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 The
mission of the Turtle Conservation Fund is to insure that no
species of tortoise or fresh water turtle becomes extinct, and
that sustainable and protected populations of each species persist
in the wild.
The Turtle Conservation Fund is an exciting new
initiative that is being launched through a cooperative effort
of three major turtle conservation organizations, Conservation
International, IUCN Turtle Survival Alliance, and IUCN Tortoise
and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. This program utilizes
the collective talents and expertise represented in each group
and provides an aggressive agenda to prevent the extinction of
any of the world’s tortoises and fresh water turtles.
 The primary action components of the Turtle Conservation Fund
include three areas. The first is support and development of
assurance colonies, breeding colonies, both in the wild and
in zoos and breeding facilities. This will include triage teams
to help with rescue operations, confiscations, market rescues
and facility construction. Secondly, the fund will help support
conservation biology research including field surveys, collection
of biological data, development of reintroduction techniques
and genetic studies. Finally, the fund will support in-country
education and training programs in veterinary and husbandry
techniques and help with facility enhancement for zoos and rescue
centers.
The Minnesota Zoo's Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Grant Program awarded
the Turtle Conservation Fund $2500 for its work toward establishment
of wild and captive assurance colonies, rescue and confiscation
efforts and training of in-country staff in order to preserve
all tortoises and freshwater turtles in SE Asia. Staff champions
for this project were Karla Anderson and James Nelson, Tropics
Mammals Keeper and Birds Keeper respectively.
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