March/April 2010

SVTTC News
Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club
Chapter of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club since 2008
www.tortoise.org or www.tortoise.org/siliconvalley
March/April 2010
Photo by Kevin Norred. This little Sulcata thinks he is hungry!!
Next Meeting:
Next club meeting is Monday, April 5th at 7pm. Banquet room is open at 5pm
Topic of Interest:
Gary Wilfong of the Bay Area Turtle and Tortoise Rescue will be bringing some Marginated, Russian, Greek
and Herman’s Tortoises for discussion on telling the different species apart and a little bit about the care and
husbandry needed for each of the European Testudo species. If you have any interest in these species, you are
not going to want to miss this meeting. If you have one and would like to share, bring it with you.
Location:
Round Table Pizza
14940 Camden Avenue (Corner of Union and Camden Ave)
San Jose, CA 95124
(408) 371-9550
From the Editor
By Kevin Norred
Hi Everyone,
Sorry for the lack of the newsletter last month. I had some family visiting from out of state and the
time that is needed to put together everything was cut short. I voluntarily put the newsletter together
on my own time so I opted to wait till March to put together a more prepared copy than doing one that
was rushed.
The SVTTC
The Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise club has a lot going on in the upcoming months. We have a
couple special events in the works, a couple reptile shows and some out of the area meetings from
other clubs as well. All the events will be posted in the Event Calendar in the following pages.
One of the events I would like to discuss is the Western Pond Turtle presentation at the Oakland Zoo
on June 19th. This will be a special presentation presented by Margarett Rouser and staff from the
Oakland Zoo. Sonoma State University’s Nick Geist has a program known as the “Head Start
Program” that he is working with the Oakland Zoo and SF Zoo in collecting eggs in selected native
populations of the Western Pond Turtles and hatching them and raising them to a year of age for
release back into the areas that they come from. They also maintain these populations by tagging and
monitoring adults and juveniles as well. This program has been very successful over the past couple
years in introducing and saving some of the native populations from going extinct. The presentation
will be from 10am to 12noon. Reservation of tickets is required and must be purchased through Kevin
Norred no later than June 1st. All proceeds from these sales including any donations will go directly to
the Western Pond Turtle program. There is seating for 150 people. We will meet the morning of the
presentation at the front gate at 9:30am and walk in as a group. All tickets must be purchased prior to
the event. After the presentation, everyone is welcome to visit the park and see all the other exotic and
native animals. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5.50 for children. For more information, please
email me at tortoisehome@yahoo.com. I will be taking money and taking names to reserve tickets at
the meetings or by mail.
Also, Nick has informed me that if anyone is interested in doing some volunteer fieldwork, he would
be more than happy to have you. They train you in field telemetry, identification and proper handling
of the species. Bring your sleeping bag and overnight packs and work with the only Native California
Aquatic Turtle.
Spring Time
On another note, as the spring season approaches (hopefully sooner than later), many tortoises and
turtles will be soon coming out of hibernation. Please make sure to take the proper steps in preparing
them for their wake-up. The most important thing is to get them hydrated by constant cycles of
soaking in warm water. Once they become more active, feeding can occur. Also, if you see any signs
of illness, respiratory problems or ear and eye infections, it is best to consult with a local reptile vet to
cure the issues. Prolonged problems can risks serious harm to the turtle or tortoise. Soaking works
wonders though. Also, inspect the shells to make sure no signs of shell rot are beginning. If you see
any pits, holes or open sores in the shell, consult a veterinarian. (Next page continued)
2
From the Editor
(Cont)
Presentations
In January, I did a presentation on Radiated Tortoises. I was asked by a couple people to pass on the
presentation so they can use it for personal references. Since the file is too large to email and I have
been advised that some of the pictures were to be only used in my presentation and not be distributed, I
will be redoing the presentation in the form of a specific article in the next couple months. I will try to
include as many pictures as I can. If you have any questions about the Radiated Tortoise, let me know
and I will try to help out as much as I can.
This month Gary Wilfong will have several species of the Testudo family and will help you identify
what species you have and a little bit about each species as to care and husbandry. The group will
consist of Marginated Tortoises, Herman’s Tortoises, Greek Tortoises, Russian Tortoises and who
knows what else he may have. If you have a Testudo species and would like to share it as well, bring it
and share with us. Bring your hand sanitizer as well!!! Please make sure you secure them in some sort
of container where they can’t escape.
Past Events
The Petco Adoption day on February 20th and 21st was fun and exciting. We had the opportunity to
meet with several people shopping at Petco and several who own turtles and tortoises. I helped a
couple people get proper lighting and a couple other things. I think we made a positive representation
there and look forward to making another weekend out of it. I think the next event is March 20th and
21st, but I personally will not be able to make it. If someone would like to take on the challenge of
putting this together, please contact me. I would like to thank Gilbert Castro, Wendy Petrak, Martha
Pugno, Philip Edholm, and Jennette Petrak and J.J. Baumann for helping. Could not do it without you
all.
As we get rolling into the year, we are going to have several events coming up that reach out to the
public. If you would like to help out and watch animals, answer questions and help with setups and
tear downs, let me know. We need to build as much help as possible so the same people are not
always doing the events. To help promote and award helpers, we will be taking everyone’s names
down who dedicate at least 3-4 hours of help and at the end of the year we will be putting everyone’s
name in a raffle. The winners will get some nice prizes yet to be determined. The more events you
help at, the more chances you get. You can only win once though.
Sacramento Turtle and Tortoise Club
I confirmed with Felice Rood, that the April STTC meeting has been cancelled due to the Library
being under construction. For more information, you can contact her at www.turtlebunker.com.
Until next month….Kevin
3
2010 Club Officers &
Committees
2010 SVTTC Officers
President
Joseph Alvarado
info@reptilecompany.com
Vice President
Jessica Gopp
jessgopp@yahoo.com
Secretary
Philip Edholm
philipaedholm@aol.com
Treasurer
Gilbert & Dorothy Castro
1dotboop@att.net or gilbert-castro@att.net
2010 SVTTC Board of Directors
Board of Director
Greg Kraintz
gkraintz@gmail.com
Board of Director
Paul Woodring
woodringpaul@yahoo.com
Board of Director
Yvonne “Corky” Mariani
cmari2235@aol.com
2010 SVTTC Committee Chairman’s & Assistants
Librarian
Martha Pugno
kayaklady56@yahoo.com
Show/Event Chairman
Jennette Petrak
jen0139@gmail.com
Fundraiser Chairman
Lisa Montoya
lesa_doublemm@yahoo.com
Adoption Chairman
Kevin Norred
tortoisehome@yahoo.com
Newsletter
Kevin Norred
tortoisehome@yahoo.com
Membership
Dorothy Castro
1dotboop@att.net
SVTTC Internet Connections
Turtle and Tortoise related Yahoo Groups:
SVTTC Chapter:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SVCTTC
The SVTTC Website where you can find all forms including past newsletters:
www.tortoise.org/siliconvalley
4
President’s Report
By Joseph Alvarado
Hi Everyone,
Been a very busy month. I would like to just
share some of the pictures that were taken at the
Petco Adoption Fair in February by Kevin.
5
Vice-President’s
Report
Vice-President’s
Report (Cont.)
By Jessica Gopp
By Jessica Gopp
Hi Everyone,
We are looking for the following items at a
discount or to be donated to the club:
Hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather
now. I know Kevin is getting tired of rescuing
our tortoises in the pens when it rains very
heavily. Now he is just spending time cleaning.
Projector (Table Top)
Projection Screen 60” x 60” minimum size
We have a lot in store for the upcoming months.
We are still working on a picnic venue and date.
Everything in our area always seems to take a lot
of money to do.
Turtle / Tortoise Videos / DVD
Thanks,
Jessica Gopp
The following are the upcoming presentations
for the SVTTC:
April 5th – Gary Wilfong – Presentations on
Marginated, Herman’s, Russian and Greek
Tortoises
May 3rd – Rene Gandolfi, DVM, Castro Valley
Companion Animal Hospital -Herpes Virus in
Tortoises
June7th – Jennette Petrak, SVTTC Member Sea
Turtles and Conservation in Costa Rica
Photos by Kevin Norred – (above)
Leopard Tortoise just relaxing
(Below) Pair of 1-1/2” Sulcata babies
Het/Albino.
July 5th – Kevin Norred SVTTC Adoptions
Power Point presentation on Red Foot Tortoises
August 2nd – Terry Burtz , SVTTC Member
Living with Galapagos and Aldabra Tortoises
September 13th – Setting up the proper Aquatic
Habitat (presentation still in the works)
October 4th – Presentation on Pancake Tortoises
(Pending)
November 1st – Open
December 6th –No Presentation – Christmas
Party
6
Membership
Report
By Dorothy Castro
If your name is on this list, it is time to
renew. Renewal Memberships can be
extended by filling out a new
application and mailing to:
We currently have 114 members as of 3/1/10. If you
haven’t renewed your membership, please do so. This
club depends on membership dues. For each $20
membership, $15 goes to the Tortuga Gazette and $5
goes to the club so it is very important to keep your
memberships paid. To find out your expiration date,
look in the right hand corner of you mailing address
label on the Tortuga Gazette and that date is when your
membership expires.
Memberships soon to expire:
SILICON VALLEY TURTLE AND
TORTOISE CLUB
Attn: Adoptions
P.O. Box 64135
Sunnyvale, CA 94088-4135
You can also give to an officer of the
club or bring to the next general club
meeting. If you have already sent your
renewal in, just ignore the list.
Membership packages are as follows:
Yearly Dues:
$20.00 Individual & Family
Membership
$30.00 Supporter Membership
$50.00 Benefactor Membership
FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
CITY
RENEW
JOHN
DICUS
NIPOMO
01-01-10
MARIA
ESCOBAR
DALY CITY
01-01-10
KATE
LIPMAN
FREMONT
02-01-10
CAHTERINE
McKEEFERY
FREMONT
02-01-10
LIZ
CLARK
OROVILLE
03-02-10
PATRICK
COFFEY
BURLINGAME
03-02-10
JENNIFER
HAYES
MEDESTO
03-02-10
XIAOBO
CHU
SAN JOSE
03-06-10
MARTHA
PUGNO
SAN JOSE
03-06-10
SERGIO
THORSON-GARAY
SAN FRANCISCO
03-09-10
CHUCK & PENNY
CARLE
CUPERTIONO
03-30-10
DARLENE
COWLELL
SALIDA
03-30-10
KC
DAVIS
DUBLIN
05-01-10
JAN
GERSONDE
SAN FRANCISCO
05-01-10
RICKY
ORTIZ
STOCKTON
05-01-10
GREER (RIVER)
STRAATSMA (ART)
SANATA ROSA
05-01-10
HEIDI
SWANSON
SAN JOSE
05-01-10
REES
TINER
SANTA CRUZ
05-01-10
LOUANN
TUNG
LIVERMORE
05-01-10
NORMA
MEAD
AROMAS
05-13-10
TIM
TOY
SAN FRANCISCO
05-13-10
$100.00 Patron Membership
$25.00 Canada / Mexico
Membership
$40.00 Other Foreign
Membership
$500 Life Membership
Donations are always welcome.
7
SVTTC Events
By Janette Petrak
Nothing to report on this month. I have been
very busy with school. I would like to share
some more photos of the Petco Adoption Fair.
Thanks to Gilbert, JJ, Jessica, Kevin, Philip,
Martha, Wendy and everyone else you helped
out.
Above: Pardalis Pardalis Leopard
Tortoise.
Below: Razorback Musk Aquatic Turtle
Photos by Gilbert Castro
Above: “Rocky” the Burmese Brown
Tortoise on display
Below: Adult Female Slider. We had
adults and babies on display to show the
difference in sizes. – Photos by Gilbert
Castro
8
SVTTC Sponsors
SVTTC Donations
The Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise Club is
seeking out commercial sponsors from retail
establishments and manufacturer’s that would be
interested in supporting the club with raffle
donations, promotional items and discounts to
the SVTTC membership. In return the
sponsoring businesses would receive a business
card ad in the SVTTC news and mentioned at
promotional events. The SVTTC News is
circulated to members and non-members of the
SVTTC and reaches over 700 people monthly.
Donate to support the SVTTC every time you
search and shop online! Simply by visiting the
following online sites, every time you make a
purchase with sponsoring sites such as Amazon
or other big name sites, each company will
contribute a small donation back to the club - at
no additional cost to you.
•
•
•
•
•
iGive: Sign up to donate to the Silicon
Valley Turtle and Tortoise Club and shop
at over 700 stores through this online
shopping portal. iGive will donate a
percentage of your purchase, and will
make an additional $5 donation when
you shop within 45 days of registering.
www.igive.com
GoodShop: Select Silicon Valley Turtle
and Tortoise Club at GoodShop and
every time you make an online purchase,
we will receive a contribution to benefit
our club. GoodShop donations average
approximately 3% of the sale, but go up
to 20% or even more (depending on the
retailer). www.goodshop.com
GoodSearch: powered by Yahoo!,
GoodSearch gives approximately 1 cent
to SVTTC per search. Add their toolbar
to your browser and help raise funds for
the SVTTC. www.goodsearch.com
S.H.A.R.E. Cards: Every time you shop
at Lucky’s , Save Mart or other
participating retailers, show them your
S.H.A.R.E. card prior to paying and 3%
of all sales go back to the club. You can
obtain a card from Kevin Norred
Round Table Pizza (Meeting night
only): Attached to this newsletter is a
print out for those who will be eating at
Round Table Pizza the evening of the
meeting. 15% of all club member pizza
sales go back to the club. Please print out
the form and bring with you.
I would like to thank the
following:
SF Bay Brands
Zoo Med
Hagen
for their support this year. All
companies have donated product
for raffle and events. Thanks
Again.
The Following Retailers offer discounts for
SVTTC / CTTC Members:
None at this time (Stay Tuned)
For More Information about meetings or the
SVTTC, Please contact:
Kevin Norred, SVTTC Adoption Chairman
(408) 482-5437 or
TORTOISEHOME@YAHOO.COM
9
Many of the animals were outfitted with radio
transmitters, and three teams of scientists each
tracked a group.
Ecologist Tim Gowan and biologist Kristin
Berry, both with the U.S. Geological Survey,
followed the fates of 158 tortoises outfitted
with radio transmitters. Of those, 70 -- 44
percent -- have died; another 20 cannot be
located.
Turtle / Tortoise
Conservation News
Researchers report a 40 to 50
percent death rate among a
group of tortoises relocated
from Fort Irwin
The death rates among the other two tortoise
groups, one tracked by an Army contractor and
the other by a different USGS team, have not
been released.
10:53 PM PST on Friday, March 5, 2010
By DAVID DANELSKI
The Press-Enterprise
Government scientists tracking 158 desert
tortoises relocated from Fort Irwin nearly two
years ago to make way for military maneuvers
say that nearly half of the animals have died,
mostly from coyote attacks.
However, Army and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
officials said they believe that moving
tortoises does not make them more vulnerable
to coyotes. Drought conditions during the past
two years have made rabbits and other normal
prey scarce, so coyotes are eating tortoises,
they said.
The death rate, disclosed at a scientific
symposium last weekend, raises concern about
relocating tortoises, a species threatened with
extinction.
They also said the tortoises observed by
Gowan and Berry were released near the town
of Yermo, where coyotes are more active
because they are attracted to people's trash as a
food source.
The success or failure of the effort is important
because more relocations are expected as
companies develop wind and solar energy on
public land in the Mojave Desert. In addition,
the Army intends to move as many as 1,200
more to protect them from artillery fire, tanks
and other danger and has invested millions of
dollars in the effort.
'human activity'
William Boarman, a wildlife biologist under
contract to the Army, said the death rate
reported by Gowan is "disturbingly high, but it
has more do with human activity."
The Army has not decided whether to go
forward with another round of relocations that
had been planned this spring. The military
wants to make way for expanded live-fire
exercises at Fort Irwin, where troops train in
preparation for deployment to the Middle East.
Roy C. Averill-Murray, the Reno-based desert
tortoise recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, said a study by Boarman
and other scientists examining 2008 tortoise
deaths in the Fort Irwin area will detail how
relocated tortoises are killed at the same rate as
resident tortoises.
In spring 2008, in a much-publicized
undertaking, the Army moved 556 tortoises to
public land a few miles from the base.
"The tortoises are getting slammed wherever
they are," Averill-Murray said. Cont. On next page
10
Speaking at the annual Desert Tortoise
Council symposium last weekend in Ontario,
Gowan reported that of the 70 tortoises he and
Berry found dead in 2008 and 2009, only
seven had not been attacked by predators.
Among the other deaths, vehicles had crushed
two and a snake had bitten one.
Updated figures were not available this week,
but based on the 2008 estimate and the number
moved and those still to be relocated, the cost
works out to about $4,800 per animal moved.
Most of the deaths -- 43 of them -- occurred in
2008, the months after the relocation, when the
animals were unsettled and walking longer
distances, he said.
In September, the federal Bureau of Land
Management backed away from helping the
Army move tortoises in October because of
uncertainty about their chances of survival.
The Army canceled that relocation and still
hadn't decided whether to move more tortoises
this spring.
The tortoise deaths could be another setback
for the Army.
"The tortoises that are moving around appear
more vulnerable to predators," Gowan said
during the presentation.
"No decision has been made on a spring
translocation," Fort Irwin spokesman John
Wagstaffe said. "It is not off, and it is not on."
Females were killed at a higher frequency
during the first year, while more males died
the second, he said. Fourteen of the dead
tortoises, which all had been healthy before the
move, had contracted a respiratory disease,
although that was not the cause of death.
The Army is still evaluating the tortoise deaths
and, in any case, must have Fish and Wildlife
Service approval before proceeding with
further relocations.
No one is certain how much the tortoise
population has declined, but researchers who
have been studying certain communities of the
reptiles for decades have seen as much as a 90
percent decline in some places.
Averill-Murray said data on the other tortoises
that were moved two years ago is being
compiled and should be made public later this
month.
The lack of information had frustrated critics
of the relocation.
In one area southeast of Barstow, the
concentration of tortoises has dropped from
120 per square mile to 10 per square mile in
the past 30 years.
"Until they release the data, it is just hearsay,"
said Ileene Anderson, a Los Angeles-based
biologist with the Center for Biological
Diversity.
$4,800 per animal
The Army has said it may spend as much as $75
million to protect endangered and threatened
species found at Fort Irwin.
Anderson has said moving animals can
make them more vulnerable to coyotes
because it puts them under stress and
leaves them in unfamiliar territory where
they haven't established burrows that
would protect them from coyotes.
In 2008, the Army estimated the tortoise
relocation cost at $8.5 million, including the cost
of scientific research on disease and deaths
among the animals that were moved and those
that already lived in the relocation areas.
David Danelski
11
The Bureau of Land Management has received
more than 150 applications for large-scale solar
projects on 1.8 million acres of federal land in
California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico,
Colorado and Utah. In California alone, such
projects could claim an area the size of Rhode
Island, transforming the state into the world's
largest solar farm.
A clash of environmental
ideals in the Mojave Desert:
Solar-energy project vs.
endangered desert tortoises
Los Angles TimesJanuary 4, 2010
On a strip of California's Mojave Desert, two
dozen rare tortoises could stand in the way of a
sprawling solar-energy complex in a case that
highlights mounting tensions between wilderness
conservation and the nation's quest for cleaner
power.
BrightSource Energy wants permission to
construct three solar power plants on the site that
together would generate enough power each year
for 142,000 homes, potentially generating
billions of dollars of revenue over time.
Oakland, Calif.-based BrightSource Energy has
been pushing for more than two years for
permission to erect 400,000 mirrors on the site to
gather the sun's energy. It could become the first
project of its kind on U.S. Bureau of Land
Management property, leaving a footprint for
others to follow on vast stretches of public land
across the West.
The sun's power is used to heat water and make
steam, which in turn drives turbines to create
electricity. Built in phases, the project would
include seven 459-foot metal towers, a natural
gas pipeline, water tanks, steam turbine
generators, boilers and buildings for
administration and maintenance. Each plant
would be surrounded by 8-foot steel fencing.
The construction would come with a cost:
Government scientists have concluded that more
than 6 square miles of habitat for the federally
threatened desert tortoise would be permanently
lost.
The site has virtually unbroken sunshine most of
the year and is near transmission lines that can
carry the power to consumers.
In November, federal and state biologists
reviewing the plan proposed that the company
catch and move the tortoises and preserve them
elsewhere on 12,000 acres, a proposal that could
cost BrightSource an estimated $25 million.
The Sierra Club and other environmentalists
want the complex relocated to preserve what
they call a near-pristine home for rare plants and
wildlife, including the protected tortoise, the
Western burrowing owl and bighorn sheep.
John Kessler, a project manager for the
California Energy Commission, said there is
disagreement with BrightSource over what the
company would pay for long-term maintenance
for the land that would be purchased, and the
company also believes the cost of buying it
should be less.
"It's actually a good project. It's just located in
the wrong place," said Ileene Anderson of the
Center for Biological Diversity, a Tucson, Ariz.based environmental group.
The dispute is likely to echo for years as more
companies seek to develop solar, wind and
geothermal plants on land treasured by
environmentalists who also support the growth
of alternative energy. In an area of stark beauty,
the question will be what is worth preserving and
at what cost as California pushes to generate
one-third of its electricity from renewable
sources by 2020.
The company declined to comment directly on
those issues.
It will likely be months before state and federal
regulators considering the plan make a decision
on the tortoises' fate. ( cont. on next page )
12
BrightSource President John Woolard warned in
government filings released last month that
heavy-handed regulation could kill the proposal.
He did not mention the tortoises directly but
referred to "unbounded and extreme"
requirements being placed on the company.
In a statement, BrightSource spokesman Keely
Wachs did not address proposals to move all or
part of the complex, pledging that the company
"will continue to work with the environmental
community to ensure that we establish a good
example for projects that follow."
At a time when the White House is pushing for
the rapid development of green power, Woolard
predicted the outcome in the California desert
would reverberate widely.
In government filings, the company depicts the
site near the Nevada line as far from untouched:
It has been used for livestock grazing, has been
crisscrossed by off-roaders and the boundary of
a golf club is a half-mile away.
The large-scale solar industry "is in its infancy,
with great promise to compete with conventional
energy," Woolard wrote. "Overburdening this
fledgling industry will cause it to be stillborn,
ending that promise before it has truly begun."
Except for the tortoise, no other federal or state
threatened or endangered animal or plant is on
the site, the company said. In 1994 the federal
government designated 6.4 million acres as
"critical habitat" for the tortoise in California,
Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, but the
BrightSource site was not included "and is by no
means in an area critical to the survival of this
species," the company concluded.
The Sierra Club wants regulators to move the
site closer to Interstate 15, the busy freeway
connecting Los Angeles and Las Vegas, to avoid
what it says will be a virtual death sentence for
the tortoises. Estimates of the population have
varied, but government scientists say at least 25
would need to be captured and moved.
The complicated review is being watched
closely.
The group argues that the reptiles are the "most
genetically distinct" of all of California's desert
tortoises and point to a 2007 U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service report that found the tortoise
population is dropping in parts of a four-state
region that includes California.
"At this point, there are zero solar-energy
projects on public land," said Monique Hanis of
the Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade
group. "We are looking for ways to expand the
market and reduce barriers ... and get more of
these projects moving."
"The project must not contribute to additional
loss of habitat," the Sierra Club said in
government filings.
-- Associated Press
Photo: An endangered desert tortoise -- which, incidentally, didn't move
when a vehicle approached -- sits in the middle of a road in the proposed
location of three BrightSource Energy solar-energy generation
complexes in the eastern Mojave Desert in 2008. Credit: Reed Saxon /
Associated Press
Roy Averill-Murray, the Fish and Wildlife
Service's desert tortoise recovery coordinator,
said there is insufficient data to make judgments
about the population on the BrightSource site.
Tortoise "populations across the board have
declined, but we don't have the same kind of
information for this particular patch of ground,"
Averill-Murray said.
13
Websites Galore
Are you a Club
Member?
Below are some websites that I have currently
visited or like to recommend to people who are
interested in turtles and/or tortoises. These
websites are full of info and I recommend
visiting them.
You do not have to be a member to attend the
meetings but we would encourage it. If you
would like to join the SVTTC, membership fee
is $20/yr and you can signup at the meeting or
request a membership form by emailing
tortoisehome@yahoo.com and mailing to the
address on the form.
IVORYTORTOISE.COM – Sulcata Breeder of the Ivory
Sulcata Tortoise
REDEARSLIDER.COM – Site about Red Ear Sliders
and Setups
Benefits of being a member include an endless
source of information, meet new friends with
common interest, bi-monthly CTTC Tortuga
Gazette Newsletter, ability to adopt through the
CTTC Adoption program, receive discounts to
businesses or shows when offered and have a lot
of fun. Also, we will be having special events
for SVTTC members.
TORTOISETRUST.ORG – A great site for all turtle and
Tortoise enthusiast
RUSSIANTORTOISE.NET – A must for the Russian
Tortoise owner
SULCATA-STATION.ORG – A great site for Sulcata
owners for info and supplies
Join Today!!!
CHELONIA.ORG – Great site for all turtle and tortoise
owners
Club Meeting
Donation Drawing:
TORTOISE.ORG – California Turtle and Tortoise club
main site
PRO-PRODUCTS.COM – Turtle & Tortoise Supplies
By Kevin Norred
AFRICANTORTOISE.COM – Great site for Leopard
and Sulcata Tortoises
The club will be having a drawing to raise
money for adoptions and club events. Raffle
tickets are $1.00 each. We have a large
assortment of food, filters, and Misc. items
donated by several vendors. Please support the
various programs. If you have “NEW” items
that are still sealed and unused and would like to
donate them, please see Lesa at the meetings.
PONDTURTLE.COM – Site dedicated to the Western
Pond Turtle
WESTERNPONDTURTLE.ORG – Site dedicated to the
Western Pond Turtle
WESTERNPONDTURT.COM – Site dedicated to the
Western Pond Turtle
AUSTINSTURTLEPAGE.COM – A very informative
website on all species of turtles and tortoises
TORTOISEFORUM.ORG – One of my personal
favorite sites to visit to chat
REDFOOTTORTOISE.COM – Great Red Foot Tortoise
website
REDFOOTTORTOISEBREEDER.COM – Another
great RedFoot tortoise website
14
Meeting Agenda:
Current Events
I.
II.
III.
Membership Introductions
Officer Introductions
Officer’s Reports
• President-Joseph
• Vice President-Jessica
• Secretary-Philip
• Membership -Dorothy
• Treasurer-Gilbert
IV.
Adoption Chairman’s Report-Kevin
V.
Librarian Report-Martha
VI.
Event Coordinator Report-Jennette
• 2010 Events/Shows
VII. Fundraiser Chairman Report-Lesa
• I-Give & other online sites
• Round Table Pizza
• Baked Goods
• Raffle
• Items for Sale
VIII. General Announcements
• CTTC – Executive Meeting April
10th – Pasadena
• SVTTC
1. Local Events – June 19th
Oakland Zoo Presentation
• Non Club Events
1. B.A.A.R.S – Meeting
April 23- Academy of
Science Presentation
• Open Floor for anyone to
announce events or activities
VI
Newsletter - Kevin
• Articles
• Highlights and Info in newsletter
***Stretch Break ***
VIII
Presentation –Gary Wilfong
IX
Open Floor
X
Adjourn
Upcoming Events:
March 20th
Happy Hollow Park/Zoo
Grand Opening- San Jose
March 24th
Merced CTTC Club
Meeting
April 4th
Eastern Sunday
April 5th
SVTTC Club Meeting
Presentation on Testudo
Species by Gary Wilfong
April 10-11th
San Mateo Herp World
Expo
April 10th
CTTC Executive MeetingPasadena, CA
April 17th
Sacramento Spring Time
Turtle and Tortoise Club
Meeting 11am-4pm
May 3rd
SVTTC Club Meeting
Presentation on Herpes
Virus in tortoises by
Renee Gandolfi
May 23rd
Turtle & Tortoise Care
Expo – El Dorado Comm.
Center – Long Beach
CTTC
July 17th
Sacramento Summer Time
Turtle and Tortoise Club
Meeting 11am-4pm
July31st – August 1st
San Jose Herp World
Expo
The next meeting is Monday, May 3rd
2010 at 7:00 pm, same location.
September 11-12th Anaheim Reptile Show
September 18-19th Sacramento Reptile Show
15
Canyon Veterinary Hospital
Reptile Vets
Dr. R. Barrett, DVM
Castro Valley, CA
(510) 582-6704
SVTTC members and non-members have
recommended the following names and
Veterinarian offices. These listings are for
reference only.
Santa Clara Pet Hospital
Dr. Kent Littlehale, DVM
San Jose, CA
(408) 227-9110
VCA Orchard Plaza Animal Hospital
Castro Valley Companion Animal Hospital
Dr. Jennifer Star Seward, DVM
Dr. Ian Stone, DVM
San Jose, CA
(408) 227-9110
Rene Gandolfi, DVM
Castro Valley, CA
(510) 582-6311
Kirkwood Animal Hospital
Dr. Garrett Okumara, DVM
Campbell, CA
(408) 374-5850
Felton Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Cathy Calvert, DVM
Felton, CA
(831) 335-3466
Sequoia Valley Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Randall Popkin, DVM
Santa Rosa, CA
(707) 545-7387
Sunnyvale Veterinary Clinic
Dr. Raj Singh, DVM
Sunnyvale, CA
(408) 736-8929
Exotic Services Veterinarians U.C. Davis –
Small Animal Hospital
Avian & Exotic Clinic of Monterey
Dr. Shannon Thomas, DVM
Dr. Amy Wells, DVM
Monterey, CA
(831) 647-1147
Davis, CA
(530) 752-0186
Emergency (530) 752-0186
If you have a vet that you have used for your
reptiles, turtles and/or tortoises and would like to
add him/her to this list, please let me know.
Also if you are a Vet and would like to be added
to this list, let me know.
Valley Animal Hospital
Dr. Christine McFadden
Merced, CA
(209) 384-7387
Wildwood Animal Hospital
Dr. Chris Sanders, DVM
Dr. Tina Peak, DVM
Portola Valley, CA
(650) 851-9453
Thanks
-Kevin
Wildwood Animal Hospital
Dr. Diana Welsh, DVM
San Jose, CA
(408) 265-8811
Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital
Dr. Kenneth Harkewicz, DVM
Berkeley, CA
(510) 848-5041
16
Adoption Report
of us are full, people are beginning to release
them into our natural waterways trying to save
them. The Asian Food markets are the #1
problem as Animal lovers go into the stores, see
the horrid conditions they are in and purchase
them from the store and call a rescue. Since we
cannot take anymore, they take them to the
nearest lake or pond and turn them loose. I keep
explaining to the people who mean well that for
every turtle they buy from the store, the owners
by two more and the cycle continues on putting
nothing but money in the pockets of the stores.
In the pet trade, it is a little different. The stores
are willing to work with many organizations to
help recycle them back into the pet trade and
adopt them out. Unfortunately, at this time the
CTTC cannot do this do to liability issues that in
the event something happens to a individual, the
CTTC can be held liable. Almost all chapters
through out California and many other
organizations throughout the USA have
altogether stopped taking in sliders as there just
is too many. I know I am sitting on 50+ sliders
currently just alone at my house and have turned
down probably another 50 over the past month.
By Kevin Norred
Hi Everyone,
Adoption’s has been kind of slow these past few
months. I am seeing a handful of sick Box
Turtles and Tortoises coming in. People have
had them outside and with the cold and wetness
we have had, people don’t want to deal with
them and the cost and effort so they have been
bringing them to me. With putting heat on all of
them, I am watching my PG& E bill keep
crawling higher and higher. My last bill last
month was over $1200. OUCH!!! . Solar is
looking better and better every day. Now that
PG& E is putting these new smart readers on in
lieu of the old meters, everyone says there bills
are doubling. I hope that isn’t the case.
With the spring coming up, we should see a
handful of “found” turtles and tortoises brought
in. We try to hold on to them for a couple weeks
to allow those that have lost them an opportunity
to find them. Last year we did manage to
connect a few lost ones back to the original
owners. Also, when turtles and tortoises
become more active, people sometimes realize
they don’t have the time or money to feed them.
Since the CTTC, SVTTC and Humane’s Society
have stopped taking Red Ear Sliders in, I am
personally going to take on the responsibility of
trying to adopt out through the local Petco’s and
retail stores. We do have a couple other sources
as well but I will continue to carry on the burden
and financial obligation of caring for the sliders
and see if I can make a change. It might be
small, but I will see what I can do in our area.
There has been a lot of discussion on Red Ear
Sliders lately throughout the entire CTTC as to
what we need to do. It is a National problem in
all the clubs and organizations across the USA.
The farms back east are farming sliders by the
thousands and unfortunately, this makes the
states they reside in a lot of tax dollars as well.
There are several things in the works with CDFG
in trying to ban Sliders from entering California,
but this has been in the works for 15 years now.
Hopefully one day, this will all come to work in
our favor. In the meantime, we need to do what
we can to make things work.
Currently I have up for adoption the following
Turtles and Tortoises. I may have homes
pending, but these are still in my care.
Greek Tortoise – Possible Mico Plasma
Positive. Have had in my care for 2 years now
trying to cure all shell rot and damage. Still
have some bone showing. Is very active and
outgoing and needs a home that will have only
one tortoise or turtle. Micro Plasma is very
contagious and cause severe upper respiratory
infections. There is no cure. (Next page)
With the amount of sliders still entering
California through the Pet Trade and Food
Trade, there is no way to win. We are seeing
everyday
sliders being
WAKING
UP surrendered to local
chapters, humane societies and since most
17
Fluorescent light fixtures –
Adoption Report (Continued)
Starting bid on fixtures is $2.00
This is the virus that is commonly found in
California Desert Tortoises.
If anyone else has some items reptile related that would
like to auction off for donation to the club, please
contact me. Items must be in excellent condition.
Red Ear Sliders – I have all shapes and sizes
of Red Ear Sliders. I have also a subspecies that
resides from Mexico that has very unique
coloring different from the North American
subspecies. I have about 40+ available.
FUNDRAISER Corner
By Lesa Montoya
Hi everyone! Here is an update on the last two
months Bake Sales. The February bake sale totaled
$70! There was Chocolate Truffle brownies, cookies,
fruit tarts and slices of Chocolate Carmel cake. The
March sales were down. I believe that was because I
ended up buying the goodies instead of making them
myself because I didn’t have time to bake the day
before. There were an assortment of cookies, bread
pudding and brownies. Next month I will send
around a sign up sheet for future bake sales. That
way everyone gets a chance to contribute his or her
best sweet desserts. It doesn’t matter if the desserts
are homemade or store bought. For right now the
bake sale is by donation. That way the club benefits
from the maximum profits.
Sulcata Tortoises – I am starting to see
Sulcata Tortoises come in for adoption. Typical
size is about 10lbs to 30lbs. If you are
interested, send me an email for an application.
Homes must have at least 50 X 100 foot
backyard minimum and have it well landscaped
for a destructive tortoise. Sulcata’s eat
everything, run into everything and break
everything. If this sounds like something you
want to take on, contact me.
I will be getting some drop off Aquariums and
Turtle items that I will be bringing to the
meetings. I will be setting them out for a small
donation to go back to the club. If you are
looking for a tank, stand or heat lamps, drop me
an email. Maybe we can raise some money for
the club and save you some money.
Next update is about the Raffle. There were some
changes on how the Raffle was conducted. In the
past when a ticket was pulled the winner would pick
their choice from the raffle table. To make things
simpler, I chose an item and Joseph gave a great
description of the item and the ticket holder won that
particular item. The raffle seemed to go a lot faster.
For now that will be the new Raffle procedure. To
make things fun and interesting, I introduced the
Bead War Game. It was quite fun and everyone
participated. Something else new was an Auction.
There were two items for bid. One item sold and one
didn’t. The item that didn’t sell will stay in the club
fundraiser inventory to be used in the future.
Thanks
April Meeting Auction
I have the following items that I will be bringing
to the April meeting for Auction to the highest
bidder. These items have come in from
surrendered animals. The funds for these items
will be put back into the SVTTC Adoptions.
Measures 2 X 3 and has a secure lid on top with
fasteners – Retail for about $150.00
Starting bid - $25.00
There is a fantastic opportunity to generate $$$
through iGive. On February 24th and March 24th, for
every person who joins iGive using a special link and
visits a participating iGive store, iGive will donate $1
per new member. It is only for a 24-hour period.
Information will be emailed to members.
Heat Bulb fixtures with ceramic
fixture-
Our Summer Picnic is coming up. I will coordinate
with Jeanette to include some fundraiser actives.
Zoo Med Turtle House-
Starting bid on fixtures only is $2.00
Until next month
18
Other Club News
If you are part of a club or organization related
to Turtles / Tortoises and would like to post
some current news, please give Kevin Norred a
call or email.
Bay Area Amphibian &
Reptile Society
President: Scott Alexander
2010 Presentations:
March - Julie Bergman - "Gecko Journey - My
life with 80+ species of geckos" Julie Bergman,
President of GGA, Global Gecko Association,
will be discussing breeding and husbandry of
Geckos and how she got to where she is. Julie
also runs the "Gecko Ranch", www.geckoranch.
com, and is a very successful breeder of Geckos.
Sacramento Turtle & Tortoise
Club
President: Felice Rood
2010 Meeting Dates
(CANCELLED
)
April 17th
th
July 17
August 21st * 11 – 4pm
October 16th *
May – Nicole Chaney -Often it is the mantra of
the hobbyist that herptiles should be kept in
single species environments. While this is often
the best scenario for successful breeding
programs, there are many hobbyists who are not
interested in simply producing en masse. For this
sector of the Herp hobby, mixed species exhibits
offer a unique challenge that definitely has some
risks, but with careful planning and execution
can be quite rewarding and successful.
* Meeting dates not confirmed yet
Adoptions: Lots of Red Ear Sliders &
Occasional Sulcata’s
For more information about the Sacramento
Turtle & Tortoise Club, please contact Felice
Rood at felicerood@compuserve.com or visit
www. Turtlebunker.com
Nicole will be showing pictures and discussing
all 21 of our mixed species exhibits at the CA
Academy of Sciences in terms of successes,
failures, risks, and future planning.
Merced Turtle & Tortoise
Club
In addition I’ll also discuss briefly behavioral
enrichment for herps and a quick update on
breeding programs at the Academy.”
Pending Chapter of the CTTC
President: Alex Lu-Pon
Adoptions: Contact Setiva Woodring for
current list of Reptiles for adoption. Her email is
gobaars@yahoo.com
Contact info: CTTC.Merced@gmail.com
We've moved the date for March's monthly
meeting to March 24. As usual, it will take place
at Forte Frozen Yogurt (319 W Main Street) in
downtown Merced at 7pm. Hope to see you
there!
For more information about the Bay Area
Amphibian and Reptile Society, please contact
Scott Alexander at alexander_scott@yahoo.com
or visit www.baars.org
19
GNP NEWS: Tortoises from the Island of Pinzón are Relocated to Be Bred in Captivity – January 15, 2010
The Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center is the new
home for these 20 individuals.
The corrals at the Breeding Center provide conditions similar to those tortoises found in the wild.
A group of 12 adult female and 8 adult male Pinzón tortoises (Geochelone eppiphium) were recently
moved from the island of Pinzón to the Galapagos National Park’s Fausto Llerena Captive Breeding
and Rearing Center on the island of Santa Cruz to initiate a captive breeding program for the Pinzón
population.
Until last year, park wardens collected Pinzón tortoise eggs and hatchlings from nests in the wild and
artificially incubated them at the Rearing Center. The juveniles are then raised in captivity until the
age of 4, and are then released to the wild.
The 20 Pinzón tortoises will share a specially constructed corral at the Center, and will be under the
constant care of park wardens.
For many years, the Park has managed a successful captive breeding program for the Española
tortoise (Geochelone hoodensis) population. This program resulted in the recuperation of this highly
threatened species.
The Pinzón tortoise captive breeding program should enable the technical team of the GNPS to
collect as many as 150 eggs per year, and to achieve a hatching rate of 70% under controlled
temperatures.
Proceso de Relaciones Públicas – Parque Nacional Galápagos – Ecuador
For more information write to: comunicacion@spng.org.ec, or visit www.galapagospark.org
20
GC News: February 3, 2010
Team of Veterinarians Prepare Hybrid Tortoises for
Release on Pinta Island in 2010
In November 2009, a group of veterinarians, working with the Galapagos National Park (GNP),
prepared 39 hybrid tortoises slated to be the pioneer group to initiate the return of tortoises to Pinta
Island. Project Pinta is a multi-year project aimed at the restoration of the island following the
successful eradication of goats on Pinta in 2003. While complete island restoration will require the
eventual repopulation of Pinta with a reproductive tortoise population, scientists and managers are
awaiting the final results from genetic analyses of a massive sampling of tortoises before making the
final selection of which tortoises to use. To initiate the return of tortoises, critical ecosystem
engineers during this important period of vegetative recovery, a special group of tortoises will be
released onto Pinta. To ensure that this group of hybrid tortoises will not compromise any future
efforts to reestablish a reproductive population, veterinarians sterilized them.
The role of giant tortoises in natural ecosystems
Research on giant tortoises in Galapagos during the last 40 years has demonstrated many ways in
which tortoises play a major role in Galapagos ecosystems. Given their size, movement patterns, and
use of resting forms (hollowed-out beds created by tortoises for resting), tortoises can affect both the
pattern and structure of vegetation. In addition, grazing by tortoises can help maintain open areas
within forests. Studies of the Galapagos tomato and other plant species have shown a marked
increase in germination rates following passage through the gut of tortoises. Besides scarification of
seeds, tortoise scat can provide a rich substrate for germination and growth. Studies have shown that
seeds consumed by tortoises may take from a few days to weeks to be deposited, allowing for seed
dispersal over distances of several kilometers. Probably more than any other native species in
Galapagos, tortoises have a major impact on the structure and composition of their environment.
Tortoises are needed back on Pinta. With the eradication of goats in 2003, vegetation grew back
quickly but without tortoises to engineer the recovery. Shade-loving plant species are becoming more
and more abundant, reducing the available habitat for native and endemic sun-loving species. Pinta
needs a natural habitat engineer, the giant tortoise, to ensure a balanced recovery and to fully restore
the island to its near pristine condition.
While awaiting the final results of the genetic survey, conservation managers took steps to initiate the
return of tortoises to Pinta through the use of sterilized adult hybrid tortoises currently held in
captivity. This is considered the best short-term solution to initiate a more balanced recovery.
Captive tortoises in Galapagos
During the years following the establishment of the GNP and the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF)
in 1959, several giant tortoises that had been maintained by private parties were returned to the
Tortoise Center on Santa Cruz. For the first several years, these tortoises were allowed to reproduce,
potentially creating hybrid tortoises with ancestry from more than one island. This practice was
discontinued in 1976, as hybrid tortoises could never be returned to the wild given the GNP goal of
maintaining natural biodiversity as close to pristine conditions as possible. However, as a result of
reproduction prior to 1976, a group of hybrids remains in captivity. ( Cont. next page )
21
In addition to the tortoises at the Center, Margret Wittmer, one of the original settlers on Floreana,
had several tortoises brought to that island and held them in captivity. These tortoises were also
allowed to reproduce. At the time of Mrs. Wittmer’s death, the 32 remaining tortoises, which are
primarily hybrids, were moved to a corral on Floreana managed by the GNP.
In the 1990s, genetic analyses of Galapagos tortoises provided sufficient data to determine the
ancestry of all tortoises in captivity at the Tortoise Center and on Floreana. Many were shown to be
hybrids. Until now their prospects of ever being returned to the wild were slight. Given their
longevity, they would remain captive for well over 100 years.
Why use captive tortoises on Pinta?
Project Pinta will eventually involve the reestablishment of a reproductive population of tortoises on
Pinta, with tortoises genetically close to the original Pinta tortoise. In the meantime, the smaller
captive tortoises on Santa Cruz and Floreana (most adapted to the Pinta ecosystem) provide an
excellent short-term solution to the critical conservation problem on Pinta – ensuring a balanced
recovery of the native vegetation in the absence of goats. By sterilizing the tortoises, they can finally
be returned to the wild to live out their days in a natural setting without contaminating the gene pool
of the final tortoise population, and at the same time play the much needed role of ecosystem
engineer.
The sterilization
In early November 2009, US-based veterinarians traveled to Galapagos to help the GNP with the
tortoise sterilizations. The group included: Dr. Joseph Flanagan (Houston Zoo); Dr. Steve Divers, Dr.
Emi Knafo, and Jason Norman (College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia); and Dr.
Sam Rivera (Zoo Atlanta). The team was joined by Dr. Pamela Martinez, a local veterinarian
working with the GNP. Karl Storz Veterinary Endoscopy, Ellman Radiosurgery, and Envisionier
loaned more than $70,000 in surgical equipment. Galapagos Conservancy Science Advisor, Dr.
Linda Cayot, and Head of the Department of Conservation and Sustainable Development of the
GNP, Washington Tapia, organized the project. Galapagos Conservancy provided the necessary
funding for the veterinary team to undertake the sterilization work. Continental Airlines donated
international travel. GNP personnel worked alongside the sterilization team and provided logistical
support.
Thirty-nine tortoises (14 females and 25 males) were successfully sterilized. The tortoises recovered
rapidly and are now housed together in a corral at the Tortoise Center. They will be released onto
Pinta during the wet season of 2010, sometime between March and May. Their movements, foraging,
and impact on vegetation will be monitored.
22
Tortoises for Adoption
The Turtles and Tortoises listed and/or available through the SVTTC are for the prospective benefit of the
SVTTC members and potential new owners. No guarantees as to the health, suitability, or legality of the
adopted turtles and tortoises as pets is neither expressed nor implied. The SVTTC does its best to examine
all turtles and tortoises to deem healthy prior to release. No hidden illnesses that can be detected at the time
of physical examination will be held against the SVTTC. When adopting a new turtle or tortoise, it is
recommended that each animal be quarantined for at least 90 days from any other existing turtles/tortoises.
Turtles/Tortoise Available
50+ Red Ear Slider Aquatic Turtles Various Sizes
Requirements: Must have at least 50 gallon tank for one and/or at least
100 gallons or more for multiple turtles.
2
Russian Tortoises
1
20lbs Male Sulcata
1
Greek Tortoise ( Micro Plasma +) – Adoption Pending
1
Sulcata 6” ( Soft Shell and Minor Beak issues )
Turtles / Tortoises Adopted out in January / February/March
5
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
1
1
California Desert Tortoises (Males)
Florida Yellow Belly Slider (Female)
Eastern Painted Turtle Hatchlings (Sex Unknown)
Reeves Turtle (Female)
Map Turtles (1 Male & 1 Female)
Russian Tortoise (1 Female)
Central American Wood Turtles (2 Female)
Sulcata Tortoises ( Males)
Keeled Box Turtle
Red Ear Slider( Female )
23
Club Member Classifieds / Wanted:
•
TORTOISE SUPPLIES – BENEFIT TO THE MEMBERS
Contact Kevin Norred @ (408) 482-5437 or tortoisehome@yahoo.com
For CTTC Members only- Quantities Limited
Bigger quantity can be purchased. Call for price
*Small K & H Heat Pads 12.5” X 18.5”
$45.00 (Petco Price $70.00)
*Medium K & H Heat Pads 16.5” X 22.5”
$55.00 (Petco Price $80.00)
*Large K & H Heat Pads 22.5” X 28.5”
$65.00 (Petco Price $100.00)
•
WANTED: Tortoises
Looking for the following Tortoises: Elongated Females, Leopard Females, Red Foot
Females, Pancake Males and Females.
Contact Kevin Norred email Tortoisehome@yahoo.com (408) 482-5437
•
FOR SALE: 2009 Russian Tortoise Hatchlings
They were incubated at 89.5F for females. Price is $125ea
Location: Concord
Contact Dan Goemmel at (925) 825-6361 or email kq6ar@astound.net
•
FOR SALE: 2009 Marginated Tortoise Hatchlings
They were incubated at 89.5F for females. Price is $125ea
Location: Concord
Contact Dan Goemmel at (925) 825-6361 or email kq6ar@astound.net
•
FOR SALE: Galapagos Tortoise
14-year-old possible female Galapagos Tortoise – 175 lbs 28” length and 23” side
$8000.00 Contact Sharon at email turtlenutz@gmail.com
•
FOR SALE: Radiated Tortoise Pair
12 & 14 year old Radiated Tortoises $5000 /pr
Contact Sharon at email turtlenutz@gmail.com
•
FOR SALE: Burmese Black Mountain Tortoises
09 Burmese Black Mountain Tortoises- Male and Females available $300ea Contact Don at
donsturtles@yahoo.com
•
FOR SALE: Indian Spotted Turtles
09 Indian Spotted Turtles - geoclemmys hamiltonii $325ea Contact
Don at donsturtles@yahoo.com
24
•
FOR SALE: Radiated Tortoises
3 for $10,000 CTTC members $2,999 ea & $3500ea pending size and color
Contact Vincent Velci at herpsheperd@ymail.com
•
FOR SALE: Marginated Tortoises Pair
$2,250 pair Contact Vincent Velci at herpsheperd@ymail.com
•
FOR SALE: Egyptian Tortoises
$499 to $575 pending size and color Contact Vincent Velci at
herpsheperd@ymail.com
•
FOR SALE: Mazuri Tortoise Chow
1lb : $ 5.00
2lb : $ 8.00
5lb : $16.00
10lb : $28.00
25lb : $45.00
Contact Kevin Norred tortoisehome@yahoo.com or call (408) 482-5437
•
FOR SALE: Reptaid All Natural Remedy ( www.reptiad.com)
1oz Bottle Reptaid ( 1-250grams ) $24.99
1oz Bottle Reptaid XL ( over 250 grams ) $31.99
Free shipping . The # 1 product to help with respiratory infections, worms or parasites. All
natural product.
Contact Kevin Norred tortoisehome@yahoo.com or call (408) 482-5437
25
Commercial Vendors / Retailers
Are you interested in advertising in one of the leading Turtle and Tortoise Newsletters in
California? If you would like your logo or business card inserted in one of the below squares,
please contact Kevin @ Tortoisehome@yahoo.com Sponsoring Vendors are waived any fees.
Non Sponsoring Vendors, $20 donation a month.
THEWORMDUDE.COM
Your Business Card
Here
Your Business Card
Here
Your Business Card
Here
26
Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise
Club
Fundraiser
Please join us to help raise funds for the Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise
Club while we have a great time. Come help us out, and help you to the
freshest, best-tasting pizza in town.
Just bring this flyer with you on the date below and give it to the order taker before you
order. We’ll give 15% of your order (excluding sales tax) to the Silicon Valley Turtle and
Tortoise Club.
Date: Monday April 5th
(Call in your order early to avoid delay)
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Meeting starts at 7pm
Location: 14940 Camden Avenue
San Jose, CA 95124
(408) 371-9550
27
Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club Application
28
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Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club Adoption
Application
30
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Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club
Presents
The Western Pond Turtle
“Head Start Program”
________________________________________________________________________
Saturday, June 19th
@ The Oakland Zoo
Reservations Required by June 1st, 2010
Tickets reserved thru Kevin Norred at tortoisehome@yahoo.com
Or (408) 482-5437
Come visit Margaret Rousser and Staff from the Oakland Zoo for a special presentation
about the Western Pond Turtle & their efforts to keep the species from going extinct.
Presentation is at the Oakland Zoo Auditorium from 10am to 12pm. Come see and learn
first hand about juvenile Western Pond Turtles that have been artificially incubated by
Professor Nick Geist of Sonoma State University, which have be raised for release back
into native ponds to increase the numbers of the Western Pond Turtle, California’s only
native Aquatic Turtle.
Tickets will be reserved on a first come first serve basis. We have seating for 150 people.
Tickets are $8/adults & $6 for children. Donations are welcome. All proceeds including
ticket sales will go directly to the WPT program. Parking is $6 per vehicle. After the
presentation, guest can visit the park and some of the Sulcata/Aldabra Tortoises on
display. Guest will be required to meet at the Lower Gate Entrance ( Not the Main
Entrance ) at 9:45 to enter as a group on the morning of the presentation. The
presentation will be at the Zimmer Auditorium or AKA Maddies Center for Science &
Education.
The Oakland Zoo is nestled in the rolling hills of 525-acre Knowland Park. The Zoo is
located at 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland off Highway 580, and is home to more than 660
native and exotic animals. General information number: 510-632-9525
Photos from the Oakland Zoo Website www.oaklandzoo.org
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What is the Head Start Program?
The Western Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata) has declined precipitously or been
eliminated entirely in so many parts of its former race that it is now protected by the
Department of Fish and Game as a California Special Concern Species.
Originally, the WPT ranged from Mexico to the Canadian border in a narrow strip along
the United States coast until recently. Once estimated to have populations in the millions
in California alone, it has virtually disappeared from most urban areas of southern and
northern California and most of the Central Valley.
With strong efforts from Sonoma State, The Oakland Zoo and San Francisco Zoo, there is
a fight against time to help establish Western Pond Turtles throughout California to help
keep the Western Pond Turtle from going extinct. Over the past century, the WPT has
taken a huge decline in wild populations due to loss of habitat, introduction of alien
species and becoming a food source for other native animals.
The WPT is the only native aquatic turtle species in California. Even though you see
thousands of other turtles in our waterways, rivers and streams, the only one that can
truly call its home to California is the Western Pond Turtle. In the past decade, the
rapidly shrinking numbers has sparked the development of a pioneering partnership
between Sonoma State University and the Bay Area Zoos to save the turtle from
extinction. Starting with eggs collected from undisclosed Lake County Locations,
Professor Nick Geist successfully hatches out the eggs and with the help from the
Oakland & SF Zoo’s, they care and raise the babies to one year of age. Each year they
monitor the females turtles over the breeding season and follow them to the nest sites,
which they collect the eggs. The eggs are placed in multiple incubators in Professor
Geist’s lab at the Rohnert Park campus. Once the young turtles begin to emerge, they are
transferred to the Zoos. This breeding/head start program is the first of its kind for the
species in the state. It is a race against the clock to save the species as if the program
doesn’t happen now; numbers will decrease to the point where all genetic diversity will
slowly disappear as well.
The support of the Bay Area zoos in this captive breeding program – called ”Head Start”
program – is to protect the young turtles, who at the size of a quarter at birth often
become tender morsels for predators such as bullfrogs, skunks, and foxes. These
predators, as well as the loss of 90% of its habitat, have contributed to a shocking decline
in the species.
Also being studied within the program is the study to determine at what temperature the
sex of the turtle is decided so that better conservation management techniques can be
designed. Can we monitor the amount of females and males in wild populations?
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