Recent Funding Activity

Posted on: Saturday, April 19th, 2008

We have had a lot of funding activity lately so just wanted to update you all what has been going on with respect to our field programs.

• The British Chelonia Group has launched a funding campaign for $10,000 for the TSA, and the appeal is in their latest newsletter. This is for new facilities in both Myanmar (Manouria emys and Heosemys depressa) and India (expansion of headstarting facilities for Batagur kachuga).
• Brian Horne and Shailendra Singh submitted a proposal to Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund for $17,900 for an education facility and community awareness program at Garhaita, one of our turtle conservation centers on the Chambal River. In total, two proposals were submitted under the TSA banner this year (submissions are by invitation only and are limited to two), the other was written by Tim McCormack in Vietnam for Mauremys annamensis.

• Brian and Shai have also submitted a proposal to the Turtle Conservation Fund for $7,500 to expand B. kachuga headstarting facilities at our second location, the Deori Croc Center at Morena, using green technology to power filtration and replace the current dump and fill process (a good idea for the future in India, where water conservation is crucial). In addition, Shai has also submitted a Asian seed grant to the Cleveland Zoo to get some much needed Chitra indica work done; surveys, village awareness and headstarting operations are all called for.
• Rafetus in China: the TSA has taken the lead on fund raising for the planned movement of the lone female turtle at the Changsha Zoo to the lone male at Suzhou Zoo; this will require facility modifications, transport costs, funding for Gerald Kuchling to oversee the project, insurance to cover the female during transport and introduction, etc. In total, the estimated budget is $25, 000. We currently have $5,000 in Batchelor Foundation funds (being matched by Walter Sedgwick) were just awarded $10,000 from TCF with Shellshock funds, and have just submitted a grant to Ocean Park in Hong Kong for the balance. In addition, Kadoorie Farm in Hong Kong just awarded us $3,200, so we are set for the April transfer and introduction of this last known pair of Rafetus in China. The pressure is on!! Many thanks to everyone who has made this incredibly important project possible.
• We have submitted a pre-proposal to the Beneficia Foundation for $25,000 for our India program and will know soon if they will invite a full proposal. Brian Horne and Rick Hudson met with one of the family Board members in NY late in 2007 and came away with the sense that they enjoyed being a part of the TSA’s work in India wanted to expand their commitment. This foundation gave $10,000 in 2007.
• Roy Young of Colorado-based Nature’s Own made two donations, totalling $30,000, to be split between India and Madagascar. This is the same company that has donated large numbers of Pakistani carved tortoise sculptures that, unfortunately, are available for purchase on the TSA website. For more information, or to purchase a carving, click here.
• The hand made Pyxis sculptures by Kristina Lucas Francis of Knoxville have sold out completely, the last ones sold at the Madagascar workshop; we generated close to $4,000 to help fund work in Madagascar. Many thanks to Kristina and to all of you who made this fundraiser so successful.