Turtle Survival

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT
TURTLE SURVIVAL CENTER
With two large acquisitions over the past year, the TSA has significantly increased the managed captive populations of three critically endangered Asian Box Turtle species in the
U.S.A. From left to right (Cuora galbinifrons, C. bourreti, C. picturata). PHOTO CREDIT: CRIS HAGEN
Import Bolsters
the TSC Collection
Cris Hagen
Now in its second year, the TSA’s Turtle Survival
Center has seen incredible progress since breaking
ground in March 2013, thanks to an effective team of
dedicated staff, hard working volunteers, the generosity
of donors, and steadfast leadership from managers,
coordinators, and directors driving the TSA.
A GROWING COLLECTION WITH A PLAN
The TSC’s living collection now numbers
more than 500 individual chelonians, and as time
and funding allow, outdoor and indoor facilities
will be constructed to achieve the long term projected
grow out of roughly 2,400 individuals.
Thanks to Hugh Quinn and the TSA’s Animal
Management Committee, a 100-page Animal
Collection Plan has been drafted to manage the
living collection. The plan uses a decision tree
process to achieve the TSA’s goal of zero turtle
extinctions by building robust captive populations
of critically endangered species that have
little or no chance for survival in the wild and
will likely depend on long-term captive management
to avoid extinction.
At this time, 32 species have been chosen for
captive management at the TSC. Population sizes
of founders and their descendants are calculated
to maintain 90% gene diversity over 100 years.
The Animal Management Committee has also
updated documents that define acquisition, disposition,
and research guidelines for TSA turtles.
a publication of the turtle survival alliance 03 visit us online at www.turtlesurvival.org