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.
Norther Diamondback Terrapin
Tampa Bay
Turtle & Tortoise
Society, Inc.
Desert Box Turtle
Monthly Newsletter
July 2020 Issue
Meeting Date: July’s meeting will be a virtual one through Zoom. Meeting time 7pm. Ralph will
send everyone the sign-in and password as the time draws near and is for current members only at
this time.
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,
For awhile it appeared that thing's were looking promising in regards to covid-19, but as we can all
see it's sort of flared up again. Bummer! The list of cancellations continues to grow unfortunately
and it is for sure affecting our group. The Park is open, but there are restrictions on meetings or
groups of more than 10.
We were able to conduct a board meeting a couple of weeks ago, maintaining the social distancing
rule. I felt that it was very productive and provided some more insight as to the direction the club
wants to go in. Feel free to reach out to any board member for questions or recommendations.
For the monthly meeting scheduled for July 11th, we're going to try something new. The meeting
will be a "virtual meeting", which is scary considering my limited computer skills. We are going to
use ZOOM for this meeting. The scheduled start time is 7:00 and will last about one hour at this
time, however we may extend if needed. I'll send everyone the sign-in and password as the time
draws near. At this time I'm going to limit it to club members only, and if the feedback is good we
may expand.
Be patient, while other clubs are falling by the wayside, the TBTTS is pushing ahead in it's efforts to
promote conservation and captive breeding of turtle & tortoises worldwide.
Current board members:
Gary Foster
Jason Mastropietrio
Connor Belfiglio
Mark Randall
Kim Illum
Ralph Till
Enough for now,
Ralph
Rascal1843@aol.com
Upcoming Club Speakers
August 8, 2020 – TBD
September 12, 2020 – No speaker, this is our annual auction
October 10, 2020 – TBD
November 14, 2020 – No guest speaker, this is our annual election night (current members only)
December 12, 2020 – 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 – July 25th & 26th 2020
Repticon Sarasota – August 1st & 2nd 2020
Daytona National Reptile Breeders Expo – August 20th – 23rd 2020
Repticon FIRE show – September 5th & 6th 2020
Repticon Kissimmee – October 24th & 25th 2020
Repticon Tampa – November 14th & 15th 2020 – volunteers needed
Repticon Orlando – December 5th & 6th 2020
Turtles/Tortoises Videos
Can you crochet? Create your own cute little turtle with changeable shells:
https://rstyle.me/+1hPa8rNhazAIRyg48lluBg
Big leatherback sea turtle laying on Indialantic Beach FL:
https://www.facebook.com/shelley.michel/videos/10221994919245299/
How to move a turtle or tortoise across the road!:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS0kXtmXuj8
Turtles/Tortoises in the News
Española Tortoises Return Home Following Closure of Successful Breeding Program:
https://www.galapagos.org/newsroom/espanola-tortoises-return-home-following-closure-of-
successful-breeding-program/?fbclid=IwAR3i_7H9aFhie_uPeKC88K_SugUg10GhuLOH7AluYmQ-
Xn2J-DtdoxD58Q8
Komodo dragons eating sea turtles :
https://www.facebook.com/somaweera/videos/10156932979617143/
Interesting info about moving a box turtle:
https://www.facebook.com/Pike.SWCD.Ohio/photos/a.1362057580553322/2870520339707031
/?type=3&theater
Hi Everyone. I took a family cruise back in November 2019 and am just now getting around to
sharing some photos with you. This will be stop 1 of 2. The 2nd stop will be in next month’s
newsletter so stayed tuned. 1st stop: Cozumel. While we were driving around the island in our
rented buggies, we were stopping at small beaches along the way. 1 of the beaches we stopped at I
noticed some sea turtle egg shells in the sand. I saw little tracks marks leading from the next to the
ocean. Although I did not see any live sea turtles, I unfortunately did find a few that were dead.
\
Kidz Korner
Turtle/Tortoise Tender Tales (rescue stories)
This rescue story is brought to you by Central MS Turtle Rescue:
Well it is not so much of a rescue as it is more of a public service announcement.
This time of year, turtles are out and about. They're in the roads, our yards, our driveways, and
even our garages. The last photo below is of a box turtle that was behind a person's car tire today.
She didn't realize he was there when she put her car in reverse. It only takes a few seconds to do a
walk-around your vehicle before you head out, and it could save a life. Sadly this boxie not make
and passed away in route to the rehab center.
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
More info can be found: http://www.ttpg.org/conferences.php
More info can be found: https://turtlesurvival.org/2020-symposium/
This is free of charge.
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
Smelt Feed & Pet Supply has gracefully
offered to give us a $15.00 gift certificate
each month for our monthly raffle. Stop by
their store and see what they have:
4116 East 7th Ave. Tampa, FL 33605
www.smeltfeed.com
https://www.facebook.com/SmeltFeed
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
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