoises in the News
Endangered baby sea turtles may have a new savior: GPS eggs:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/endangered-baby-sea-turtles-may-have-new-savior-
gps-eggs?fbclid=IwAR1qun47L-cw5sv5uzOUMCZzunks44CsSi_jZ4gxMjTtthWMLqroSNrU_zo
The Wire Inspired a Fake Turtle Egg That Spies on Poachers:
https://www.wired.com/story/the-wire-inspired-a-fake-turtle-egg-that-spies-on-
poachers/?fbclid=IwAR0TWbV-
Pa28n8oTMRdBQn7NP59rnNy5pNhquT1zAwhL8lBRQFmP5J6X8nM
'Miracle of nature': Record number of endangered turtles hatch in Mexico:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/10/29/endangered-olive-ridley-sea-turtles-mexico-
record-number-hatch/6068153002/?fbclid=IwAR14rHn1MNm5J0f57YGQSV8toJSai7LzS-
bvqtC3L2RIJ3DNzMlKnMYcYdY
Kidz Korner
Turtle/Tortoise Tender Tales (rescue stories)
This rescue story is brought to you by Central Florida Wildlife Center:
Video: https://www.facebook.com/centralmsturtlerescue/videos/3055206701251909
This little one is an Alabama Redbelly Cooter. His mom was here in care, and on the day we sent
her back south for release, we found a few eggs in her water. Not knowing how long they'd been
in the water, we figured they were probably no good, but stuck them in the incubator anyway,
just in case. So far, only this one has hatched, and he sure is... interesting! We've named him
Noah. No idea if he'll be releasable at some point or not. For now, he'll stay here and we'll see
how he progresses as he ages. (Sorry for the fan noise in the background.)
Regards,
Christy and Luke Milbourne
Central MS Turtle Rescue
Please visit our website to see more of the rehabs we currently have or if you may need additional information
about re-homing/adopting a future pet, please visit: http://centralmsturtlerescue.weebly.com/
Also like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centralmsturtlerescue
Link for 11/14 @10am Gopher Tortoise webinar:
https://www.facebook.com/events/3821045091293591/
Link for 12/12 @ 10am Diamondback webinar:
https://www.facebook.com/events/336081784368588/
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.