Welcome to the The New York Turtle and Tortoise Society, Inc., is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the conservation, preservation of habitat, and the promotion of proper husbandry and captive propagation of turtles and tortoises. The Society emphasizes the education of its members and the public in all areas relevant to the appreciation of these unique animals. |
|
ANNOUNCEMENTS: CITES Protects all Asian Box Turtles At an international meeting in April of the signatory countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). in Nairobi, Kenya, all Cuora species (Asian box turtles) were added to Appendix II. For additional details, see CITES Meeting. Terrapin Deaths on Cape Cod. Alarming numbers of diamondback terrapin carcasses have been found this winter in Wellfleets Fox Island Wildlife Management Area, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Don Lewis, volunteer for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, presents his disturbing evidence for the causes of this tragic loss to Cape Cods terrapin population:
WASHINGTON, March 21, 2000 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is prohibiting, until further notice, the importation of certain land tortoises. Heartwater is an acute tick-borne disease of domestic and wild ruminants including cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. This disease is caused by the rickettsial bacterium Cowdria ruminantium which is transmitted by the ticks of the genus Amblyomma. Animals or wildlife that contact this disease have a mortality rate of 40100%. The ticks primarily infect two African tortoises of the genus Geochelone, the African spurred tortoise (Geochelone sulcata) and the leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis). More on federal rule.
|
Memberships
Membership in the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society, which includes subscriptions to NYTTS publications and discounts to books and other sale items, is open to all interested persons (children are welcome to join under the supervision of their parents or guardians) for an annual fee of $20. Please send check, payable to NYTTS Membership, to NYTTS, P.O. Box 878, Orange, NJ 07051-0878.
|