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.
Tag Cloud
Tampa Bay
Turtle & Tortoise
Society, Inc.
Black Knob Map Turtle
Monthly Newsletter
November 2019 Issue
Date: November 9, 2019, starts at 7:00pm.
Speaker: No guest speaker. This is our election night. 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.
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 - Ralph Till
727-515-7443 Rascal1843@aol.com
Secretary/Memberships/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/TBTTS
New Website under construction: http://www.tbtts.org/
RALPH'S RAMBLINGS
Hi Everybody.
Hello Everyone. Just when we thought it might cool down a little, BAM! we're right back to the heat.
Must be global warming. Regardless, make sure your animals are taken care of.
Last month was pretty busy, at least for me. John Coakley and myself gave a talk on Egyptian Tortoises
at our monthly meeting. This was a tune-up for our upcoming presentation at the Turtle & Tortoise
Preservation Group conference in November. This is my favorite event to attend, everyone is a down to
earth turtle/tortoise nerd. This year is the tenth anniversary of the TTPG conference and I feel honored to
be asked to give a presentation.
This month are our scheduled elections. All of the current officers are planning to continue with there
roles, however every member is entitled to a vote and if someone would like to run for any position, they
just need to be nominated. This will occur at our meeting this month.
At our last meeting, it was discussed that we (the current officers) would like to see a few members join
the board. When this was presented, several individuals stepped up and volunteered. A vote was taken
and we now have three(3) new board members. Thank you Jason Mastropietro, Gary Foster, and Connor
Belfiglio. The intent is that they will bring new ideas and suggestions to our group to make it even better.
Thank you guys.
Several members reached out to me regarding the terrible fire at the Madagascar research facility last
month. It was recommended that we make a donation to the TSA to assist with the rebuilding efforts. The
membership approved a donation of $500.00 dollars.
Also last month was the Florida Birding & Nature Festival. On Saturday, there was Exploring Florida's
Rich Turtle Diversity. Seven highly qualified speakers were heard and they covered Florida Turtle &
Tortoises. It was an outstanding day and very well attended.
This month, November 9th & 10th is the Repticon show in Tampa. We will have a table and could always
use a few volunteers. It will be a busy weekend for us, as we'll be at the show all day and then make it to
our meeting Saturday night.
Also a new member has stepped up and is securing speakers for next year. I believe that Jan, Feb and
March are already filled.
Enough for now.
See you Saturday.
Ralph Till
Rascal1843@aol.com
Upcoming Club Speakers
December 14, 2019 - No guest speaker, our annual Christmas party (current members only).
January 11, 2020 – TBD
February 8, 2020 – TBD
March 14, 2020 – TBD
April 11, 2020 – TBD
May 9, 2020 – TBD
June 13, 2020 – TBD
July 11, 2020 – TBD
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
***VOLUNTEERS NEEDED***** The Repticon Tampa is approaching us quickly. We need some
volunteers would like to sit at our table and pass out info for the club. Ideally it would be great to
have 2 people each day. The shift would be split this way you’ll have time to walk around the show
before/after. Saturday hours are 9am-5pm, but would need to start at 8:30 to set up table; Sunday
hours are 10am-4pm but would need to stay past to break table down.
If you are interested in volunteering for a certain time/area, pls contact – Ralph Till at
Rascal1843@aol.com or let him know at the next upcoming meeting.
Upcoming reptile shows
Repticon Kissimmee – October 12th & 13th 2019
Repticon Tampa – November 9th & 10th 2019 – volunteers needed
Repticon Orlando – December 7th & 8th 2019
Repticon Orlando – February 15th & 16th 2020
Repticon Tampa – February 22nd & 23rd 2020 – volunteers needed
Repticon Kissimmee – May 23rd & 24th 2020
Repticon Tampa – June 13th & 14th 2020 – volunteers needed
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
Please stay tune for other events/field trips that we are working on.
Turtle/Tortoise Videos
Baby Peninsular cooters being released:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gboc2_4n0j4&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0EMZ0wE7wbir
1z1rIL_VKdWkcttSzrfJZn5eg5WlAzjfC1mpV_suY21ZA
Tortoise used for a ribbon eating (cutting):
https://gph.is/2RI8lYh
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernCatfishing101/photos/a.309002002600595/131101779906
5672/?type=3&theater
Turtles/Tortoises in the News
Why you shouldn’t keep a wild turtle as a pet:
https://www.thoughtco.com/keeping-wild-turtles-as-pets-
4105815?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=shareurlbuttons&fbclid
=IwAR02HhYdBkjfMmvcUH0SKw8rIg9U7gKUXB88ypOcxwaXS0fh5g1GNAPUUUI
FWC busts wildlife trafficking ring smuggling thousands of turtles, returns turtles to wild:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/266e905?fbclid=IwAR0fOHvDRcBbaCJIZw
ejlnrJzXifR4nEwSd825QfKXlCGHAN804jlReNkaw
Baby turtle dies after eating 104 pieces of plastic:
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/state/baby-turtle-dies-after-eating-104-pieces-of-plastic-off-
south-florida-coast-nature-center-
says?fbclid=IwAR1ZNgseWE4zZzKNjQHlHkSR6Cx1lcUYO5fE2ygBgGPcn9dWNWZsLABYf2I
Kidz Korner
Turtle/Tortoise Tender Tales (rescue stories)
This rescue story is brought to you from Central MS Turtle Rescue
Our two newest intakes both have been stuck in tar for the last two weeks. They were found in a
culvert. It's likely the liquid tar drained from whatever surface it was being applied to and got into the
culvert where the turtles wandered into it. The good news is that the shell and skin aren't too badly
burned. Olive oil will be our first choice to try and remove the tar. It may take several sessions to
remove it all. We won't use abrasives or harsh chemicals, so it could be a lengthy process.
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
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
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