Program areas at TC
Captive breeding program - based in southern California, the tc breeds a great number of critically endangered turtles and tortoises in terms of combined species and numbers. We manage 26 of the world's most endangered species, and have over 600 animals belonging to 44 different species. During 2022 we hatched 74 endangered turtles and tortoises. The center creates a long-term plan for each species that we hold and breed and defines the desired outcome in terms of potential need for repatriation, reintroduction, or other conservation needs.
Local and global education - during 2022, the tc proceeded to expand its education program by continuing our collaboration with a local high school, the thacher school, to develop a pioneering scientific curriculum through the lens of turtles. The students study many topics including chelonian husbandry, conservation, ecosystems, and animal biology. The tc partnered with the thacher school to run a summer camp for middle school children from underserved communities from los angeles county and surrounding areas. Due to the camp's success in 2022, this is now planned to be an annual event.promoting appreciation for the wonder of turtles worldwide - to inspire conservation awareness and action to save the world's turtles and tortoises, the tc used a number of different approaches during 2022:(1) publication of the tortoise, volume 3, number 3 - a cutting edge conservation magazine bringing additional awareness to an ever-increasing global audience. (2) global media outreach through public service announcements and documentaries. (3) social media - this program reaches people worldwide with 176,000 followers on facebook, 22,000 followers on twitter and 139,000 followers on instagram. The tc also publishes a monthly newsletter that is emailed out to 11,000 subscribers.
International animal and land conservation - the tc, along with its partner organizations, is responsible for managing and funding several international programs, with the 2 largest based in (a) mexico - the 43,540 acre san ignacio preserve in the bolson de mapimi and 18,600 acres of the nearby guimbalete preserve in the chihuahuan desert of northern mexico to protect the critically endangered bolson tortoise and (b) south africa - the geometric program has a preserve in the breede river valley, east of cape town, which is understood to be one of the last habitats with a viable population of the geometric tortoise. In 2022 the tc and its partners added an additional 222 acres, expanding the preserve to a total of 1,087 acres. In addition, the tc provides practical and financial support for Turtle conservation projects implemented by partner organizations in argentina, madagascar, the philippines, and elsewhere.
The Turtle Conservancy maintained its key program for the bolson tortoise in mexico.it continued engagement in madagascar tortoise conservation, and participated in a number of small projects (pacific pond Turtle habitat restoration, rewilding bolson tortoises in north america) as well as continuing to monitor global illegal trade in turtles and tortoises.