World Turtle Day was observed on May 23 at various project sites of the Turtle Survival Alliance’s India program to raise awareness about the diversity and threats to the nation’s non-marine chelonians. TSA has been organising such education and awareness campaigns and events targeting various stakeholders along with its turtle conservation and research projects across the country to celebrate different dates of environment calendar since 2006. One event was held at the Turtle Conservation Centre along National Chambal Sanctuary River in Garhaita village, Etawah.

Click here  for a PDF version of the full report.

The plight of the planet's tortoises and turtles -- creatures that have roamed the Earth for 220 million years -- has never been greater, according to the newly released report "Turtles in Trouble: Top 25+ Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles ."  It shows the world's 25 most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles will become extinct in the next few decades without concerted conservation efforts.

Student Shashwat Sirsi recently completed softshell turtle surveys in the southern Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh , focusing on the endemic, poorly known and highly endangered Leith's softshell, Nilssonia leithi.  The surveys were funded by a seed grant from the TSA and completed with the support of TSA India and our partner, the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. Read the Final Report here . These surveys represent preliminary work and Shashwat has been given a six-month contract to complete additional surveys for N . leithii and Pelochelys cantorii in south India in 2011 as a full-time Project Officer with the TSA-MCBT India Program.

With the help of the Center for Wildlife Research and Conservation Action, a volunteer student network based at Guwahati University’s Zoology Department, we initiated a freshwater turtle education program in the state of Assam (northeast India adjacent to northern Myanmar).  This project aims to spread awareness regarding various endangered freshwater turtle species especially Pangshura sylhetensis, Nilssonia nigricans and Pelochelys cantori.  In addition, the project will assess the status and distribution of these three species.  From this information, we plan to formulate a long- term conservation action plan based heavily on community participation.  This research was supported with a grant from the Rufford Small Grant Foundation and the TSA India Program.

- Brian Horne and Shailendra Singh

Turtle conservation in Malaysia is set to enter a new and exciting era with the country’s current King, who is also the Sultan of Terengganu giving the nod to the establishment of a turtle institute under his foundation, the Sultan Mizan Royal Foundation.