Welcome to a New World, a New Year!

Ho Ho

Santa will go to any depth to take care of all creatures this holiday.
Hope it's a good year for everyone.

Nature Loves Turtles

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Technology Saves a Tortoise!

CHECK THIS OUT!! Brazilian tortoise Freddy lost his shell (and home) from a brushfire and the volunteer group Animal Avengers from Sao Paolo stepped in to rebuild him a new 3-D carapace! Read the amazing story here.

Freddy's new shell was completely reconstructed using 3D technology!
(Thanks to Raymond in Amsterdam for this story!)

Welcome to Our World, little fella!

Look at this adorable little turtle baby! Now for a good stretch into your new world!

Turtle Pet Rock Fun

Get creative and paint your own turtle "pet rock" with this template! It's fun and makes a great doorstop!

Tower o' Turtles

Rollin' Down the Road

I Want My Leather Back

Scratching the back of a giant leatherback turtle!

Lovely Turtle Pendants - Get Yours Now!

Visit this link to order your turtle pendant set

Are Two Heads Better Than One?

Only this little guy/guys can tell. Hopefully they outsmart everyone and live a full life.

Mutant Ninja Movie Time

Baby Diamondbacks

Western Australia Flatback

Each year from November to January, Australian Flatback turtles return to Eco Beach in The Kimberley in Western Australia, where they were born to lay multiple clutches of eggs. Some turtles nest here every twelve months while others come every second year or third year.

The flatback is one of seven species of sea turtles in the world that only nests in Australia.

Wildlife License Plates

Some states in the U.S. offer turtle conservancy options:

The Turtle Conservancy

Be like Daniel Craig and support the Turtle Conservancy
or at least click here to visit their web site.

It's Fresh! The Brown Roof Turtle

Freshwater turtles, such as the Brown-Roofed Turtle, support livelihood of millions of fishermen by feeding upon diseased fish and should, therefore, be protected.

PHOTO CREDIT: Franck Bonin

To learn more about freshwater turtles, CLICK HERE.

Tandem Sea Turts

... or reflection?...

Greetings from the Underworld

It's Renaissance Faire Guy!

Hitchin' a Ride

Live Strong. Stay Strong.

My Cousin: The Diamondback Terrapin

Can this guy get any more handsome? Look at his markings!

The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) was once almost pushed to extinction due to a fashion among some members of American society for turtle meat, a trend that thankfully died out before this terrapin did.

The diamondback terrapin has an oblong upper shell (carapace) that is grey, light brown or black and patterned with concentric diamond-shapes. The shell on the underside of the terrapin (the plastron) can range in colour from yellowish to green or black, and may be decorated with bold, dark markings.

The grey or black skin of the limbs and head bears dark flecks and spots, the head is short and flat, and the prominent eyes are black. The large, webbed feet are adapted for swimming, but also bear strong claws that allow the terrapin to clamber up out of the water. Female diamondback terrapins are larger than the males, and have a broader head and shorter tail. Juveniles are patterned much like adults but usually brighter and have rounder shells.

The diamondback terrapin is native to the United States, where it occurs along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Cape Cod to Texas. The diamondback terrapin inhabits the brackish waters of coastal marshes, tidal flats, coves, estuaries and coastal lagoons.

Beautiful From Behind

Got the Blues

Remember Bill and Carolyn Slowsky?

You should.

Turtle Shop

CLICK HERE for interesting turtle goodies courtesy of Turtles, Tortoises and Terrapins.

Lonesome George

This incredible creature was the last surviving member of the Pinta Island
tortoise sub-species when he died in 2012 at around 100 years old.
You can visit him can see him in taxidermied form at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Read more about Lonesome George at Smithsonian mag

Lunch Date with a Leopard Tortoise

Hatchery at Melina Beach

Melina Beach Turtle Hatchery video, made in conjunction with Ecofieldtrips, featuring footage of adult turtles from dive trips on Tioman Island with Ecofieldtrips.

The Head Butter

Mr. Peepers

Home is Where Your Heart Is

painting by Jane Schnetlage

Get Down On IT!

Fish Jewelry!

Hitching a Ride - Chihuahua Style!

Ladies Discussing Benefits of SPF

"You need a better moisturizer, Phyllis, one with minerals."

Wonders of the Galapagos

Courtesy of National Geographic

My Cousin: The Diamondback Terrapin

Can this guy get any more handsome? Look at his markings!

The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) was once almost pushed to extinction due to a fashion among some members of American society for turtle meat, a trend that thankfully died out before this terrapin did.

The diamondback terrapin has an oblong upper shell (carapace) that is grey, light brown or black and patterned with concentric diamond-shapes. The shell on the underside of the terrapin (the plastron) can range in colour from yellowish to green or black, and may be decorated with bold, dark markings.

The grey or black skin of the limbs and head bears dark flecks and spots, the head is short and flat, and the prominent eyes are black. The large, webbed feet are adapted for swimming, but also bear strong claws that allow the terrapin to clamber up out of the water. Female diamondback terrapins are larger than the males, and have a broader head and shorter tail. Juveniles are patterned much like adults but usually brighter and have rounder shells.

The diamondback terrapin is native to the United States, where it occurs along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Cape Cod to Texas. The diamondback terrapin inhabits the brackish waters of coastal marshes, tidal flats, coves, estuaries and coastal lagoons.

Nice Try

but not quite turtle

Hop on Croc

Fun Turtle Flops

Visit CafePress.com for cool turtle merchandise like these flip flops:

My Cousin: the Assam Roofed Turtle

This beautiful species is extremely endangered in Northeast India:

The Assam Roofed turtle, also known as Sylhet roofed turtle, has a triangular and elevated carapace with a promient spiked keel and strongly serrated marginal plates. The carapace is olive-brown in color, with a lighter (yellowish to beige) keel. The head is small and has a weakly hooked upper jaw; a narrow pink stripe runs from the back of each eye to the middle of the back of the head. Adults normally grow to a maximum length of 8 in. (20.5cm).

This species live in the northeastern and southeastern parts of Bangladesh, India. It is found in terrestrial and freshwater habitats in areas with upland tropical moist forest, and fast-flowing streams and perhaps also small rivers.

The species is amphibian. In the cooler months of the dry season, from December to February, it basks during most of the day; individuals living in cooler hill-streams may do so year round. The turtle is shy and never basks on river banks, but only on emergent logs or rocks. At the slightest disturbance, it will dive quickly to the middle of the river, hiding between rocks. Juveniles often flee into accumulations of dead leaves for camouflage and remain motionless.

The Assam Roofed turtle is a rare species known only from a few individuals; it is exploited for its meat and eggs for local consumption and may also enter the pet trade. Habitat destruction by logging and incidental capture in fishing gear are also thought to present threats. The species is currently classified as Endangered (EN) by the IUCN.

Our Amazing Underwater World

Sent to Nat Geo by a fan:

An amazing National Geographic image

There seems to be two separate universes on this planet,
and this one lies beneath.

Call Me Camouflage

Today's Snack: Kiwi Turtles!

The Procession

Live Like a Sea Turtle

Meet Tizzy

In support of "banning the bag" (plastic bags) on California beaches, University of California students have taken inflatable Tizzy on the road to promote eliminating beach pollution.

Read more about UC's anti-pollution program here

Amazing Sea Turtles Hatching on Beach

Baby Grump

My Dragonfly Friend

Color Me Sea Turtle

The Turtle Foundation

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Visit the Turtle Foundation website

The Turtle Foundation was founded by a small group of dedicated private individuals with the common aim of preventing endangered sea turtles from becoming extinct.

We are an international charitable organization. We are a dedicated volunteer effort and currently are operating our own important protection projects in Cape Verde and in Indonesia.

OUR VISION: A future where sea turtles and their habitats are sustainably protected, healthy, and safe from threat of extinction and destruction.

OUR MISSION: To contribute to sea turtle conservation at our own project sites by cooperating with local communities to create a future where both sea turtles and people can thrive.

The Turtle Foundation is represented in the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Cape Verde. In all these countries, the Turtle Foundation is a tax exempt and non-profit organization. Donations to Turtle Foundation are tax deductible in accordance with the law of the country concerned.