SVTTC News Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club

Transcription

1 SVTTC News Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club Chapte r of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club since or March/April 2010 Photo by Kevin Norred. This little Sulcata thinks he is hungry!! Next Meeting: Next club meeting is Monday, April 5th at 7pm. Banquet room is open at 5pm Topic of Interest: Gary Wilfong of the Bay Area Turtle and Tortoise Rescue will be bringing some Marginated, Russian, Greek and Herman s Tortoises for discussion on telling the different species apart and a little bit about the care and husbandry needed for each of the European Testudo species. If you have any interest in these species, you are not going to want to miss this meeting. If you have one and would like to share, bring it with you. Location: Round Table Pizza Camden Avenue (Corner of Union and Camden Ave) San Jose, CA (408)

2 From the Editor By Kevin Norred Hi Everyone, Sorry for the lack of the newsletter last month. I had some family visiting from out of state and the time that is needed to put together everything was cut short. I voluntarily put the newsletter together on my own time so I opted to wait till March to put together a more prepared copy than doing one that was rushed. The SVTTC The Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise club has a lot going on in the upcoming months. We have a couple special events in the works, a couple reptile shows and some out of the area meetings from other clubs as well. All the events will be posted in the Event Calendar in the following pages. One of the events I would like to discuss is the Western Pond Turtle presentation at the Oakland Zoo on June 19 th. This will be a special presentation presented by Margarett Rouser and staff from the Oakland Zoo. Sonoma State University s Nick Geist has a program known as the Head Start Program that he is working with the Oakland Zoo and SF Zoo in collecting eggs in selected native populations of the Western Pond Turtles and hatching them and raising them to a year of age for release back into the areas that they come from. They also maintain these populations by tagging and monitoring adults and juveniles as well. This program has been very successful over the past couple years in introducing and saving some of the native populations from going extinct. The presentation will be from 10am to 12noon. Reservation of tickets is required and must be purchased through Kevin Norred no later than June 1 st. All proceeds from these sales including any donations will go directly to the Western Pond Turtle program. There is seating for 150 people. We will meet the morning of the presentation at the front gate at 9:30am and walk in as a group. All tickets must be purchased prior to the event. After the presentation, everyone is welcome to visit the park and see all the other exotic and native animals. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5.50 for children. For more information, please me at tortoisehome@yahoo.com. I will be taking money and taking names to reserve tickets at the meetings or by mail. Also, Nick has informed me that if anyone is interested in doing some volunteer fieldwork, he would be more than happy to have you. They train you in field telemetry, identification and proper handling of the species. Bring your sleeping bag and overnight packs and work with the only Native California Aquatic Turtle. Spring Time On another note, as the spring season approaches (hopefully sooner than later), many tortoises and turtles will be soon coming out of hibernation. Please make sure to take the proper steps in preparing them for their wake-up. The most important thing is to get them hydrated by constant cycles of soaking in warm water. Once they become more active, feeding can occur. Also, if you see any signs of illness, respiratory problems or ear and eye infections, it is best to consult with a local reptile vet to cure the issues. Prolonged problems can risks serious harm to the turtle or tortoise. Soaking works wonders though. Also, inspect the shells to make sure no signs of shell rot are beginning. If you see any pits, holes or open sores in the shell, consult a veterinarian. (Next page continued) 2

3 From the Editor (Cont) Presentations In January, I did a presentation on Radiated Tortoises. I was asked by a couple people to pass on the presentation so they can use it for personal references. Since the file is too large to and I have been advised that some of the pictures were to be only used in my presentation and not be distributed, I will be redoing the presentation in the form of a specific article in the next couple months. I will try to include as many pictures as I can. If you have any questions about the Radiated Tortoise, let me know and I will try to help out as much as I can. This month Gary Wilfong will have several species of the Testudo family and will help you identify what species you have and a little bit about each species as to care and husbandry. The group will consist of Marginated Tortoises, Herman s Tortoises, Greek Tortoises, Russian Tortoises and who knows what else he may have. If you have a Testudo species and would like to share it as well, bring it and share with us. Bring your hand sanitizer as well!!! Please make sure you secure them in some sort of container where they can t escape. Past Events The Petco Adoption day on February 20 th and 21 st was fun and exciting. We had the opportunity to meet with several people shopping at Petco and several who own turtles and tortoises. I helped a couple people get proper lighting and a couple other things. I think we made a positive representation there and look forward to making another weekend out of it. I think the next event is March 20 th and 21 st, but I personally will not be able to make it. If someone would like to take on the challenge of putting this together, please contact me. I would like to thank Gilbert Castro, Wendy Petrak, Martha Pugno, Philip Edholm, and Jennette Petrak and J.J. Baumann for helping. Could not do it without you all. As we get rolling into the year, we are going to have several events coming up that reach out to the public. If you would like to help out and watch animals, answer questions and help with setups and tear downs, let me know. We need to build as much help as possible so the same people are not always doing the events. To help promote and award helpers, we will be taking everyone s names down who dedicate at least 3-4 hours of help and at the end of the year we will be putting everyone s name in a raffle. The winners will get some nice prizes yet to be determined. The more events you help at, the more chances you get. You can only win once though. Sacramento Turtle and Tortoise Club I confirmed with Felice Rood, that the April STTC meeting has been cancelled due to the Library being under construction. For more information, you can contact her at Until next month.kevin 3

4 2010 Club Officers & Committees 2010 SVTTC Officers President Joseph Alvarado Vice President Jessica Gopp Secretary Philip Edholm Treasurer Gilbert & Dorothy Castro or 2010 SVTTC Board of Directors Board of Director Greg Kraintz Board of Director Paul Woodring Board of Director Yvonne Corky Mariani 2010 SVTTC Committee Chairman s & Assistants Librarian Martha Pugno kayaklady56@yahoo.com Show/Event Chairman Jennette Petrak jen0139@gmail.com Fundraiser Chairman Lisa Montoya lesa_doublemm@yahoo.com Adoption Chairman Kevin Norred tortoisehome@yahoo.com Newsletter Kevin Norred tortoisehome@yahoo.com Membership Dorothy Castro 1dotboop@att.net SVTTC Internet Connections Turtle and Tortoise related Yahoo Groups: SVTTC Chapter: The SVTTC Website where you can find all forms including past newsletters: 4

5 President s Report By Joseph Alvarado Hi Everyone, Been a very busy month. I would like to just share some of the pictures that were taken at the Petco Adoption Fair in February by Kevin. 5

6 Hi Everyone, Vice-President s Report By Jessica Gopp Hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather now. I know Kevin is getting tired of rescuing our tortoises in the pens when it rains very heavily. Now he is just spending time cleaning. We have a lot in store for the upcoming months. We are still working on a picnic venue and date. Everything in our area always seems to take a lot of money to do. The following are the upcoming presentations for the SVTTC: Vice-President s Report (Cont.) By Jessica Gopp We are looking for the following items at a discount or to be donated to the club: Projector (Table Top) Projection Screen 60 x 60 minimum size Turtle / Tortoise Videos / DVD Thanks, Jessica Gopp April 5 th Gary Wilfong Presentations on Marginated, Herman s, Russian and Greek Tortoises May 3 rd Rene Gandolfi, DVM, Castro Valley Companion Animal Hospital -Herpes Virus in Tortoises June7th Jennette Petrak, SVTTC Member Sea Turtles and Conservation in Costa Rica July 5 th Kevin Norred SVTTC Adoptions Power Point presentation on Red Foot Tortoises August 2 nd Terry Burtz, SVTTC Member Living with Galapagos and Aldabra Tortoises Photos by Kevin Norred (above) Leopard Tortoise just relaxing (Below) Pair of 1-1/2 Sulcata babies Het/Albino. September 13 th Setting up the proper Aquatic Habitat (presentation still in the works) October 4 th Presentation on Pancake Tortoises (Pending) November 1 st Open December 6 th No Presentation Christmas Party 6

7 Membership Report By Dorothy Castro If your name is on this list, it is time to renew. Renewal Memberships can be extended by filling out a new application and mailing to: SILICON VALLEY TURTLE AND TORTOISE CLUB Attn: Adoptions P.O. Box Sunnyvale, CA You can also give to an officer of the club or bring to the next general club meeting. If you have already sent your renewal in, just ignore the list. Membership packages are as follows: Yearly Dues: $20.00 Individual & Family Membership $30.00 Supporter Membership $50.00 Benefactor Membership We currently have 114 members as of 3/1/10. If you haven t renewed your membership, please do so. This club depends on membership dues. For each $20 membership, $15 goes to the Tortuga Gazette and $5 goes to the club so it is very important to keep your memberships paid. To find out your expiration date, look in the right hand corner of you mailing address label on the Tortuga Gazette and that date is when your membership expires. Memberships soon to expire: FIRST NAME LAST NAME CITY RENEW JOHN DICUS NIPOMO MARIA ESCOBAR DALY CITY KATE LIPMAN FREMONT CAHTERINE McKEEFERY FREMONT LIZ CLARK OROVILLE PATRICK COFFEY BURLINGAME JENNIFER HAYES MEDESTO XIAOBO CHU SAN JOSE MARTHA PUGNO SAN JOSE SERGIO THORSON-GARAY SAN FRANCISCO CHUCK & PENNY CARLE CUPERTIONO DARLENE COWLELL SALIDA KC DAVIS DUBLIN JAN GERSONDE SAN FRANCISCO RICKY ORTIZ STOCKTON GREER (RIVER) STRAATSMA (ART) SANATA ROSA HEIDI SWANSON SAN JOSE REES TINER SANTA CRUZ LOUANN TUNG LIVERMORE NORMA MEAD AROMAS TIM TOY SAN FRANCISCO $ Patron Membership $25.00 Canada / Mexico Membership $40.00 Other Foreign Membership $500 Life Membership Donations are always welcome. 7

8 SVTTC Events By Janette Petrak Nothing to report on this month. I have been very busy with school. I would like to share some more photos of the Petco Adoption Fair. Thanks to Gilbert, JJ, Jessica, Kevin, Philip, Martha, Wendy and everyone else you helped out. Above: Pardalis Pardalis Leopard Tortoise. Below: Razorback Musk Aquatic Turtle Photos by Gilbert Castro Above: Rocky the Burmese Brown Tortoise on display Below: Adult Female Slider. We had adults and babies on display to show the difference in sizes. Photos by Gilbert Castro 8

9 SVTTC Donations Donate to support the SVTTC every time you search and shop online! Simply by visiting the following online sites, every time you make a purchase with sponsoring sites such as Amazon or other big name sites, each company will contribute a small donation back to the club - at no additional cost to you. igive: Sign up to donate to the Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise Club and shop at over 700 stores through this online shopping portal. igive will donate a percentage of your purchase, and will make an additional $5 donation when you shop within 45 days of registering. GoodShop: Select Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise Club at GoodShop and every time you make an online purchase, we will receive a contribution to benefit our club. GoodShop donations average approximately 3% of the sale, but go up to 20% or even more (depending on the retailer). GoodSearch: powered by Yahoo!, GoodSearch gives approximately 1 cent to SVTTC per search. Add their toolbar to your browser and help raise funds for the SVTTC. S.H.A.R.E. Cards: Every time you shop at Lucky s, Save Mart or other participating retailers, show them your S.H.A.R.E. card prior to paying and 3% of all sales go back to the club. You can obtain a card from Kevin Norred Round Table Pizza (Meeting night only): Attached to this newsletter is a print out for those who will be eating at Round Table Pizza the evening of the meeting. 15% of all club member pizza sales go back to the club. Please print out the form and bring with you. SVTTC Sponsors The Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise Club is seeking out commercial sponsors from retail establishments and manufacturer s that would be interested in supporting the club with raffle donations, promotional items and discounts to the SVTTC membership. In return the sponsoring businesses would receive a business card ad in the SVTTC news and mentioned at promotional events. The SVTTC News is circulated to members and non-members of the SVTTC and reaches over 700 people monthly. I would like to thank the following: SF Bay Brands Zoo Med Hagen for their support this year. All companies have donated product for raffle and events. Thanks Again. The Following Retailers offer discounts for SVTTC / CTTC Members: None at this time (Stay Tuned) For More Information about meetings or the SVTTC, Please contact: Kevin Norred, SVTTC Adoption Chairman (408) or TORTOISEHOME@YAHOO.COM 9

10 Turtle / Tortoise Conservation News Researchers report a 40 to 50 percent death rate among a group of tortoises relocated from Fort Irwin 10:53 PM PST on Friday, March 5, 2010 By DAVID DANELSKI The Press-Enterprise Government scientists tracking 158 desert tortoises relocated from Fort Irwin nearly two years ago to make way for military maneuvers say that nearly half of the animals have died, mostly from coyote attacks. The death rate, disclosed at a scientific symposium last weekend, raises concern about relocating tortoises, a species threatened with extinction. The success or failure of the effort is important because more relocations are expected as companies develop wind and solar energy on public land in the Mojave Desert. In addition, the Army intends to move as many as 1,200 more to protect them from artillery fire, tanks and other danger and has invested millions of dollars in the effort. The Army has not decided whether to go forward with another round of relocations that had been planned this spring. The military wants to make way for expanded live-fire exercises at Fort Irwin, where troops train in preparation for deployment to the Middle East. In spring 2008, in a much-publicized undertaking, the Army moved 556 tortoises to public land a few miles from the base. Many of the animals were outfitted with radio transmitters, and three teams of scientists each tracked a group. Ecologist Tim Gowan and biologist Kristin Berry, both with the U.S. Geological Survey, followed the fates of 158 tortoises outfitted with radio transmitters. Of those, percent -- have died; another 20 cannot be located. The death rates among the other two tortoise groups, one tracked by an Army contractor and the other by a different USGS team, have not been released. However, Army and U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said they believe that moving tortoises does not make them more vulnerable to coyotes. Drought conditions during the past two years have made rabbits and other normal prey scarce, so coyotes are eating tortoises, they said. They also said the tortoises observed by Gowan and Berry were released near the town of Yermo, where coyotes are more active because they are attracted to people's trash as a food source. 'human activity' William Boarman, a wildlife biologist under contract to the Army, said the death rate reported by Gowan is "disturbingly high, but it has more do with human activity." Roy C. Averill-Murray, the Reno-based desert tortoise recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said a study by Boarman and other scientists examining 2008 tortoise deaths in the Fort Irwin area will detail how relocated tortoises are killed at the same rate as resident tortoises. "The tortoises are getting slammed wherever they are," Averill-Murray said. Cont. On next page 10

11 Speaking at the annual Desert Tortoise Council symposium last weekend in Ontario, Gowan reported that of the 70 tortoises he and Berry found dead in 2008 and 2009, only seven had not been attacked by predators. Among the other deaths, vehicles had crushed two and a snake had bitten one. Most of the deaths of them -- occurred in 2008, the months after the relocation, when the animals were unsettled and walking longer distances, he said. "The tortoises that are moving around appear more vulnerable to predators," Gowan said during the presentation. Females were killed at a higher frequency during the first year, while more males died the second, he said. Fourteen of the dead tortoises, which all had been healthy before the move, had contracted a respiratory disease, although that was not the cause of death. No one is certain how much the tortoise population has declined, but researchers who have been studying certain communities of the reptiles for decades have seen as much as a 90 percent decline in some places. In one area southeast of Barstow, the concentration of tortoises has dropped from 120 per square mile to 10 per square mile in the past 30 years. $4,800 per animal The Army has said it may spend as much as $75 million to protect endangered and threatened species found at Fort Irwin. In 2008, the Army estimated the tortoise relocation cost at $8.5 million, including the cost of scientific research on disease and deaths among the animals that were moved and those that already lived in the relocation areas. Updated figures were not available this week, but based on the 2008 estimate and the number moved and those still to be relocated, the cost works out to about $4,800 per animal moved. The tortoise deaths could be another setback for the Army. In September, the federal Bureau of Land Management backed away from helping the Army move tortoises in October because of uncertainty about their chances of survival. The Army canceled that relocation and still hadn't decided whether to move more tortoises this spring. "No decision has been made on a spring translocation," Fort Irwin spokesman John Wagstaffe said. "It is not off, and it is not on." The Army is still evaluating the tortoise deaths and, in any case, must have Fish and Wildlife Service approval before proceeding with further relocations. Averill-Murray said data on the other tortoises that were moved two years ago is being compiled and should be made public later this month. The lack of information had frustrated critics of the relocation. "Until they release the data, it is just hearsay," said Ileene Anderson, a Los Angeles-based biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. Anderson has said moving animals can make them more vulnerable to coyotes because it puts them under stress and leaves them in unfamiliar territory where they haven't established burrows that would protect them from coyotes. David Danelski 11

12 A clash of environmental ideals in the Mojave Desert: Solar-energy project vs. endangered desert tortoises Los Angles TimesJanuary 4, 2010 On a strip of California's Mojave Desert, two dozen rare tortoises could stand in the way of a sprawling solar-energy complex in a case that highlights mounting tensions between wilderness conservation and the nation's quest for cleaner power. Oakland, Calif.-based BrightSource Energy has been pushing for more than two years for permission to erect 400,000 mirrors on the site to gather the sun's energy. It could become the first project of its kind on U.S. Bureau of Land Management property, leaving a footprint for others to follow on vast stretches of public land across the West. The construction would come with a cost: Government scientists have concluded that more than 6 square miles of habitat for the federally threatened desert tortoise would be permanently lost. The Sierra Club and other environmentalists want the complex relocated to preserve what they call a near-pristine home for rare plants and wildlife, including the protected tortoise, the Western burrowing owl and bighorn sheep. "It's actually a good project. It's just located in the wrong place," said Ileene Anderson of the Center for Biological Diversity, a Tucson, Ariz.- based environmental group. The dispute is likely to echo for years as more companies seek to develop solar, wind and geothermal plants on land treasured by environmentalists who also support the growth of alternative energy. In an area of stark beauty, the question will be what is worth preserving and at what cost as California pushes to generate one-third of its electricity from renewable sources by The Bureau of Land Management has received more than 150 applications for large-scale solar projects on 1.8 million acres of federal land in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. In California alone, such projects could claim an area the size of Rhode Island, transforming the state into the world's largest solar farm. BrightSource Energy wants permission to construct three solar power plants on the site that together would generate enough power each year for 142,000 homes, potentially generating billions of dollars of revenue over time. The sun's power is used to heat water and make steam, which in turn drives turbines to create electricity. Built in phases, the project would include seven 459-foot metal towers, a natural gas pipeline, water tanks, steam turbine generators, boilers and buildings for administration and maintenance. Each plant would be surrounded by 8-foot steel fencing. The site has virtually unbroken sunshine most of the year and is near transmission lines that can carry the power to consumers. In November, federal and state biologists reviewing the plan proposed that the company catch and move the tortoises and preserve them elsewhere on 12,000 acres, a proposal that could cost BrightSource an estimated $25 million. John Kessler, a project manager for the California Energy Commission, said there is disagreement with BrightSource over what the company would pay for long-term maintenance for the land that would be purchased, and the company also believes the cost of buying it should be less. The company declined to comment directly on those issues. It will likely be months before state and federal regulators considering the plan make a decision on the tortoises' fate. ( cont. on next page ) 12

13 BrightSource President John Woolard warned in government filings released last month that heavy-handed regulation could kill the proposal. He did not mention the tortoises directly but referred to "unbounded and extreme" requirements being placed on the company. At a time when the White House is pushing for the rapid development of green power, Woolard predicted the outcome in the California desert would reverberate widely. The large-scale solar industry "is in its infancy, with great promise to compete with conventional energy," Woolard wrote. "Overburdening this fledgling industry will cause it to be stillborn, ending that promise before it has truly begun." The Sierra Club wants regulators to move the site closer to Interstate 15, the busy freeway connecting Los Angeles and Las Vegas, to avoid what it says will be a virtual death sentence for the tortoises. Estimates of the population have varied, but government scientists say at least 25 would need to be captured and moved. The group argues that the reptiles are the "most genetically distinct" of all of California's desert tortoises and point to a 2007 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report that found the tortoise population is dropping in parts of a four-state region that includes California. "The project must not contribute to additional loss of habitat," the Sierra Club said in government filings. Roy Averill-Murray, the Fish and Wildlife Service's desert tortoise recovery coordinator, said there is insufficient data to make judgments about the population on the BrightSource site. In a statement, BrightSource spokesman Keely Wachs did not address proposals to move all or part of the complex, pledging that the company "will continue to work with the environmental community to ensure that we establish a good example for projects that follow." In government filings, the company depicts the site near the Nevada line as far from untouched: It has been used for livestock grazing, has been crisscrossed by off-roaders and the boundary of a golf club is a half-mile away. Except for the tortoise, no other federal or state threatened or endangered animal or plant is on the site, the company said. In 1994 the federal government designated 6.4 million acres as "critical habitat" for the tortoise in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, but the BrightSource site was not included "and is by no means in an area critical to the survival of this species," the company concluded. The complicated review is being watched closely. "At this point, there are zero solar-energy projects on public land," said Monique Hanis of the Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade group. "We are looking for ways to expand the market and reduce barriers... and get more of these projects moving." -- Associated Press Photo: An endangered desert tortoise -- which, incidentally, didn't move when a vehicle approached -- sits in the middle of a road in the proposed location of three BrightSource Energy solar-energy generation complexes in the eastern Mojave Desert in Credit: Reed Saxon / Associated Press Tortoise "populations across the board have declined, but we don't have the same kind of information for this particular patch of ground," Averill-Murray said. 13

14 Are you a Club Member? You do not have to be a member to attend the meetings but we would encourage it. If you would like to join the SVTTC, membership fee is $20/yr and you can signup at the meeting or request a membership form by ing tortoisehome@yahoo.com and mailing to the address on the form. Benefits of being a member include an endless source of information, meet new friends with common interest, bi-monthly CTTC Tortuga Gazette Newsletter, ability to adopt through the CTTC Adoption program, receive discounts to businesses or shows when offered and have a lot of fun. Also, we will be having special events for SVTTC members. Join Today!!! Club Meeting Donation Drawing: By Kevin Norred The club will be having a drawing to raise money for adoptions and club events. Raffle tickets are $1.00 each. We have a large assortment of food, filters, and Misc. items donated by several vendors. Please support the various programs. If you have NEW items that are still sealed and unused and would like to donate them, please see Lesa at the meetings. Websites Galore Below are some websites that I have currently visited or like to recommend to people who are interested in turtles and/or tortoises. These websites are full of info and I recommend visiting them. IVORYTORTOISE.COM Sulcata Breeder of the Ivory Sulcata Tortoise REDEARSLIDER.COM Site about Red Ear Sliders and Setups TORTOISETRUST.ORG A great site for all turtle and Tortoise enthusiast RUSSIANTORTOISE.NET A must for the Russian Tortoise owner SULCATA-STATION.ORG A great site for Sulcata owners for info and supplies CHELONIA.ORG Great site for all turtle and tortoise owners TORTOISE.ORG California Turtle and Tortoise club main site PRO-PRODUCTS.COM Turtle & Tortoise Supplies AFRICANTORTOISE.COM Great site for Leopard and Sulcata Tortoises PONDTURTLE.COM Site dedicated to the Western Pond Turtle WESTERNPONDTURTLE.ORG Site dedicated to the Western Pond Turtle WESTERNPONDTURT.COM Site dedicated to the Western Pond Turtle AUSTINSTURTLEPAGE.COM A very informative website on all species of turtles and tortoises TORTOISEFORUM.ORG One of my personal favorite sites to visit to chat REDFOOTTORTOISE.COM Great Red Foot Tortoise website REDFOOTTORTOISEBREEDER.COM Another great RedFoot tortoise website 14

15 Meeting Agenda: I. Membership Introductions II. Officer Introductions III. Officer s Reports President-Joseph Vice President-Jessica Secretary-Philip Membership -Dorothy Treasurer-Gilbert IV. Adoption Chairman s Report-Kevin V. Librarian Report-Martha VI. Event Coordinator Report-Jennette 2010 Events/Shows VII. Fundraiser Chairman Report-Lesa I-Give & other online sites Round Table Pizza Baked Goods Raffle Items for Sale VIII. General Announcements CTTC Executive Meeting April 10 th Pasadena SVTTC 1. Local Events June 19 th Oakland Zoo Presentation Non Club Events 1. B.A.A.R.S Meeting April 23- Academy of Science Presentation Open Floor for anyone to announce events or activities VI Newsletter - Kevin Articles Highlights and Info in newsletter ***Stretch Break *** VIII Presentation Gary Wilfong IX Open Floor X Adjourn The next meeting is Monday, May 3rd 2010 at 7:00 pm, same location. Current Events March 20 th March 24 th April 4 th April 5 th April th April 10 th April 17 th May 3rd May 23 rd July 17 th Upcoming Events: July31st August 1 st Happy Hollow Park/Zoo Grand Opening- San Jose Merced CTTC Club Meeting Eastern Sunday SVTTC Club Meeting Presentation on Testudo Species by Gary Wilfong San Mateo Herp World Expo CTTC Executive Meeting- Pasadena, CA Sacramento Spring Time Turtle and Tortoise Club Meeting 11am-4pm SVTTC Club Meeting Presentation on Herpes Virus in tortoises by Renee Gandolfi Turtle & Tortoise Care Expo El Dorado Comm. Center Long Beach CTTC Sacramento Summer Time Turtle and Tortoise Club Meeting 11am-4pm San Jose Herp World Expo September th Anaheim Reptile Show September th Sacramento Reptile Show 15

16 Reptile Vets SVTTC members and non-members have recommended the following names and Veterinarian offices. These listings are for reference only. VCA Orchard Plaza Animal Hospital Dr. Jennifer Star Seward, DVM Dr. Ian Stone, DVM San Jose, CA (408) Felton Veterinary Hospital Dr. Cathy Calvert, DVM Felton, CA (831) Sunnyvale Veterinary Clinic Dr. Raj Singh, DVM Sunnyvale, CA (408) Avian & Exotic Clinic of Monterey Dr. Shannon Thomas, DVM Dr. Amy Wells, DVM Monterey, CA (831) Valley Animal Hospital Dr. Christine McFadden Merced, CA (209) Wildwood Animal Hospital Dr. Chris Sanders, DVM Dr. Tina Peak, DVM Portola Valley, CA (650) Canyon Veterinary Hospital Dr. R. Barrett, DVM Castro Valley, CA (510) Santa Clara Pet Hospital Dr. Kent Littlehale, DVM San Jose, CA (408) Castro Valley Companion Animal Hospital Rene Gandolfi, DVM Castro Valley, CA (510) Kirkwood Animal Hospital Dr. Garrett Okumara, DVM Campbell, CA (408) Sequoia Valley Veterinary Hospital Dr. Randall Popkin, DVM Santa Rosa, CA (707) Exotic Services Veterinarians U.C. Davis Small Animal Hospital Davis, CA (530) Emergency (530) If you have a vet that you have used for your reptiles, turtles and/or tortoises and would like to add him/her to this list, please let me know. Also if you are a Vet and would like to be added to this list, let me know. Thanks -Kevin Wildwood Animal Hospital Dr. Diana Welsh, DVM San Jose, CA (408) Berkeley Dog and Cat Hospital Dr. Kenneth Harkewicz, DVM Berkeley, CA (510)

17 Adoption Report By Kevin Norred Hi Everyone, Adoption s has been kind of slow these past few months. I am seeing a handful of sick Box Turtles and Tortoises coming in. People have had them outside and with the cold and wetness we have had, people don t want to deal with them and the cost and effort so they have been bringing them to me. With putting heat on all of them, I am watching my PG& E bill keep crawling higher and higher. My last bill last month was over $1200. OUCH!!!. Solar is looking better and better every day. Now that PG& E is putting these new smart readers on in lieu of the old meters, everyone says there bills are doubling. I hope that isn t the case. With the spring coming up, we should see a handful of found turtles and tortoises brought in. We try to hold on to them for a couple weeks to allow those that have lost them an opportunity to find them. Last year we did manage to connect a few lost ones back to the original owners. Also, when turtles and tortoises become more active, people sometimes realize they don t have the time or money to feed them. There has been a lot of discussion on Red Ear Sliders lately throughout the entire CTTC as to what we need to do. It is a National problem in all the clubs and organizations across the USA. The farms back east are farming sliders by the thousands and unfortunately, this makes the states they reside in a lot of tax dollars as well. There are several things in the works with CDFG in trying to ban Sliders from entering California, but this has been in the works for 15 years now. Hopefully one day, this will all come to work in our favor. In the meantime, we need to do what we can to make things work. With the amount of sliders still entering California through the Pet Trade and Food Trade, there is no way to win. We are seeing everyday WAKING sliders being UP surrendered to local chapters, humane societies and since most of us are full, people are beginning to release them into our natural waterways trying to save them. The Asian Food markets are the #1 problem as Animal lovers go into the stores, see the horrid conditions they are in and purchase them from the store and call a rescue. Since we cannot take anymore, they take them to the nearest lake or pond and turn them loose. I keep explaining to the people who mean well that for every turtle they buy from the store, the owners by two more and the cycle continues on putting nothing but money in the pockets of the stores. In the pet trade, it is a little different. The stores are willing to work with many organizations to help recycle them back into the pet trade and adopt them out. Unfortunately, at this time the CTTC cannot do this do to liability issues that in the event something happens to a individual, the CTTC can be held liable. Almost all chapters through out California and many other organizations throughout the USA have altogether stopped taking in sliders as there just is too many. I know I am sitting on 50+ sliders currently just alone at my house and have turned down probably another 50 over the past month. Since the CTTC, SVTTC and Humane s Society have stopped taking Red Ear Sliders in, I am personally going to take on the responsibility of trying to adopt out through the local Petco s and retail stores. We do have a couple other sources as well but I will continue to carry on the burden and financial obligation of caring for the sliders and see if I can make a change. It might be small, but I will see what I can do in our area. Currently I have up for adoption the following Turtles and Tortoises. I may have homes pending, but these are still in my care. Greek Tortoise Possible Mico Plasma Positive. Have had in my care for 2 years now trying to cure all shell rot and damage. Still have some bone showing. Is very active and outgoing and needs a home that will have only one tortoise or turtle. Micro Plasma is very contagious and cause severe upper respiratory infections. There is no cure. (Next page) 17

18 Adoption Report (Continued) This is the virus that is commonly found in California Desert Tortoises. Red Ear Sliders I have all shapes and sizes of Red Ear Sliders. I have also a subspecies that resides from Mexico that has very unique coloring different from the North American subspecies. I have about 40+ available. Sulcata Tortoises I am starting to see Sulcata Tortoises come in for adoption. Typical size is about 10lbs to 30lbs. If you are interested, send me an for an application. Homes must have at least 50 X 100 foot backyard minimum and have it well landscaped for a destructive tortoise. Sulcata s eat everything, run into everything and break everything. If this sounds like something you want to take on, contact me. I will be getting some drop off Aquariums and Turtle items that I will be bringing to the meetings. I will be setting them out for a small donation to go back to the club. If you are looking for a tank, stand or heat lamps, drop me an . Maybe we can raise some money for the club and save you some money. Thanks April Meeting Auction I have the following items that I will be bringing to the April meeting for Auction to the highest bidder. These items have come in from surrendered animals. The funds for these items will be put back into the SVTTC Adoptions. Zoo Med Turtle House- Measures 2 X 3 and has a secure lid on top with fasteners Retail for about $ Starting bid - $25.00 Heat Bulb fixtures with ceramic fixture- Starting bid on fixtures only is $ Fluorescent light fixtures Starting bid on fixtures is $2.00 If anyone else has some items reptile related that would like to auction off for donation to the club, please contact me. Items must be in excellent condition. FUNDRAISER Corner By Lesa Montoya Hi everyone! Here is an update on the last two months Bake Sales. The February bake sale totaled $70! There was Chocolate Truffle brownies, cookies, fruit tarts and slices of Chocolate Carmel cake. The March sales were down. I believe that was because I ended up buying the goodies instead of making them myself because I didn t have time to bake the day before. There were an assortment of cookies, bread pudding and brownies. Next month I will send around a sign up sheet for future bake sales. That way everyone gets a chance to contribute his or her best sweet desserts. It doesn t matter if the desserts are homemade or store bought. For right now the bake sale is by donation. That way the club benefits from the maximum profits. Next update is about the Raffle. There were some changes on how the Raffle was conducted. In the past when a ticket was pulled the winner would pick their choice from the raffle table. To make things simpler, I chose an item and Joseph gave a great description of the item and the ticket holder won that particular item. The raffle seemed to go a lot faster. For now that will be the new Raffle procedure. To make things fun and interesting, I introduced the Bead War Game. It was quite fun and everyone participated. Something else new was an Auction. There were two items for bid. One item sold and one didn t. The item that didn t sell will stay in the club fundraiser inventory to be used in the future. There is a fantastic opportunity to generate $$$ through igive. On February 24 th and March 24 th, for every person who joins igive using a special link and visits a participating igive store, igive will donate $1 per new member. It is only for a 24-hour period. Information will be ed to members. Our Summer Picnic is coming up. I will coordinate with Jeanette to include some fundraiser actives. Until next month

19 Other Club News If you are part of a club or organization related to Turtles / Tortoises and would like to post some current news, please give Kevin Norred a call or . Sacramento Turtle & Tortoise Club President: Felice Rood 2010 Meeting Dates April 17 th (CANCELLED ) July 17 th August 21 st * 11 4pm October 16 th * * Meeting dates not confirmed yet Adoptions: Lots of Red Ear Sliders & Occasional Sulcata s For more information about the Sacramento Turtle & Tortoise Club, please contact Felice Rood at felicerood@compuserve.com or visit www. Turtlebunker.com Merced Turtle & Tortoise Club Pending Chapter of the CTTC President: Alex Lu-Pon Contact info: CTTC.Merced@gmail.com We've moved the date for March's monthly meeting to March 24. As usual, it will take place at Forte Frozen Yogurt (319 W Main Street) in downtown Merced at 7pm. Hope to see you there! Bay Area Amphibian & Reptile Society President: Scott Alexander 2010 Presentations: March - Julie Bergman - "Gecko Journey - My life with 80+ species of geckos" Julie Bergman, President of GGA, Global Gecko Association, will be discussing breeding and husbandry of Geckos and how she got to where she is. Julie also runs the "Gecko Ranch", com, and is a very successful breeder of Geckos. May Nicole Chaney -Often it is the mantra of the hobbyist that herptiles should be kept in single species environments. While this is often the best scenario for successful breeding programs, there are many hobbyists who are not interested in simply producing en masse. For this sector of the Herp hobby, mixed species exhibits offer a unique challenge that definitely has some risks, but with careful planning and execution can be quite rewarding and successful. Nicole will be showing pictures and discussing all 21 of our mixed species exhibits at the CA Academy of Sciences in terms of successes, failures, risks, and future planning. In addition I ll also discuss briefly behavioral enrichment for herps and a quick update on breeding programs at the Academy. Adoptions: Contact Setiva Woodring for current list of Reptiles for adoption. Her is gobaars@yahoo.com For more information about the Bay Area Amphibian and Reptile Society, please contact Scott Alexander at alexander_scott@yahoo.com or visit 19

20 GNP NEWS: Tortoises from the Island of Pinzón are Relocated to Be Bred in Captivity January 15, 2010 The Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center is the new home for these 20 individuals. The corrals at the Breeding Center provide conditions similar to those tortoises found in the wild. A group of 12 adult female and 8 adult male Pinzón tortoises (Geochelone eppiphium) were recently moved from the island of Pinzón to the Galapagos National Park s Fausto Llerena Captive Breeding and Rearing Center on the island of Santa Cruz to initiate a captive breeding program for the Pinzón population. Until last year, park wardens collected Pinzón tortoise eggs and hatchlings from nests in the wild and artificially incubated them at the Rearing Center. The juveniles are then raised in captivity until the age of 4, and are then released to the wild. The 20 Pinzón tortoises will share a specially constructed corral at the Center, and will be under the constant care of park wardens. For many years, the Park has managed a successful captive breeding program for the Española tortoise (Geochelone hoodensis) population. This program resulted in the recuperation of this highly threatened species. The Pinzón tortoise captive breeding program should enable the technical team of the GNPS to collect as many as 150 eggs per year, and to achieve a hatching rate of 70% under controlled temperatures. Proceso de Relaciones Públicas Parque Nacional Galápagos Ecuador For more information write to: comunicacion@spng.org.ec, or visit 20

21 GC News: February 3, 2010 Team of Veterinarians Prepare Hybrid Tortoises for Release on Pinta Island in 2010 In November 2009, a group of veterinarians, working with the Galapagos National Park (GNP), prepared 39 hybrid tortoises slated to be the pioneer group to initiate the return of tortoises to Pinta Island. Project Pinta is a multi-year project aimed at the restoration of the island following the successful eradication of goats on Pinta in While complete island restoration will require the eventual repopulation of Pinta with a reproductive tortoise population, scientists and managers are awaiting the final results from genetic analyses of a massive sampling of tortoises before making the final selection of which tortoises to use. To initiate the return of tortoises, critical ecosystem engineers during this important period of vegetative recovery, a special group of tortoises will be released onto Pinta. To ensure that this group of hybrid tortoises will not compromise any future efforts to reestablish a reproductive population, veterinarians sterilized them. The role of giant tortoises in natural ecosystems Research on giant tortoises in Galapagos during the last 40 years has demonstrated many ways in which tortoises play a major role in Galapagos ecosystems. Given their size, movement patterns, and use of resting forms (hollowed-out beds created by tortoises for resting), tortoises can affect both the pattern and structure of vegetation. In addition, grazing by tortoises can help maintain open areas within forests. Studies of the Galapagos tomato and other plant species have shown a marked increase in germination rates following passage through the gut of tortoises. Besides scarification of seeds, tortoise scat can provide a rich substrate for germination and growth. Studies have shown that seeds consumed by tortoises may take from a few days to weeks to be deposited, allowing for seed dispersal over distances of several kilometers. Probably more than any other native species in Galapagos, tortoises have a major impact on the structure and composition of their environment. Tortoises are needed back on Pinta. With the eradication of goats in 2003, vegetation grew back quickly but without tortoises to engineer the recovery. Shade-loving plant species are becoming more and more abundant, reducing the available habitat for native and endemic sun-loving species. Pinta needs a natural habitat engineer, the giant tortoise, to ensure a balanced recovery and to fully restore the island to its near pristine condition. While awaiting the final results of the genetic survey, conservation managers took steps to initiate the return of tortoises to Pinta through the use of sterilized adult hybrid tortoises currently held in captivity. This is considered the best short-term solution to initiate a more balanced recovery. Captive tortoises in Galapagos During the years following the establishment of the GNP and the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) in 1959, several giant tortoises that had been maintained by private parties were returned to the Tortoise Center on Santa Cruz. For the first several years, these tortoises were allowed to reproduce, potentially creating hybrid tortoises with ancestry from more than one island. This practice was discontinued in 1976, as hybrid tortoises could never be returned to the wild given the GNP goal of maintaining natural biodiversity as close to pristine conditions as possible. However, as a result of reproduction prior to 1976, a group of hybrids remains in captivity. ( Cont. next page ) 21

22 In addition to the tortoises at the Center, Margret Wittmer, one of the original settlers on Floreana, had several tortoises brought to that island and held them in captivity. These tortoises were also allowed to reproduce. At the time of Mrs. Wittmer s death, the 32 remaining tortoises, which are primarily hybrids, were moved to a corral on Floreana managed by the GNP. In the 1990s, genetic analyses of Galapagos tortoises provided sufficient data to determine the ancestry of all tortoises in captivity at the Tortoise Center and on Floreana. Many were shown to be hybrids. Until now their prospects of ever being returned to the wild were slight. Given their longevity, they would remain captive for well over 100 years. Why use captive tortoises on Pinta? Project Pinta will eventually involve the reestablishment of a reproductive population of tortoises on Pinta, with tortoises genetically close to the original Pinta tortoise. In the meantime, the smaller captive tortoises on Santa Cruz and Floreana (most adapted to the Pinta ecosystem) provide an excellent short-term solution to the critical conservation problem on Pinta ensuring a balanced recovery of the native vegetation in the absence of goats. By sterilizing the tortoises, they can finally be returned to the wild to live out their days in a natural setting without contaminating the gene pool of the final tortoise population, and at the same time play the much needed role of ecosystem engineer. The sterilization In early November 2009, US-based veterinarians traveled to Galapagos to help the GNP with the tortoise sterilizations. The group included: Dr. Joseph Flanagan (Houston Zoo); Dr. Steve Divers, Dr. Emi Knafo, and Jason Norman (College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia); and Dr. Sam Rivera (Zoo Atlanta). The team was joined by Dr. Pamela Martinez, a local veterinarian working with the GNP. Karl Storz Veterinary Endoscopy, Ellman Radiosurgery, and Envisionier loaned more than $70,000 in surgical equipment. Galapagos Conservancy Science Advisor, Dr. Linda Cayot, and Head of the Department of Conservation and Sustainable Development of the GNP, Washington Tapia, organized the project. Galapagos Conservancy provided the necessary funding for the veterinary team to undertake the sterilization work. Continental Airlines donated international travel. GNP personnel worked alongside the sterilization team and provided logistical support. Thirty-nine tortoises (14 females and 25 males) were successfully sterilized. The tortoises recovered rapidly and are now housed together in a corral at the Tortoise Center. They will be released onto Pinta during the wet season of 2010, sometime between March and May. Their movements, foraging, and impact on vegetation will be monitored. 22

23 Tortoises for Adoption The Turtles and Tortoises listed and/or available through the SVTTC are for the prospective benefit of the SVTTC members and potential new owners. No guarantees as to the health, suitability, or legality of the adopted turtles and tortoises as pets is neither expressed nor implied. The SVTTC does its best to examine all turtles and tortoises to deem healthy prior to release. No hidden illnesses that can be detected at the time of physical examination will be held against the SVTTC. When adopting a new turtle or tortoise, it is recommended that each animal be quarantined for at least 90 days from any other existing turtles/tortoises. Turtles/Tortoise Available 50+ Red Ear Slider Aquatic Turtles Various Sizes Requirements: Must have at least 50 gallon tank for one and/or at least 100 gallons or more for multiple turtles. 2 Russian Tortoises 1 20lbs Male Sulcata 1 Greek Tortoise ( Micro Plasma +) Adoption Pending 1 Sulcata 6 ( Soft Shell and Minor Beak issues ) Turtles / Tortoises Adopted out in January / February/March 5 California Desert Tortoises (Males) 1 Florida Yellow Belly Slider (Female) 2 Eastern Painted Turtle Hatchlings (Sex Unknown) 1 Reeves Turtle (Female) 2 Map Turtles (1 Male & 1 Female) 1 Russian Tortoise (1 Female) 2 Central American Wood Turtles (2 Female) 3 Sulcata Tortoises ( Males) 1 Keeled Box Turtle 1 Red Ear Slider( Female ) 23

24 Club Member Classifieds / Wanted: TORTOISE SUPPLIES BENEFIT TO THE MEMBERS Contact Kevin (408) or tortoisehome@yahoo.com For CTTC Members only- Quantities Limited Bigger quantity can be purchased. Call for price *Small K & H Heat Pads 12.5 X 18.5 $45.00 (Petco Price $70.00) *Medium K & H Heat Pads 16.5 X 22.5 $55.00 (Petco Price $80.00) *Large K & H Heat Pads 22.5 X 28.5 $65.00 (Petco Price $100.00) WANTED: Tortoises Looking for the following Tortoises: Elongated Females, Leopard Females, Red Foot Females, Pancake Males and Females. Contact Kevin Norred Tortoisehome@yahoo.com (408) FOR SALE: 2009 Russian Tortoise Hatchlings They were incubated at 89.5F for females. Price is $125ea Location: Concord Contact Dan Goemmel at (925) or kq6ar@astound.net FOR SALE: 2009 Marginated Tortoise Hatchlings They were incubated at 89.5F for females. Price is $125ea Location: Concord Contact Dan Goemmel at (925) or kq6ar@astound.net FOR SALE: Galapagos Tortoise 14-year-old possible female Galapagos Tortoise 175 lbs 28 length and 23 side $ Contact Sharon at turtlenutz@gmail.com FOR SALE: Radiated Tortoise Pair 12 & 14 year old Radiated Tortoises $5000 /pr Contact Sharon at turtlenutz@gmail.com FOR SALE: Burmese Black Mountain Tortoises 09 Burmese Black Mountain Tortoises- Male and Females available $300ea Contact Don at donsturtles@yahoo.com FOR SALE: Indian Spotted Turtles 09 Indian Spotted Turtles - geoclemmys hamiltonii $325ea Contact Don at donsturtles@yahoo.com 24

25 FOR SALE: Radiated Tortoises 3 for $10,000 CTTC members $2,999 ea & $3500ea pending size and color Contact Vincent Velci at herpsheperd@ymail.com FOR SALE: Marginated Tortoises Pair $2,250 pair Contact Vincent Velci at herpsheperd@ymail.com FOR SALE: Egyptian Tortoises $499 to $575 pending size and color Contact Vincent Velci at herpsheperd@ymail.com FOR SALE: Mazuri Tortoise Chow 1lb : $ lb : $ lb : $ lb : $ lb : $45.00 Contact Kevin Norred tortoisehome@yahoo.com or call (408) FOR SALE: Reptaid All Natural Remedy ( 1oz Bottle Reptaid ( 1-250grams ) $ oz Bottle Reptaid XL ( over 250 grams ) $31.99 Free shipping. The # 1 product to help with respiratory infections, worms or parasites. All natural product. Contact Kevin Norred tortoisehome@yahoo.com or call (408)

26 Commercial Vendors / Retailers Are you interested in advertising in one of the leading Turtle and Tortoise Newsletters in California? If you would like your logo or business card inserted in one of the below squares, please contact Tortoisehome@yahoo.com Sponsoring Vendors are waived any fees. Non Sponsoring Vendors, $20 donation a month. THEWORMDUDE.COM Your Business Card Here Your Business Card Here Your Business Card Here 26

27 Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise Club Fundraiser Please join us to help raise funds for the Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise Club while we have a great time. Come help us out, and help you to the freshest, best-tasting pizza in town. Just bring this flyer with you on the date below and give it to the order taker before you order. We ll give 15% of your order (excluding sales tax) to the Silicon Valley Turtle and Tortoise Club. Date: Monday April 5th (Call in your order early to avoid delay) Time: 5:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Meeting starts at 7pm Location: Camden Avenue San Jose, CA (408)

28 Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club Application 28

29 29

30 Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club Adoption Application 30

31 31

32 32

33 33

34 34

35 Silicon Valley Turtle & Tortoise Club Presents The Western Pond Turtle Head Start Program Saturday, June 19 The Oakland Zoo Reservations Required by June 1 st, 2010 Tickets reserved thru Kevin Norred at tortoisehome@yahoo.com Or (408) Come visit Margaret Rousser and Staff from the Oakland Zoo for a special presentation about the Western Pond Turtle & their efforts to keep the species from going extinct. Presentation is at the Oakland Zoo Auditorium from 10am to 12pm. Come see and learn first hand about juvenile Western Pond Turtles that have been artificially incubated by Professor Nick Geist of Sonoma State University, which have be raised for release back into native ponds to increase the numbers of the Western Pond Turtle, California s only native Aquatic Turtle. Tickets will be reserved on a first come first serve basis. We have seating for 150 people. Tickets are $8/adults & $6 for children. Donations are welcome. All proceeds including ticket sales will go directly to the WPT program. Parking is $6 per vehicle. After the presentation, guest can visit the park and some of the Sulcata/Aldabra Tortoises on display. Guest will be required to meet at the Lower Gate Entrance ( Not the Main Entrance ) at 9:45 to enter as a group on the morning of the presentation. The presentation will be at the Zimmer Auditorium or AKA Maddies Center for Science & Education. The Oakland Zoo is nestled in the rolling hills of 525-acre Knowland Park. The Zoo is located at 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland off Highway 580, and is home to more than 660 native and exotic animals. General information number: Photos from the Oakland Zoo Website 35