About This Project
Sulawesi, Indonesia, is home to many species found nowhere else on Earth. Although rich in biodiversity, Sulawesi has only two endemic turtles: the Endangered Forsten's Tortoise and the Critically Endangered Sulawesi Forest Turtle. We propose to conduct surveys to determine current population sizes and distributions of these turtles, initiating a long-term project to support turtle conservation, graduate research education, citizen science, capacity building, and community-based awareness.
Ask the ScientistsJoin The Discussion
What is the context of this research?
Turtles are one of the most endangered group of vertebrates, with more than half of the species threatened with extinction. This situation is largely overlooked in the worldwide conservation community due to the fact that turtles are reptiles rather than the typically "cute and cuddly" icons revered in popular culture. Despite being listed in the top 25 most endangered turtles and tortoises and considered by many to be among the rarest tortoises in the world, the Sulawesi Forest Turtle and the Forsten’s Tortoise, respectively, are not well studied with little known about basic wild ecology. Lack of research or conservation efforts are steering these two species toward extinction. Our project is an important first step toward effective conservation strategies.
What is the significance of this project?
Habitats that once held many turtles have undergone illegal logging and conversion to agriculture. There, turtles have been targeted for both the pet trade and for human consumption. These factors led to the current conservation listings, but there are no significant efforts to research and protect the animals in their home country. Our proposed project will be based in sound science; conducting surveys to update status and distribution, documenting ecological data, collecting physiological and genetic samples throughout the range of these understudied species. Our findings will contribute to longer-term programs which include the identification of land preserves, development of captive breeding programs, and building of assurance colonies.
What are the goals of the project?
Our initial priority is to carry out population surveys to assess the current distribution and densities of these imperiled turtles. With Indonesian university students and resident community members to assist, we will conduct range-wide surveys while training the students and facilitating the development of scientific and field skills necessary for a successful long-term project. Long-term, the locally-involved project will comprise a monitoring program to be carried out by the students and community members and supported by international partners (like you!). Through this campaign, we intend to raise the funds to purchase the necessary field supplies and processing equipment to initiate these primary, much-needed field surveys and help develop the skills of partners for the future.
In order to successfully carry out surveys and initiate the longer-term project, we need survey equipment (GPS units, weather meters, write-in-the-rain notebooks and pens, digital cameras, and basic personal field equipment such as backpacks, water bottles, clip boards, rain coats, etc.) for local students and volunteers in training. To maximize our effectiveness and collect as much data as possible on individual animals, including genetic, demographic, disease, and health assessments, alongside initiating the longer-term monitoring (growth, health, tracking) project, we will be recording morphometric data (weights, measurements), tissue sampling, and individually marking animals. For those efforts we need files, pit tags, scales, calipers, temperature loggers, sterile sampling items (syringes, swabs, tubes, dewar, etc.). These data will assist in the initial assessment of current status and distribution and be used to inform potential future reintroduction efforts.
Meet the Team
I received my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Baruch College in NYC. After graduating, I moved to Southern California and switched my focus to Marine Biology. While in California I worked as an Aquarist in the aquarium industry, working with many different species of marine fish, sharks, and invertebrates. After moving to Denver, I worked as the Assistant Curator of Fish, Invertebrates, and Herps at the Downtown Aquarium. While there, i worked with a variety of freshwater turtle species and successfully rehabbed a sick Painted Terrapin. That experience inspired me to want to do conservation work with freshwater turtles and tortoises. Returning to Southern California, I spent three years at the Turtle Conservancy's (www.turtleconservancy.org) conservation and captive breeding facility, where I had the opportunity to work with some of the world's most critically endangered turtles and tortoises in a ex situ environment. I am also the former SSP Coordinator and AZA Regional Studbook Keeper for the Forsten's Tortoise. (SSP Program; AZA Regional Studbook Program) I am now partnering with the Turtle Survival Alliance (www.turtlesurvival.org) to continue the research and conservation efforts focused on the two endemic chelonians of Sulawesi.
- $5,325Total Donations
- $51.20Average Donation