Dogs ♥ Turtles

Dogs across America are being trained to save rare turtle species.

Click here to read the whole story.

Lost, then Found

Back in 1982, the Almeida Family was saddened to learn that their beloved pet, Manuela, a young red-footed tortoise, had gone missing. Their house was under renovation at the time, so the family just assumed that the tortoise had slipped out through a gate left open by the construction crew.

The true fate of their lost pet remained a mystery for the next 30 years, that is, until they were met with an unexpected surprise.

Read the story here.

Happy 4th of July!

Meet Jonathan, the Oldest Known Tortoise

Jonathan, who is a Seychelles giant tortoise, lived to see it all. At around 187 years old, he’s now the oldest-known animal in the world — and he’s living a relaxing life on the remote island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, where he’s been since the late 1880s. Read more about Jonathan by clicking here.

World Sea Turtle Day

Here are some links to nature sites that will inspire you:

The Turtle Conservancy
https://www.turtleconservancy.org/

Maldivian Sea Turtle Conservation Program
http://marinesavers.com/turtle-conservation/

Sea Turtle Conservancy
https://conserveturtles.org/

Turtle Rescue League
http://www.turtlerescueleague.com/

International Union for Conservation of Nature
http://www.iucnredlist.org/

Hardcore Homey

Rockin' Out on a Hot Rock

Yummy Turtle Sandwiches

The Turtles Sing "Happy Together"

Even Anderson Loves Us

I'm relieved to know that some Hollywood-types get it.

Behind-the-Scene Slowsky Flirt

Go Zippy Go!

This is the fastest soft-shelled turtle I've ever seen! Check him out!

Dutch Turtle Haus

Dutch architecture firm specializes in organic design and this turtle house in Sweden is the best ever. Its head portion of the house even recedes into itself!

To see the interior and learn more, click here.

Getting Back to Slowsky

If you are old like me, you'd remember when terps took over the airwaves to promote Comcast, when DSL was the "fastest" internet out there...

Diamond Terrapin Facts

Turtle Trafficking is Real

Diamondback terrapins, a species native to the East Coast, is in sharp decline because the hatchlings can bring in thousands of dollars in sales. In New Jersey, it’s illegal to take or transport the semi-aquatic turtle. And, federally, it’s illegal to misrepresent such sales. Click here to read this story.

Nope.

I don't like how things are going.

Post Modern Turt Art

Check Out ABV's Turtle Conservation Project!

Consider spending a few weeks participating in A Broader View's "Sea Turtle Conservation Volunteer Program" in spectacular Costa Rica. Experience not required and open to all age groups.  Click here for more details and to sign up!

Learn more about A Broader View's great volunteer programs here.

The Love They Lost

Galápagos tortoises Bibi and Poldi called it quits after nearly 100 years together! Read more about the breakup here.

When Two Merge into One

Turtles are Neat

Lazy Baby Seal Hitches a Ride

Soviet Tortoises Circle Moon 50 Years Ago

In 1968, the Soviet Union sent two tortoises as the first
Earthlings to circle the moon! Read the story here. 

Butt Breathers

Read about butt-breathing turtles here.

Backflip in a Koi Pond

Cousin? Freak? Or Almost Extinct!

Nah, just the Batagur Baska, the Northern River terrapin, one handsome (and most unusual) species of riverine turtle! The River Terrapins (Batagur) once plied the great rivers and estuaries of southern Asia from the Indian Subcontinent to the islands of Indonesia.

Most Batagur now owe their survival and recovery to intensive conservation and management programs. Multiple organizations have come together in partnership to recover these species, and fortunately Batagur respond well to nest protection, hatching and head-starting.

Unfortunately, it is also one of the most critically endangered turtle species according to a recent assessment by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

Tortoises Trying Pancakes

Injured Turtle Gets Lego Wheelchair

I'm Giving Thanks, Are You?

My Cousin: Golden Coin Turtle

The Golden Coin Turtle or Chinese Three-Striped box turtle is a species of turtle endemic to southern China.

The Golden Coin Turtle, because of its golden head and high monetary value, is on the brink of extinction due to the wildlife trade and the high value placed on it.

Eating the animal in a jelly is falsely believed to promote general well being, like a cure for everything from acne to cancer. Due to these false beliefs, the Golden Coin Turtle is one of the highest priced turtles in the trade, with prices for a single animal ranging from $10,000 to as high as $25,000.

The Turtle Conservancy program is the first repatriation of turtles captive-bred in another country (United States) back to their home country of China. The return of these animals will complete the circle of captive breeding, returning and eventually releasing these animals in the wild, which will provide an important boost for the remaining wild population.

The species is considered critically endangered due to its use in Chinese medicine, under threat because of unsustainable hunting. This is one of the most endangered turtle species in the world, according to an assessment by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

You Better Vote!

Endangered Brazilian Villagers Enjoy Turtle Bath

Sadly, several bands of Brazil's Awá nomads — the easternmost isolated people in the Amazon — roam the woodlands living in a state of near-constant flight from the whine of winches and chain saws and, in the dry season, the smoke of wildfires. Shown here are several nomads bathing with turtles that may become their meal. To learn more about what is happening in this part of the world, read the National Geographic story.

Sea Turtle Scooby Snacks

CLICK HERE to watch as this
Sea Turtle snacks on this large jelly fish

Loggerhead Escapes!

My Cousin: The Cogwheel Turtle

The Cogwheel Turtle is also known as the sunburst turtle or spiny turtle, this turtle is found in southeast Asia. It is an omnivore, eating bugs, fruit and vegetable matter. The Cogwheel Turtle is a moderately sized turtle that does well in outdoor enclosures in moderate climates.

Found primarily in Asia, the Cogwheel Turtle makes its home in or near streams in rainforests. The streams are usually shallow and clear. They spend a lot of time wandering on land near their streams, primarily in humid, cool, shaded spots. They are shy and spend a lot of time hiding in grass or under debris. The young turtles spend more time on land than the adults, who are more comfortable in water. They are omnivores, but feed primarily on plant matter. They are nocturnal, meaning they are active during the nighttime.

The Cogwheel Turtle is easy to recognize due to its distinctive shell, which is marked by spines on the keel and pleural scutes. The Cogwheel Turtle grows between 7 and 8.5 inches in length, and weighs up to 5 pounds at maturity. They are named for their spikes, or spines, though adult Cogwheel Turtles may lose their spines when they reach maturity. Young Cogwheel Turtles have been said to resemble pincushions because their spikes are so sharp. As they mature these will wear down and are not nearly as obvious as those of the young. Some adults may not have visible spikes, particularly those on the side. They can be difficult to sex. Males usually have longer, broader tails than the females. Males also have a concave plastron.

Conservation status: endangered.

Welcome Newbie!

Grumpy Gertie Gets Down

Meet Gertie, the grumpy Gopher Tortoise. In Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, their populations are listed as threatened due to human activity. With their powerful legs, Gopher tortoises can dig burrows up to 40 feet in length. These tortoises are a keystone species due to their beneficial impact on their ecosystem. Many different species rely on the gopher tortoises’ burrows to survive. Gertrude is most likely ‘head-banging’ because she is protecting her burrow.

[Thanks National Geographic for this story]

The Maldivian Sea Turtle

Check out MarineSavers for Turtle Conservation info

Marine turtle population is declining throughout the Indian Ocean region. Persistent over-exploitation, especially catching or killing of adult females on the nesting beach and the widespread collection of eggs are largely responsible for the depleted status of six Indian Ocean species. Marine turtles are also accidentally captured in active or abandoned fishing gears, resulting in death of tens of thousands of turtles annually. Coral reef and sea grass degradation, oil spills, chemical waste, plastic and other marine debris, high density beach-front development, and an increase in ocean-based tourism have damaged or eliminated nesting beaches and feeding grounds.

The Government of the Maldives launched a nationwide campaign on Television Maldives and Voice of Maldives to create greater awareness among the public about the need to save marine turtles. The government prohibited catching or killing of any marine turtle species, and their sale, import and export of its products. However, turtle egg exploitation continues. Without protection of at least some of the eggs and nesting beaches, it is believed that turtle population cannot be perpetuated for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Life from Behind

My Cousin: The Radiated Tortoise

Radiated Tortoises live naturally only in the extreme south and southwestern part of the island of Madagascar. They prefer dry regions of brush and thorny woodlands of the island.

They grow up to 16 inches and weigh up to 35 pounds, and is considered to be one of the world's most beautiful tortoises. This basic "tortoise" body shape consists of a high-dome, a blunt head and elephantine feet. The legs, feet, and head are yellow except for a black patch on top of the head. The shell (carapace) of the radiated tortoise is brilliantly marked with yellow lines radiating from the center of each dark plate of the shell, hence its name. This "star" pattern is more finely detailed.

The radiated tortoise is a grazing herbivore. They feed during the day mostly on grasses, fruit and succulent plants. Their grazing habits keep vegetation closely trimmed.

Radiated tortoises may live as long as 40 to 50 years. Sadly, these handsome tortoises are severely endangered due to loss of habitat, being poached for food, and being over exploited in the pet trade.

Mr. Peepers

Dining, Galapagos Style

Soft Turtle Love

There's Wisdom in Age

Old age takes in part savory wisdom for its food -
see to it that your old age will not lack in nourishment.  

- Leonardo da Vinci

My Cousin: The Soft Shell

Here's a soft shell variety of terrapin. Just look at this guy. He seems so flat and floppy. These turtles look like big leathery pancakes. The adults are brownish-green or tan with blotches on their skin. Their shells are covered with skin, and are soft around the edges. Their noses are long and round. When they swim, they stay underwater and stick their nose up to breathe, like a snorkel. Their feet are webbed and their necks are quite long. What an amazing species!



Softshell turtles can be very aggressive, and they sometimes bite each other and turtles of other species spontaneously or when feeding. Turtles with soft shells tend to be more aggressive than their more protected relatives. Florida softshell turtles are found on the coastal plains south of Mobile Bay, Alabama, and Charleston, South Carolina, including all of Florida except the Keys. Their preferred habitat is slow-moving bodies of fresh water with mud or sand bottoms. They spend much of their time buried in the soft bottom with only their head exposed. Softshell turtles are primarily carnivorous, feeding on aquatic insects, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, waterfowl and amphibians.

Flapjacks, anyone?

Turtle Fine Cyber Art

Feasts for Beasts

Check out this fantastical National Geographic story on the table manners of animals!

Tippy Toe Tortoise

No Table Manners Needed

My Cousin: The Red-Footed Tortoise

The Red-Footed Tortoise is a captive-bred, readily available and fairly hardy tortoise that makes a wonderful captive. Adults range from 10 to 14 inches in length, and originate across South America tropical forests and grasslands.

Red-footed tortoises require strong enclosures - it is best to make an indoor tortoise enclosure long and relatively narrow. A temperature gradient should be provided or a hot rock may also be used so long as a cool area is always provided. Red-footed tortoises are almost half bone and shell, so they have a great need for calcium. In order to absorb all the calcium they require, calcium levels in their diet must exceed phosphorus levels.

Foods high in calcium, but low in phosphorus, include dandelion greens, collard greens, parsley, kelp, watercress, celery and orange rind. An almost exclusive vegetarian diet is best; pesticide-free grass can provide roughage.

Look at this beauty!!

Need Love? Demand it!!!

Perfect Summer Salad