June 2010 - California Turtle and Tortoise Club

Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club
SVTTC News
Chapter of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club since 2008
www.tortoise.org or www.tortoise.org/siliconvalley
June 2010
Cover Photo by Gilbert Castro – Earth Day Celebration in Sunnyvale. A child feeding a
Sulcata Tortoise
Next Meeting:
Next club meeting is Monday, June 7th at 7pm. Banquet room is open at 5pm
Topic of Interest:
This month’s presentation will be a Power Point presentation on 7 different types of Sea Turtles, which ones are
considered endangered and a few programs that are available to help save them from becoming extinct. Jennette
Petrak, a full time College student and SVTTC member will be hosting the presentation. Jennette did this
presentation as part of one of her assignments in school.
Location:
Round Table Pizza
14940 Camden Avenue (Corner of Union and Camden Ave)
San Jose, CA 95124
(408) 371-9550
Important News!!!
Deadline for the Western Pond Turtle Registration is June 7th @ the Club Meeting.
All reservations must be turned in no later than 6/7/10. Please contact Kevin at
TORTOISEHOME@YAHOO.COM for more information or a registration form.
Registration form included in this Newsletter.
All SVTTC Club Members
Please make sure your address is up to date. We are getting some Tortuga
Newsletter’s back with wrong addresses. We are being charged for these
newsletters to be returned to us on top of the normal postage to deliver. If you are
a SVTTC MEMBER and not getting your Bi-monthly Tortuga Gazette, please
make sure you have the correct address registered with the club. Please email
Dorothy at 1dotboop@att.net for more information.
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From the Editor
By Kevin Norred
Hi Everyone,
Well it is June and it is still raining. The Turtles and Tortoises don’t know what season it is anymore.
The fact that they can’t make up their minds whether to stay inside their houses or go sun soak outside
is making my life harder. I have to keep checking everyone to make sure they are eating and staying
hydrated.
Coming up for our meeting in June, we have a wonderful young lady, Jennette Petrak, who will be
showing us one of her College presentations about 7 different species of Sea Turtles. The presentation
will be conducted by PowerPoint presentation. Also coming up in June on the 19th is the SVTTC
sponsored presentation of the “Head Start Program” for the Western Pond Turtle at the Oakland Zoo.
All reservations and ticket purchases need to be completed no later than June 7th which is the club
meeting. We must have all the money into the Oakland Zoo by then. If you haven’t reserved your
tickets yet, please contact me. This will be a great opportunity to learn about California’s only native
Freshwater Aquatic Turtle, the Western Pond Turtle. After the presentation, everyone is welcome to
spend the rest of the day visiting the zoo with family and friends. Details are at the conclusion of the
newsletter. Everyone is welcome to attend, members and non members of the SVTTC.
Jessica and I had a chance to visit the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco a couple weekends ago.
I was quite amazed on the new layout. It had been a long time since visiting the old building. They had
several turtles and tortoises on display throughout the building. I have included some pictures as well
as an article by Jessica within the newsletter to show you some of the turtles and tortoises. They had
Alligator Snappers, Pancake Tortoises, Mata Mata Turtle, Fly River Turtles, Radiated Tortoises, Spider
Tortoises, and many exotic reptiles. It is worth visiting. We were there for 3 hours before closing and
didn’t get to see everything. I was very impressed with their Darwin presentation which has a lot of
info on the different islands of Galapagos Tortoises.
As of the writing for the Newsletter, I am proud to say that we have officially reached and broke the
1100+ email distribution of this newsletter. The Newsletter goes to many Turtle and Tortoise lovers all
over the world. If anyone would like to contribute to the newsletter, let me know. It started out as a
simple club newsletter, but I realized that outside of the club, no one ever knows what is going on.
There are several organizations and rescues that work hard and should get the recognition and support
they deserve. Also, the bottom line is I want to educate and help as many people as possible. I am no
expert and I still learn everyday from each and everyone one of you.
Thanks,
Kevin
***IMPORTANT*****
Do to the July 4th holiday next month; the SVTTC club meeting will be
the 2nd Monday of the month which is July 12th. Please mark this on
your calendars.
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2010 SVTTC Club Officers &
Committees
2010 SVTTC Officers
President
Joseph Alvarado
info@reptilecompany.com
Vice President
Jessica Norred
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
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Items Wanted
VP Report
By Jessica Norred
We are looking for the following items at a
discount or to be donated to the club:
Hello Everyone,
Projector (Table Top)
I would like to thank Rene Gandolfi from Castro
Valley Companion Animal Hospital for last
month’s presentation on the Herpes Virus in
Tortoises. Rene was available to answer
questions related to medical needs of turtles and
tortoises as well. Thanks again.
Projection Screen 60” x 60” minimum size
Turtle / Tortoise Videos / DVD
Thanks,
Jessica Norred
The following are the upcoming presentations
for the SVTTC:
June7th – Jennette Petrak, SVTTC Member Sea
Turtles and Conservation in Costa Rica
Helpers List
Note: Due to 4th July Weekend – Meeting 2nd
Monday of Month
This is the list of people who have participated
in helping out at 2010 events. For each
event/day you help at an event, your name will
be put into a raffle at the end of the year for
some great prizes. If you would like to help out,
please contact a club officer. I would also like
to thank the following people:
th
July 12 – Questions and Answers – Open
forum for those who need some help or useful
information. Don’t be Shy!!!
August 2nd – Terry Burtz , SVTTC Member
Living with Galapagos and Aldabra Tortoises
Note: Due to Labor Day Weekend – Meeting
2nd Monday of Month
Names
Martha Pugno
JJ Bauman
Jessica Norred
Gilbert Castro
Kevin Norred
Phillip Edholm
Wendy Petrak
Jennette Petrak
Dorothy Castro
Lesa Montoya
Joseph Alverado
September 13th – Kevin Norred, SVTTC
Adoptions - Setting up the proper Aquatic
Habitat
October 4th – Steven Si Fuentes, SVTTC
Member - Presentation on Pancake Tortoises
November 1st – Kevin Norred SVTTC
Adoptions presentation on Red Foot
Tortoises and some show and tell.
December 6th –No Presentation – Christmas
Party
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Entries into Raffle
2
3
1
5
2
3
2
1
3
2
1
Membership
Report
Time To Renew your
Membership!!!
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:
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
$100.00 Patron Membership
$25.00 Canada / Mexico
Membership
$40.00 Other Foreign
Membership
$500 Life 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
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
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
TIM
TOY
SAN
FRANCISCO
05-13-10
MARY & JIM
ALEXANDER
SAN JOSE
06-01-10
VICTORIA S.
CASTANEDA
TRACY
06-01-10
ELIZABETH
FERRY
RAYMOND
GO
JUNIOR
GRASSI
MARTINEZ
06-01-10
EARL E.
HEINLEIN JR.
CAMPBELL
06-01-10
JESSE
HILDEBRANT
ANTIOCH
06-01-10
VERN
SHIPLEY
FREMONT
06-01-10
RED
SMITH
SANTA CRUZ
06-01-10
ELISA
CAMERON
PARK
SAN
FRANCISCO
06-01-10
06-01-10
TSANG
HAYWARD
06-08-10
CINDY
MOODY
OAKLAND
06-14-10
CHRIS D.
EDY
SANTA ROSA
07-01-10
CHRIS
MATTHEWS
OAKLAND
07-01-10
07-01-10
SOPHIA A.
YBARRA
SAN JOSE
DONNELL
ADDISON
SALINAS
07-31-10
DONNA
CASTRUITA
VACAVILLE
07-31-10
HANK & JUDY
CHAMBERS
SUNNYVALE
07-31-10
PONS
FAMILY
DANVILLE
07-31-10
LESA
MONTOYA
BERKELEY
07-31-10
TIM
TRAPP
MORGAN HILL
07-31-10
Donations are always welcome.
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Meeting Agenda:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
VIII
IX
X
Current Events
Membership Introductions
Officer’s Reports
• President-Joseph
• Vice President-Jessica
• Secretary-Philip
• Treasurer-Gilbert
• Board of Directors
Committee Reports
• Librarian - Martha
• Fundraiser – Lesa
• Events – Jennette
• Membership –Dorothy
• Adoptions – Kevin
• Newsletter - Kevin
General Announcements
• CTTC – Executive Meeting July
10– Pasadena
• SVTTC- June 19th Oakland Zoo
Presentation
• B.A.A.R.S – Meeting June 25th• Open Floor for anyone to
announce events or activities
***Stretch Break ***
Presentation –Jennette Petrak
Open Floor – Questions / Answers
Adjourn
Upcoming Events:
July 17th
Sacramento Summer Time
Turtle and Tortoise Club
Meeting 11am-4pm
July31st – August 1st
San Jose Herp World
Expo
August 7th
Burtz Family B-Day party
Gus the Galapagos
Tortoises will be 25 ys/old
September 11-12th Anaheim Reptile Show
September 18-19th Sacramento Reptile Show
Future Newsletters:
If you have an article that you would like to
contribute to the SVTTC or maybe write
something that you may have experienced or an
exciting tip, we are looking to add some fun stuff
to the monthly newsletter.
Please no
copyrighted info.
The next meeting is Monday, July12th
2010 at 7:00 pm, same location.
Photo by JJ Baumann – “Doc” the Sulcata
Tortoise
Photo by JJ Baumann –“Doc” grazing on
some grasses
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Adoption Report
By Kevin Norred
Hi Turtle and Tortoise Lovers,
Hope everyone is well. Adoptions still have
been very slow I haven’t had much coming or
going these past couple months. I was able to
adopt out over 40+ sliders these past couple
months into ponds. The Petco Meridian Store
has also been very successful into helping adopt
out many of the smaller Red Ear Sliders( 5”-6” )
to their customers who have large aquariums and
ponds. As of May 20th, we have adopted another
15 through that store.
I am receiving about 20-30 Desert Tortoises
from the Palm Springs Living Desert Zoo on
Memorial Day Weekend. If all goes well, we
will have several for adoption. Many are going
to be hatchlings to yearlings, but there will be a
couple softball size ones as well. All the ones
are either to young to sex or are males. We do
not see females. If you already have a male,
plan on setting up another habitat or they will
fight. No exceptions. Please contact me if you
are interested in adopting a Desert Tortoise. I
may still have some available.
Other than that, there is not to much to report on.
Things have been quiet these days.
Lost & Found
If you have found a tortoise/turtle and lost one,
please email me at tortoisehome@yahoo.com.
We can get the word out.
Lost
Photos by Kevin Norred
Photo # 1 – Sheldon the Large Red Foot
Tortoise Male
Large Sulcata Lost – Rio Vista , CA
Please contact rks775@comcast.net
Large Greek Female Tortoise Lost – Mountain
View, CA Missing 4/4/10. Please contact
Stephanie at stephablack@gmail.com
Photo #2 - Female Leopard Tortoise
WAKING UP
Found
Photo # 3 – Female Red Foot Tortoise
Leopard Tortoise – San Jose, CA
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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.
The club has over 950 members and has 4 well
attended seasonal meetings in a year. In addition
the club hosts the annual public awareness event
called the 'Turtlerama' in the month of August
which is open to the public.
Sacramento
Turtle & Tortoise Club
President: Felice Rood
2010 Meeting Dates
These meetings are held at the Belle Cooledge
library in Sacramento. The annual membership
fee for the club is only $2, which supports the
sick turtle fund, newsletters and adoption
program of the club. Members of the RIDGE
branch will have access to the club meetings and
resources at our Sacramento branch.
July 17th 1pm – 4pm
August 21st Turtle Rama 11am – 4pm
October 23rd 1pm – 4pm
Adoptions: Lots of Red Ear Sliders &
Occasional Sulcata’s – Please inquire
For more information about the Sacramento
Turtle & Tortoise Club, please contact Felice
Rood at felicerood@compuserve.com or visit
www. Turtlebunker.com
The RIDGE branch is a local resource for turtle
enthusiasts to share their experiences in caring
for chelonians and to get their questions
answered. The branch will provide a venue to
meet fellow hobbyists in the area and will
provide a source to adopt or surrender turtles and
tortoises. Please write to
michael.rajkumar@gmail.com for details on
becoming a member of the club or visit
www.turtlebunker.com. Please note that we will
have meetings in Paradise once we have
considerable number of members in the area.
Meanwhile feel free to write or call with any
questions you might have. You can also find us
on Facebook, search for Sacramento Turtle and
Tortoise Club. The Sacramento Turtle and
Tortoise club and its RIDGE branch have
authorized TEAM (TURTLE AND TORTOISE
EDUCATION ADOPTION MEDIA) members
who handle the adoption program. TEAM is a
non-profit organization devoted solely to the
preservation of all turtles and tortoises.
Sacramento Ridge
Turtle & Tortoise Club
President: Michael Thathuvaswamy
Greetings Turtle and Tortoise
lovers: I am excited to announce the launch of
the RIDGE branch of the Sacramento Turtle and
Tortoise club.
The Sacramento Turtle and Tortoise club was
founded by Felice Rood in 1981 and to this date
continues to be a no fuss club where our goal is
the preservation of all turtles and tortoises,
focusing mainly on captive care and doing all we
can to preserve the ones in the wild.
It is a source to have any and all of your
questions answered.
(Cont. Next page )
(Cont. Next column)
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Other Club News (cont.)
The organization has representatives throughout
the State of California who are available to
competently answer questions regarding
chelonian care, feeding and general husbandry.
These services are free to the public. Explicit
care sheets on the different species of turtles and
tortoises are available to anyone who asks,
including veterinarians and pet shops. TEAM is
approved by the California Department of Fish
and Game. Anyone who is seriously interested in
raising and protecting a species may fill out a
TEAM adoption form.
CTTC Merced
Turtle & Tortoise Club
Pending Chapter of the CTTC
President: Alex Lu-Pon & Amy Wong
Contact info: CTTC.Merced@gmail.com
By now, you probably have heard rumors about
the new Merced Branch of the California Turtle
& Tortoise Club. The rumors are true, and we’d
like to cordially invite all interested readers of
the SVTTC newsletter to join us! Right now,
our education efforts focus on the desert tortoise
(Gopherus agassizii), and we have partnered
with UC Merced and Merced College to get the
word out. Our meetings are held every third
Tuesday of the month at 7pm at Forté Frozen
Yogurt, located in downtown Merced at 319 W
Main Street. We hope to see you there! If you
have any questions, please don’t hesitate to
contact us at cttc.merced@gmail.com or 415819-2121
Turtles and tortoises, for whatever reason,
sick or well, may be turned over to a TEAM
representative. After a thorough evaluation,
the chelonian will be treated for any illness
if necessary, and then adopted out to a
carefully selected loving home. TEAM
representatives are authorized to take in and
adopt out California desert tortoises and
other threatened gopherus species. We also
have the tortoise tag applications for
gopherus species if you need one.
Next Meeting June 15th at 7pm
Come Join us and Happy Turtling!
Michael 530-873-6790
Photo by Mike & Norma Mead – New
adopted Red Ear Sliders
Photo by Mike & Norma Mead – New
adopted Red Ear Sliders
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Other Club News (cont.)
Bay Area Amphibian &
Reptile Society
In the spring, as the weather starts to warm up,
Al may get 5-10 calls a day to relocate these
serpents from people's gardens to more remote
areas. In addition, Al also find homes for other
types of snakes, iguanas, lizards, and turtles and
tortoises.
President: Scott Alexander
Adoptions: Contact Setiva Woodring for
current list of Reptiles for adoption. Her email is
gobaars@yahoo.com
For more info on Al Wolf, you can visit
www.nbherp.org
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
The Next Meeting is Friday June 25th
The presentation:
Al Wolf, director of the Sonoma County
Reptile Rescue, will speak on his experiences
with herps and rattlesnakes. Since Al does
rattlesnake relocation, he is sure to have several
live specimens to show us. One of the last times
he spoke at BAARS, he dumped out a 5 gallon
bucket of rattlesnakes onto the floor of the
meeting room. That will wake you up!!! Al Wolf
puts on good reptile presentations and this will
make for a very entertaining evening.
Al has been a lover of reptiles since childhood,
and has an extensive background in reptile care,
animal husbandry, and conservation. He has
worked with the San Francisco Zoo, Mutual of
Omaha's Wild Kingdom, Animal Planet, and
Louise A. Boyd Museum of Natural History, and
is currently the director of the Sonoma County
Reptile Rescue.
Photo by Kevin Norred – Western Pond
Turtle surrendered to the SVTTC prior to
release back into the wild.
In addition to educational presentations and
caring for the many animals at the sanctuary, Al
does native reptile (think rattlesnake) removal
and relocation. (cont. next column )
11
SVTCC “EarthDay”
By Gilbert Castro
The City of Sunnyvale was advertising their
Earth Day Celebration. Gil seen the article in
our Neighborhood Newsletter. He called and
spoke with the person handling the exhibits,
explained who he was and what SVTTC does
and who they are. He said he would like to set
up a booth promoting SVTTC. They were very
happy and excited to have us~as we were to be
able to be a part of EARTH DAY!
It was a beautiful, warm, spring day. We were
able to put the tortoises on grass, they did
everything to accommodate us. They put us in a
really good people, traffic area. We had many
visitors at our booth, many children who wanted
to pet the tortoises and know more about them.
Many questions as to what the differences are
between a turtle and tortoise. Many questions
about the tiny RES and what to do with them
when they get big and no longer wanted.
We received no new members that day, but a
few took membership forms and adoption
forms.
It turned out to be a wonderful day for us and the
City of Sunnyvale. They were very happy with
us and would like us to come back next year.
They also said that they would keep us in mind
for any future events the City of Sunnyvale may
have that could benefit us and we could attend.
Maybe we should check into promoting SVTTC
in other cities when they have their Earth Day.
(cont. next page )
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SVTCC “EarthDay”
(Cont.)
By Gilbert Castro
13
Conservation Corner
Articles and Blogs reprinted with permission from the Turtle Survival Alliance www.turtlesurvival.org
• The turtles’ diet will be further improved this
season, with more fish offered and meat without
bones no longer offered. One vitamin and three
calcium tablets (female) will be included with
every feeding. The diet will be mainly whole
fish, frogs, quail, chicken heads and wings,
crayfish, shrimps, snails. Some lotus roots and
carrots will also be offered.
Back in China - 2010
by Dr. Gerald Kuchling on April 21, 2010
Dr. Gerald Kuchling recently sent in this update
from the Suzhou Zoo in China, where he has
returned to spearhead another breeding attempt
for the Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus
swinhoei):
A quick update from China: I and Guundie
(note: Dr. Kuchling’s wife), Dr. Lu Shunqing
(Wildlife Conservation Society) and Emily King
(TSA) all arrived in Suzhou on 18 April. The
female Rafetus became active for the first time
this year also on 18 April 2010, the day we all
arrived in Suzhou. The male had showed some
activity since 19 March.
We had a work plan meeting at Suzhou Zoo on
Monday 19 April 2010 attended by myself,
Emily, Lu, from Suzhou Zoo Dir. Chen Daqing,
Dr Gu Wenhua, and Dimin and Liu Nonglin of
the China Zoo Association. Dir Yan from
Changsha Zoo arrived during the dinner after the
meeting. The following main points were discus Most big fish have been removed from both
ponds since summer last year. However, some
(much fewer) remain and removal will continue
sed and agreed upon:
• Attempts will be made to leave the male and
female together for longer periods. The gate will
be opened ASAP after the meeting and they are
now supposed to remain together for at least 3
weeks. After each nesting the gate will be
immediately opened (if they were separated).
• As long as the big pond does not have a glass
wall surrounding it to prevent litter and food
being thrown in by visitors, the turtles will
remain in the small pond. Apart from the glass
wall the big pond is completed, but the sand on
the beach area needs to be built higher up and
rainwater down spouts from an adjacent roof
need to be diverted away from the sand beach.
Once the glass wall is completed, all gates will
be opened to let both turtles roam through the
whole area (both ponds). This will reduce any
need to separate them (e.g. scarring of the skin
of the female due to bites from the male).
• When last year’s eggs were removed from the
beach on 16 November 2009 (some were
removed to incubators, while some were left in
the nesting beach), fungus covered the shell of
many and plant roots had grown around some.
The sand on the beach has been turned over to
expose it to sunlight and most plants surrounding
the sand will be removed. An additional 20cm of
new sand will be added.
(Cont. Next Page )
14
Conservation Corner ( Cont.)
Articles and Blogs reprinted with permission from the Turtle Survival Alliance www.turtlesurvival.org
• Egg management will be largely the same as
last year, but fewer eggs will be incubated in
hatchrite in which they seem to dry out more
than other media (vermiculite and sand).
Following the meeting on Monday, the gate
between male and female was opened yesterday
20 April. It was raining and rain is forecast to
continue for some time. The male swam into the
female compartment and we see both turtles
surfacing occasionally. Today on 21 April Emily
observed some mating action. It is still relatively
cool here and the turtles do not yet get food and
do not seem to be hungry yet. My guess is at
present that all breeding actions will be delayed
this year probably by at least a week, including
the first nesting. Last year the female nested first
on 31 May, the year before on 06 June. This year
it may again be around 06 June rather than
earlier.
Our friends at Kadoorie Farm and Botanic
Garden (KFBG) in Hong Kong contacted us in
February seeking our assistance. The
government had seized approximately 1,300
turtles, including over 150 endangered Asian
Temple Turtles (Heosemys/Hieremys
annandalii) and almost 200 critically endangered
Madagascan Radiated Tortoises (Astrochelys
radiata), and did not have the resources to house
or care for the animals.
The shipment is believed to have originated in
Indonesia, passing through Hong Kong on its
way to the food markets of mainland China.
KFBG was told that if they could not help to
mobilize resources immediately, the animals
would be euthanized. The shipment that was
intercepted was very large - consisting
of approximately 70 polystyrene containers. The
turtles were packed and shipped inhumanely,
often stacked layers deep on top of one another.
KFBG agreed to help, but due to limited
resources and space (not that any facility is
prepared for an influx of 1,300 animals at one
time!), they immediately reached out to their
partners around the world for assistance. Staff at
KFBG have begun veterinary triage and care for
these animals, most of which were weakened by
inhumane shipping conditions. After being
assessed, the turtles (now all marked with an
individual identification number) were given
access to enclosures with water so that they
could begin to rehydrate themselves. Sometime
in the next few weeks, the TSA will begin
receiving many of these animals and we will be
placing them within the United States and
Europe. While this will be a daunting task, it is
one that we could not ignore
TSA Assisting with Illegal
Turtle Shipment Seized in
Hong Kong
by TSA Admin on March 16, 2010 One of the biggest undertakings the TSA is
facing in the coming weeks is one that we
couldn't have planned for - a major confiscation
of smuggled turtles and tortoises in Hong Kong.
(Cont. Next Column)
(Cont. Next Page )
15
Conservation Corner (Cont.)
Articles and Blogs reprinted with permission from the Turtle Survival Alliance www.turtlesurvival.org
A donation link has been created on the TSA
website for those of you who would like to
support the shipment, medical care and
placement of these turtles. Given not only the
sheer number, but also the size of some of these
turtles, shipment costs are anticipated to be high
and any support that you can provide would be
appreciated. One of the hallmarks of the TSA is
our ability to respond quickly to wildlife crises,
but we can only do so with your support!
More details on the animals that will be received
by the TSA and placement will be available in
coming weeks as final plans come together.
Keep an eye on the newsletter and the TSA
website for updates.
Photo credits: Kadoorie Farm 16
SVTTC Tortoises / Turtles 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
20+ 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.
California Desert Tortoises ( Pending shipment on Memorial Day weekend )
Turtles / Tortoises Adopted out in April / May
Lots of Red Ear Sliders!!!!
Classifieds
These ads are posted by any individual requesting to find, sell or trade reptiles. Please note to take caution when selling or
buying as the SVTTC or individuals associated with the SVTTC or not responsible for the business conducted between two
parties. If a seller or buyer is doing “bad” business, please let me know so they can be removed from the list. All “Wanted” ads
are not necessarily associated with the SVTTC or chapters of the CTTC.
For Sale Ads ( Tanks & Products )
•
TORTOISE SUPPLIES – BENEFIT TO THE MEMBERS
Contact Kevin Norred @ (408) 482-5437 or tortoisehome@yahoo.com
For CTTC / SVTTC 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)
17
•
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) ( SVTTC
MEMBER )
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
•
FOR SALE: Ceramic Heat Lamp Fixtures (no bulbs) ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Zoo Med Ceramic Heat Lamp Fixtures (Used) most are rated for 75watt to 100watt
$5.00 ea. Contact Kevin at Tortoisehome@yahoo.com
Proceeds go to SVTTC Adoptions
•
FOR SALE: Used Snake/Reptile Habitats
Snake / Reptile Cages for Sale. All are wood with glass fronts purchased from the East Bay
Vivarium. These are custom made habitats from finish grade wood. All are professionally
made.
Sizes are in inches.
1) 34 1/4 Wide X 15 Tall X 24 Deep, top opening
1) 34 1/4 Wide X 36 Tall X 24 Deep, front opening
1) 48 Wide X 19 Tall X 24 Deep, front opening
1) 48 Wide X 34 Tall X 24 Deep, front opening
2) 34 Wide X 36 Tall X 24 Deep, front opening
1) 62 Wide X 46 Tall X 23 Deep, double front doors
1) 72 Wide X 34 Tall X 24 Deep, double front doors and a front glass panel
Prices are negotiable. Please contact Paul at " Paulhaskins@sanbrunocable.com.
All tanks are located in San Bruno
18
For Sale Ads ( Live Animals )
•
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: Egyptian Tortoises
C/H Egyptian Tortoises from 2months to 2 years old
$399.99 to $699.99
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Leopard Tortoises
C/H Leopard Tortoises Pardalis Bobcocki and Pardalis Pardalis
$99.99 to $169.99
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Male Marginated Tortoises
7ea Marginated Tortoise Males $299.99
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Red Foot Proven Breeding Group
$229.99 ea Tortoise LTC
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Turtle and Tortoises ( TOOSLO MEMBER )
Hatchlings: Leopard Tortoises $75ea, Elongated Tortoise $75ea, Herman’s Tortoise $75.ea,
European Pond Turtles $ 75.00, Red Foot Tortoises $75ea, Star Tortoises $300ea, Egyptian
Tortoises $300ea, Western Painted Turtles $15ea,
Contact Bob & Judy Thomas at (805) 481-5222
•
FOR SALE: Russian Tortoise Male ( SVTTC MEMBER )
4-1/2” Male in Wonderful Condition $40.00 Pick up in San Jose only
Contact John Nichols at 1jpnichols@ comcast.net
•
FOR SALE: Cherry Head Red Foot Tortoise Pair
Super Male 11” & Female 8” $799.99 shipped
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Bolivian Giant Red Foot Tortoise
7” Male $299.99ea
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
19
•
FOR SALE: Female Sulcatas
13” + Female Sulcatas $599.99
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Super Blonde Leopard Tortoises
3-4” $229.99ea
Contact Vincent Velci ( Tomorrow’s Reptile Sanctuary ) at (562) 245-7357
•
FOR SALE: Red Ear Sliders
6” $30ea - See Pictures Below
Contact Megan Barnes at mbarnes227@yahoo.com
•
FOR SALE: 2 yr old Sulcata
$150ea - See Pictures Below
Contact Megan Barnes at mbarnes227@yahoo.com
•
FOR SALE: LTC Asian Box Turtles
$55ea. Long Term Captives - See Pictures Below
Contact Megan Barnes at mbarnes227@yahoo.com
•
FOR SALE: (4) LTC Gold Thread Turtles
$70ea. Long Term Captives - See Pictures Below
Contact Megan Barnes at mbarnes227@yahoo.com
•
FOR SALE: Sulcata Tortoises
10” Plastron & 14” Plastron - See Pictures Below Prices are $100 & $150
Contact Kevin at T34RACING@YAHOO.COM
20
Wanted Ads
•
Wanted: Russian Tortoise Females
Looking for Female Russians for lone male.
Contact Gwyn Weger @ gwyn.weger@gmail.com
•
Wanted: Cherry Head Red Foot Male ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Male Cherry Head Red Foot Males for single girls. Contact Scott Alexander @
Alexander_scott @ yahoo.com
•
Wanted: McCord’s Box Turtles
Looking for baby, Male and Female McCord’s Box Turtles Contact Don Do @
Donsturtles@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Keeled Box Turtles ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Male or Females for my single Female. Contact Kevin at
Tortoisehome@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Elongated Tortoise Females ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Female Elongated Tortoise Females. Have very nice Cream colored male.
Contact Kevin at Tortoisehome@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Leopard Tortoise Females ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Leopard Tortoise Females for my many males. Would consider trading some
males.
Contact Kevin at Tortoisehome@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Pancake Tortoises ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Pancake Tortoises, babies, Females and Males.
Contact Kevin at Tortoisehome@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Herman’s Tortoises
Looking for Female and/or pairs of Herman Tortoises
Contact Michael at Michael.rajkumar@gmail.com
•
Wanted: Map Turtles
Looking for all species of Map Turtles
Contact Bryan email BPNorred@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Painted Turtles
Looking for all species of Painted Turtles
Contact Bryan email BPNorred@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: North American Wood Turtles ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for North American Wood Turtles (insculpta)
Contact John at 1jpnickols@comcast.net
21
•
Wanted: Red Foot Tortoise Female ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for Female Red Foot Tortoise
Contact Phil Krotz at pekrotz@gmail.com
•
Wanted: Texas Desert Tortoises ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Interested in Texas Desert Tortoises
Contact Phil Krotz at pekrotz@gmail.com
•
Wanted: Greek Tortoises ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking to add some more Greeks to my herd. Looking for adults over 4-5”
Contact Kevin at tortoisehome@yahoo.com
•
Wanted: Aquatic Turtles, Box Turtles, Tortoises
I purchase Unwanted Turtles, Tortoises and Reptiles at Wholesale Prices. Email
Slomoshunexotics@yahoo.com
Email with details & price request to see if interested.
•
Wanted: California Desert Tortoise( SVTTC MEMBER )
Looking for a juvenile Desert Tortoise to share our yard with another juvenile and a 100 +
year old Desert Tortoise. Juvenile or older should be about 7” long or size of a medium
spread out hand.
Nice and hot backyard in Livermore.
Would like our 9 year old to have these to pass along to his generation.
Call 925-455-8823 or send email to Louann at lstung@pacbell.net
Private Adoption Ads
•
FOR ADOPTION: Adult Male Desert Tortoises ( SVTTC MEMBER )
Bay Area Turtle and Tortoise Rescue has Adult Male Desert Tortoises for Adoption. Please
contact Gary or Ginger Wilfong in Castro Valley at (510) 886-2946
•
FOR ADOPTION: Bearded Dragons ( SVTTC MEMBER )
I have three Bearded Dragons for adoption. Two are Females and one is a male. They
must remain together and cannot be separated. No cage Adoption Fee applies ($150)
Please email Tortoisehome@yahoo.com
22
Our trip to the California Academy of Sciences
by Jessica Norred
On Saturday, May 22nd, Kevin and I visited the California Academy of Sciences.
When I first walked in I was greeted by some very large sting rays followed by another area with
Alligator snapping turtles and an Albino Alligator. Everything was set up so wonderful and easy
to view. The next area we visited was the aquarium where all the underwater creatures were.
These were truly amazing to view. I especially loved all the exotic and colorful looking fish.
We were also able to tour the four-story rainforest. This place was so neat. There
were gorgeous butterfly’s flying everywhere. The only bad part about it was the humidity. The
plants, trees, birds, bugs…everything was so cool to view up close and personal. We even got to
see a natural history museum! There were so many artifacts and animals from long ago to view.
Two things we didn’t get to visit were the “living roof” and the “planetarium”. These will be first
on our list to visit next time!
Last but not least, there were so many reptiles and amphibians to see. Some of my
favorites were the different types of chameleons, albino snakes, & all the cool looking frogs. I
also loved the insects. They were amazing to look at through the glass, just not to touch. I would
without a doubt recommend visiting this place the next time you’re in San Francisco. We only
were able to spend a few hours there, so were definitely going back soon! There was so much see
that we didn’t get to.
23
Photos by Jessica Norred – We had some time to visit the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.
They have a nice display of the Galapagos Tortoises and several live specimens of Pancake
Tortoises, Radiated Tortoises, Spider Tortoises, Fly River Turtle, and Alligator Snappers
24
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 June 7th
(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
Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club
Presents
25
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
26
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?
27
Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club
Presents
The Western Pond Turtle
“Head Start Program”
________________________________________________________________________
Saturday, June 19th
@ The Oakland Zoo
Name __________________________________________________________________
Telephone Number _______________________________________________________
Email __________________________________________________________________
How many Adult Tickets are you Purchasing _____________ X $8.00 =$__________
How many Youth Tickets are you Purchasing _____________ X $6.00 = $__________
Donation (optional) $__________
Total Amount $__________
Please make Checks Payable to: S.V.T.T.C.
Please mail to: S.V.T.T.C.
Attn: Kevin Norred
1445 Kooser Road
San Jose, CA 95118
Tickets will be distributed at the side entrance at 9:45am the morning of June 19th at the
Oakland Zoo. We will enter as a group. If you have problems or need assistance, please
contact Kevin at (408) 482-5437. He will have his cell phone with him that morning.
Payments need to be made by June 1st, 2010.
All ticket sales go directly to the WPT program.
Please allow for $6 for parking (PAID AT GATE AT THE ZOO)
28
Reptile Keepers: A Threatened Species!
Article author to remain anonymous
I am a snake keeper. As such I don't know much about turtles & tortoises, and never
expected to find myself writing an article in a volume dedicated to Testudines. But all of
us share one thing in common, something that is increasingly being targeted by agenda
driven animal rights groups: The keeping of reptiles as pets.
Many reptile keepers haven't realized yet that a full blown attack on the entire hobby is
underway, and may soon be rolling over our heads if we don't consolidate our forces
and counteract. This article reviews the background of recent animal-legislation threads,
how we all are affected, and concludes with simple actions you can take to prevent our
hobby to be taken away.
A key actor behind the efforts to ban reptile keeping is the “Humane Society of the
United States” (HSUS). Equipped with a name reminiscent of the local humane societies
running animal shelters, the HSUS in fact has very little to do with animal keeping at all.
In fact, the HSUS is principally opposed to the fact that animals and exotic animals in
particular, be kept by humans, and dedicates their effort to legislative and regulatory and sometimes subversive - measures to ban pet keeping. As pets are kept by many
citizens and an outright pet ban is not something in easy reach. So how does one like the
HSUS go about such enterprise? Here's the recipe: One find a powerful existing
framework of regulation, and convert it into a tool to control pet keeping.
The regulatory act is quickly found: It is the long established, powerful Lacey Act. In
short, the Lacey Act is designed to protect the environment from injurious wildlife by
banning injurious species from importation and exportation, and transportation across
state boundaries. Now a stunt has to be pulled: In order to leverage the act as an
instrument to control pet keeping, a successful precedence of listing a common pet as
injurious wildlife must be established. The precedence then establishes the Lacey Act as a
valid tool for pet regulation, and since the Lacey Act is administered (only) by the
Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) in particular, further
incremental addition of other exotic pets no longer involves any legislative hurdles, but is
reduced to almost a formality with the USFWS. If this point is reached, reptile hobbyists:
Run for the bushes. In the (figurative) blink of an eye, the interest groups are going to
shut down the private keeping and conservation of pets, while pet keepers and industry
no longer have tools to effectively oppose.
Sounds grim? It does. But it is being pursued. The villain required for the precedence
case: Ginormous pythons. Roaming the Everglades, eating alligators & babies,
nd
converting the American alligator to 2 in line in the food chain, and with enough
global warming, they'll start traveling to occupy as much as 1/3 of the United States! At
least, so the campaign goes.
And the campaign is in full swing, some of the recent highlights being the following:
29
.
•
A media report about an 8 ft. python that tried to swallow an alligator
spreads fear.
Reality: The python was 8ft long, died in the attempt, and the alligator was a juvenile.
•
Another 8ft python was reported in relation to the killing of a baby.
Reality: Even indigenous snakes reach this size. According to follow up reports, the
parents were drug users and the father had just been released from prison. The snake tank
was not secured allowing the snake to leave the cage. Snake byte marks were found, but
strangely no strangulation marks. This is a horrible incident, but this is clearly a case of
irresponsible ownership which can happen with any pet, cars and guns.
In fact, per kept animal, large constrictor snakes are not even close to the incident
rate with other human held animals: #1 by far are horses, #2 are dogs. With an estimated
1-2 million large constrictor snakes kept as pets in the U.S., only a handful of incidents
involving humans have been recorded over decades. But “giant killer snakes” are just an
easier target, and if you want to attack pet ownership, that's where you start!
.
•
USGS to release a report stating that Burmese Pythons had invaded the
Florida Everglades, started be reproducing, and sufficient global warming could lead to
the spreading of Burmese pythons from the Everglades to 1/3 the area of the U.S.
Reality: The USGS report is riddled with inaccuracies and biased estimates, visibly
written in support of an agenda, and was subsequently rejected by a panel of 11 scientists
as “unscientific and unsuitable for legislation and regulation”. But the shock effect
remains, and the USFWS still intends to use the report in favor of animal regulation.
The highlights of the report, to me at least, is the deployment of a global
warming model to derive the conclusion that by the end of the century Burmese pythons
could spread across the southern parts of the U.S., to inhabit a range larger than the
range of any domestic snake. I would assume that the consequences of such global
warming would push pythons to the far lower end of importance, and as far as I'm
concerned, I still think the alligators would still travel faster and leave none of us as
food for the late arriving snakes (Forgive the dark humor).
But why did the USGS report have to make such extreme assumptions?
Why choose a far fetched global warming model, which by itself is controversial?
Why risk the credibility of a “scientific” report in order to paint the picture of a
python invasion?
And here is where the Lacey Act comes in: Remember, a species must be
injurious, and injurious to much more than the southern 3 counties of Florida, in order
to invoke a regulation of the caliber of the Lacey Act. Since only a few Burmese
pythons were caught, and only in the southern tip of Florida, a change of the climate is
needed to suggest an urgent situation.
As mentioned, only few Burmese pythons have actually been caught in the
Everglades. In one spectacular incident last year, a capture of one was even
revealed as staged; the individual later had to publicly admit having released the
snake to stage the capture. Even less fortunate for the pursuers of pet legislation,
30
the recent cold spell in Florida killed as many as 90% of the caught pythons
which were held in outdoor caging, indicating that even the southern tip of Florida
is not a sustainable habitat for Burmese pythons.
•
Another example of instigated media hysteria is the animal planet show “Killer
Aliens”, a sensationalized “documentary” based on the USGS report. Quote from
the official synopsis of the show:
“America is being invaded by KILLER ALIENS and Florida is
ground zero. The Sunshine State is being overrun by lethal Burmese pythons
[...] and in most cases is a direct result of peoples' obsession with having
exotic animals as pets.”
The show is directly targeted at python legislation, and concludes with the need
for legislative action “before it's too late”. Note that the HSUS is an officially
listed sponsor of animal planet! Is connecting the dots starting to become fun?
Stay on...
.
•
Animal planet has contacted a S.F. Bay area local reptile association
(which I am a member of), whether we knew any reptile hoarders. A similar call was
received by a breeder I personally know. Soon after, a show “featuring” animal hoarders
was aired. Be aware, animal planet is asking members of our community to surrender
other members of our community! While animal hoarding obviously is a serious issue for
animals involved: In this context we are dealing with the exploitation of broadcast media
to paint a picture in the general public.
.
•
House Bill HR-2811 to ban large constrictor snakes is presented by HSUS,
USGS, and USFWS. Now stepping out of the shadow, the conglomerate walks shoulder
to shoulder. HSUS motives, contorted USGS report, and USFWS's alarmism about
python invasion magically line up! Luckily, by now an alert fraction of the reptile
community had become aware of the brewing storm, and formed the USARK (United
States Association of Reptile Keepers), the first and only organized effort of the reptile
community to counter attempts for inapt and unfair reptile legislation. I highly
recommend, if you have the time, you watch the official 2 hour HR-2811 hearing and
get a picture of how HSUS, USGS, and USFWS present their case. I don't want to spoil
it for you, and next to the upsetting but expected attempt to instigate fear of American
invasion by killer pythons, it also entertains comical moments, including the elongated
face of a representative when being confronted with the question (from a senator)
whether Burmese pythons were venomous. Needless to say this difficult and deep
question had to be “delegated”.
But, bottom line, the battle is now openly on, some senators confirmed personal
fear of Burmese pythons threatening their homes and children, and it became evident
that the HSUS has a lot of support and influence in political circles, media, and public
service.
•
Senate Bill S-373, to ban large constrictor snakes. This is the Senate version of
the Python Ban.
31
Phew. I hope you made it through the list and are still with me. The purpose of the
foregoing listing of events is to demonstrate that some very concerted (and quite inapt
and unfair) efforts underway to ban the keeping of non-domestic animals. Frequently I
obtain feedback that this is really just about large constrictor snakes; my ball python, my
frog, my turtle, and my fish are safe. Right? Right??? No! To make clear why not,
consider this:
(1) In the meantime, trade and ownership of large constrictor and other reptiles of
concern (“ROC”) is being banned by Florida state regulation. If injurious pythons in the
Everglades were the issue, no further python regulation would be needed at this point.
Yet the effort to list large constrictor snakes (nationwide) as injurious species on the
Lacey Act is continuing full force.
As pointed out earlier, the true reason is the attempted creation of a precedence pet
regulation using the Lacey act, to open the Lacey Act for further pet regulations.
If large constrictor snakes are listed as injurious (ie. able to establish wild populations)
to the U.S., any other animal species from the same origins (Africa, Asia, central &
south America) will qualify for the same reason. Voila, once pythons are on the list, the
listing of other species is only 1 inch away. The power of the precedence ruling is the
true value of banning pythons. Pythons just happen to be the unlucky test balloons,
selected because the common public fear of large snakes makes them the easiest target.
(2) Just 2 weeks ago, as the Lacey Act precedence case is close to being finalized, the
addition of all nonnative amphibians as injurious wildlife was announced. This
emphasizes the fact that the “python ban” is just a test balloon. Please be aware, your pet
may be the one next on the list!
Further, the Lacey act itself “only” bans import, export, and interstate transportation
(including noncommercial transportation). A common impression is that inside local
states, pet owners & businesses would still be safe. Hold on! If that were the case, what
would be the value of using the Lacey Act at all? None, right! So that's not it, it wouldn't
just end with the Lacey Act. The expectation is that states will follow up with stricter
local regulation (eg. banning ownership). The Lacey act itself only protects the US
borders from new imports, and sets the necessary basis for additional state regulations
which are necessary to complete the intention of the Lacey act of truly getting rid of the
listed animals. And in this connection lies the existential thread to our common hobby:
The keeping and conservation of exotic animals.
What can I do to prevent this from happening?
You are just in time. Before change the Lacey act, USFWS is required to collect “public
comment”, ie. individuals, businesses, and organizations are be given the opportunity to
provide feedback regarding the change. All qualified public comments are evaluated,
and become official records in the decision making process. The HSUS has activated a
large number of members and individuals to comment on their behalf; it is critical that
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everyone in the reptile community step up, and represent our case.
st
Public comment is expected to open for 1 month on June 1 , 2010. The exact
date is still to be announced. The United States Association of Reptile Keepers
(www.usark.org) has prepared instructions on how to submit your own public
comment online at the following website:
www.Kill-RuleChange.com
If you keep reptiles or other exotic animals as pets, take this final chance to prevent
our hobby from being invaded!
References
.•
For a collection of references, and copies of the USGS report and reviews, please
visit:
.http://www.usark.org/archive.php
.• For an example of political activism through sensationalism (and for a good laugh),
visit:
.http://www.change.org/petitions/view/support_sb_373_hr_2811ban_monstrous_sized_snakes_to_protect_environment_safety
.
•
Consider becoming a member of USARK, the strongest representative on
behalf of reptile owners:
http://www.usark.org
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