Posted on: 2017-09-12 10:30:03

Turtle News Briefs

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Turtle news we found interesting recently. Have you seen these?

There’s a high-tech anti-poaching program, a new marine protection area, and sea turtles returning to long-abandoned nesting sites. Plus many more.

Recent Box Turtle News

No new box turtle news today, but we still like these:

• University of North Georgia studies Eastern box turtles: The project looks at the turtles’ home range and how they use their habitat.
• Ever wanted to study box turtles? Here’s your chance! The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for field assistants for 2018. It’s an unpaid internship, but it looks like fun!
• He welcomes box turtles to his garden: He shares a picture of one enjoying one of his home-grown tomato. 💗

Recent U. S. Turtle News

Protecting turtles can take many forms, from evacuating them ahead of a storm to building one a new home.

Sea turtles evacuated ahead of Irma: The turtles from the Loggerhead Marinelife Center are safe in Georgia. Let’s hope the Center can get cleaned up and back into action quickly.

Western River Cooter babies! Four eggs of this rare species hatched at the Alburquerque BioPark a few days ago.

Shelly has a custom-built home: She’s a really big red-eared slider whose home at the library was too small. So a local Eagle Scout decided to make one with the space she needs. 💗 (Franklin County, Virginia)

These eggs can take down poachers: They’re 3D-printed eggs with GPS trackers. But they look and feel like real sea turtle eggs! So turtle preservationists can add them to real nests and find out where the poachers take them.

And don’t forget the Tour de Turtles; there’s still 50 days to go! And you can still report your turtle sightings.

• Follow the Tour de Turtles!: This fun but important project follows sea turtles for 3 months. It allows scientists to understand how they migrate from their nesting grounds to their feeding grounds.
• Help count turtles around northern Vermont & southern Quebec: Memphremagog Conservation Inc is asking residents to report turtle sightings. The census runs from June through October.

Recent International Turtle News

Recent stories we’ve liked include a volunteer opportunity in Mexico, sea turtles returning to nest at beaches they’d abandoned for years, and a tireless protector of turtle eggs.

Volunteer to protect sea turtles in Mexico: Short-term volunteers needed to patrol the beaches at night. Project dates run through mid-January (you’d sign up for a 2-week project), and international volunteers welcome!

Just an old lady & her tortoise out for a walk: She bought a tiny tortoise 10 years ago. Today it’s 110 pounds & they go for daily walks together! 💕 Includes video. (Changchun, China)

Red-crowned roofed turtles rescued from smuggler: Only 3 this time, but earlier this year 23 were recovered from another smuggler. The special task force suspects a larger smuggling operation in the area. (central India)

First sea turtle in 10 years: Thailand’s Racha Island hasn’t seen a turtle hatch in 10 years. But on September 8, it happened! The first green turtle hatching from a nest of 87 eggs. 💚

First leatherback turtle in 7 years: Rhu Cikgu beach was once a popular leatherback nesting site. But until September 10, it hadn’t seen a nest since 2010. Hopefully it’s just the first of many. (Malaysia)

Watch Littlefoot swim away: The green sea turtle swallowed a hook back in July. (Australia)

Protecting green turtles: He collects eggs every night to send to a nearby conservation center. (Malaysia)

Baby turtles rescued from trampling: There was a wedding reception on their beach. A caretaker rescued the hatchlings before they got trampled. (Barbados) We do have to wonder why there was a party near sea turtle nests?

New marine protection area off Easter Island: It’s one of the largest in the world. The area is home to four species of sea turtle among other marine life.