Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation

The Turtle Survival Alliance envisions Zero Turtle Extinctions in the 21st century. We envision a planet where turtles thrive in the wild and are respected and protected by all humans.

Develop conservation plans and put those plans into action with the input of leading experts as well as local stakeholders,
Promote conservation awareness globally and among communities in the areas surrounding turtle and tortoise habitats,
Provide the highest quality support, knowledge, training, and resources to conservation partners around the world
Advocate for greater enforcement of wildlife laws and develop collaborative relationships with governments and conservation organizations around the world to ensure timely and appropriate responses to turtle and tortoise confiscations and crises,
Create breeding programs, including building facilities, for critically endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises,
Conduct field research to identify, survey, and study critically endangered turtles and tortoises as well as the factors that drive their decline.

The Alliance has worked to restore wild populations of tortoises and freshwater turtles for 20+ years. We collaborate with zoos, aquariums, universities, turtle enthusiasts, veterinarians, government agencies, and conservation organizations as a catalyst for turtle conservation. With strategic, science-based initiatives directed by local leaders, our work creates lasting impact and capacity where it matters most and inspires long-term community-based stewardship to prevent extinctions. Where populations cannot yet succeed in the wild, our breeding programs ensure their future survival.

In 2022, our work impacted the survival of 21 of the top 25 of the world’s most endangered turtles and tortoises. The Alliance’s approach to turtle conservation prioritizes:
Buying time: The establishment of a diverse and sustainable captive population is critical to preventing species extinction when the wild population is rapidly decreasing due to the loss of habitat and other external threats.
Addressing the causes of external threats: The Alliance works with local communities to reduce primary threats such as habitat loss, exploitation, or disease, so critically endangered tortoise and turtle species can eventually be reintroduced to the wild.
Restoring wild populations: The Alliance country range projects support local communities in their work to restore wild populations and reduce external threats. For species that face too high of a threat in their native environment, assurance colonies are created to support species until they can be safely released.
Transferring knowledge: The Alliance believes the communities closest to the issue are also closest to the solution. We work closely with local communities to share the resources and knowledge necessary to help critically endangered species survive and thrive in their native environments.

Over the past decade, the Turtle Survival Center (TSC) has provided a home to a growing community of 2,000+ freshwater turtles and tortoises, representing 27 species, 25 of which are critically endangered. In 2022, the TSC:

Had 115 fertile eggs incubating, including significant breeding of 15 species and subspecies. These include species that are considered presumed extinct or near extinct in the wild such as Yellow-headed Box Turtle, McCord’s Box Turtle, Vietnamese Pond Turtle, Red-necked Pond Turtle, and Rote Island Snake-necked Turtle.
Hatched its first critically endangered Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle with 15 offspring for the breeding season.

Produced several unique bloodlines of many species to maximize the genetic diversity of captive populations.

Acquired six Cuora sub-species through donations and loans that allow TSC to increase the population size and genetic diversity of our species.

Achieved the desired assurance colony founder population sizes for six of our species.

Internationally, in 2022, Alliance country range programs celebrated numerous successes, including:

Madagascar: 1,000 Radiated Tortoises were released back to the wild.

Mexico: The Alliance located what is likely the first-ever sub-one-year-old Northern Spotted Box Turtle in the wild.

Myanmar: 1,000 Burmese Star Tortoises released at Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary.

Colombia: The Alliance alongside WCS and Fundacion Omacha led the community program, Proyecto Vida Silvestre, to protect 548 Giant South American River Turtle nests and nesting females along the Meta River.

Indonesia: 120 head started Painted Terrapins were released on the beach of Ujung Tamiang, Aceh Tamiang, Aceh Province.

Bangladesh: The completion of construction on a new facility at the Turtle Conservation Centre in Bhawal National Park, featuring 56 12’ x 4’ individual habitat compartments for Arakan Forest Turtles, Elongated Tortoises, Keeled Box Turtles, and juvenile Asian Giant Tortoises.

Belize: The North American Freshwater Turtle Research Group performed its second annual turtle population assessment effort in collaboration with Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE) to identify and quantify the species, abundance, and demographics of freshwater and terrestrial turtles inhabiting BFREE's 1,153-acre biological field station and reserve in the foothills of the Maya Mountains.