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.
Florida Turtle Conservation Trust
Working to Conserve Florida’s Rich Turtle Diversity
Update and Funding Needs
2024
Hello friends and patrons of the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust (FTCT). This year, we celebrate 25 years of
working to conserve Florida's rich turtle diversity through research, education, and advocacy. There have been
many achievements over the years, and we promise that there will be more to come. Your financial
contributions have enabled us to complete a long list of field projects and conservation education programs
since our incorporation in 1999. We are pleased to provide you with this summary of our 2024 activities to date.
This document shares an update on the status of current projects and related funding needs. Our programs are
solely funded by grants and private contributions, and we are most grateful to our generous donors who make
this important conservation work possible.
We encourage you to follow us on Facebook where we typically post 2-3 updates per month. Sharing those
posts is a way for you to assist with spreading the word about our work and recruiting new supporters.
As a reminder, the FTCT is a tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3), so all donations
and gifts are tax deductible as allowable by law. If you wish to name the FTCT in your will or estate plan, we
should be named as: Florida Turtle Conservation Trust, a nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Florida, with principal business address of 1213 Alhambra Way S., St. Petersburg, FL
33705-4620. Tax identification number: 65-0914313. Date of incorporation: 11 February 1999.
Respectfully,
George L. Heinrich, Executive Director Timothy J. Walsh, Assistant Director
Florida Turtle Conservation Trust • 1213 Alhambra Way S., St. Petersburg, FL 33705-4620
www.ftct.org • (727) 599-1843 • george@heinrichecologicalservices.com
Ongoing Suwannee cooter field and museum work
For two decades, we have focused on threats to the Suwannee cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis), a
large geographically restricted subspecies occurring in rivers that drain into the northeastern Gulf of Mexico
along the west coast of Florida. Our investigations have included impacts of illegal human harvest, effects of
boat strikes, and determining the distribution and status of this subspecies south of the Weeki Wachee River.
Understanding a species’ geographic distribution is necessary to inform management plans and conservation
efforts. Our fieldwork has produced records from new rivers and counties, as well as a southward range
extension. Further surveys are planned for 2024-2025. Additional funding (~$3,500) is needed to continue this
long-term study.
Tampa Bay diamondback terrapin survey
This intensive four-year field study is focused on the distribution and status of the ornate diamondback terrapin
(Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota) in Tampa Bay, the largest open water estuary in Florida. We have
completed three summer field seasons and only have one to go. Funded with a grant from the Tampa Bay
Estuary Program's Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund to the University of South Florida, we are
working to determine distribution, identify nesting areas, and assess threats. It should be no surprise that habitat
loss and degradation, as well as crab pot mortality have already been identified as major concerns. Results from
this project will inform management and conservation efforts for what the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission has designated a species of greatest conservation need. Additional funding (~$3,000)
is needed to cover FTCT-related expenses.
Continued studies on global warming and turtle nest site choice
Working with multiple collaborators, we are currently researching whether turtles can use nest site choice
behavior to counter global warming. This project, under the leadership of Dr. J. Sean Doody (University of
South Florida), is designed to determine if North American turtles, in general, have used nest site choice, via
canopy openness, to offset climate differences (from Florida to Canada) and to offset climate warming effects
on embryos. Canopy openness is quantified using hemispherical photography and gap light analysis. Funding
(~$6,000) is needed to cover FTCT-related expenses.
New gopher tortoise license plates to generate conservation funds (not an FTCT project)
Wildlands Conservation is accepting orders for a specialty gopher tortoise license plate featuring the work of
award-winning wildlife artist Matt Patterson. Funding generated will be used to support tortoise habitat
conservation, habitat management, education, and research. Thanks to an anonymous donor, Wildlands
Conservation is now able to offer vouchers for the Protect the Gopher Tortoise license plate for FREE
(previously $33 each) until the pre-sale requirement of 3,000 voucher sign ups is reached. Please visit https://
wildlandsconservation.org/gopher-tortoise-license-plate/ for more information.
Donor recognition
Thank you to the following donors for supporting the FTCT and our turtle conservation efforts since our
previous update: Jan Anschuetz, Andrew Billing, Alex Cannon and Marina Liem, Marcie Clutter, Coastal
Wildlife Club, Marla Despas, Josue Jean, Krause Family Charitable Foundation, Jamie Paton, Pete Robison,
Susan Schaffel, Amy Wachtel, Harold and Susanne Wahlquist, and Roberta Hope Waller.
Cover photo: George L. Heinrich showing local children an intermediate musk turtle (Sternotherus intermedius) in the
Florida panhandle; photo by Michael Bargeron.
Page 3 photo: Characteristics useful for identifying three species of cooter (Pseudemys); photo by GLH.
Page 4 photo (top): Shoreline hardening (coastal armoring) prevents diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) from
accessing nesting habitat; photo by GLH.
Page 4 photo (bottom): Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) that just completed nesting at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
(St. Petersburg, Florida); photo by GLH.
Page 5 photo: Gopher tortoise license plate which is now available for free.