ShellShock Campaign

TURTLES AND TORTOISES IN CRISIS- THE QUIET EXTINCTION

Turtles and tortoises have been on our planet for almost 250 million years, this means that they have witnessed the rise and fall of the dinosaurs, they watched the first birds fly and they have observed our own rapid evolution from the most harmless of primates. Now in the space of less than 30 years they are being wiped of the face of the planet.

 
Cuora Turtles in holding pen, S E Asia
 Man has exploited turtles and tortoises for centuries - for their supposed medicinal value and as a source of protein. However the liberalisation of foreign trade in China has escalated the trade and eating of turtles and tortoises to an unsustainable, fatal degree.
Sack of turtles, Malaya by Bill McCord
The problem is however not confined to the mass trade in China and the South-East Asian region. Throughout the world, turtle and tortoise habitats are being degraded, fragmented, destroyed and developed. Where populations remain they often fall victim to unnatural predation, egg collection and pollution and from their demand as 'bushmeat'. Some protected species are still being illegally collected for the pet trade too.
Crates of turtles, Peng Ling market, China
Red Cross turtle alliance
 It is our own human race which is driving many species to extinction. It is humans that must act now and quickly if we are to save them!

The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), of which we are a member, launched the SHELLSHOCK TORTOISE AND TURTLE CAMPAIGN in September 2004. The 290 member zoos and aquaria of this European regional association have come together to fight this vital conservation cause to try and save these ancient and gentle creatures.

The Shellshock campaign has three main aims;

1. To raise awareness of the diabolical conservation and welfare crisis that the world's turtles and tortoises currently face. EAZA zoos and aquaria will highlight the problems and try to generate support to help save them. With an annual combined attendance of 125 million people and education being one of the key activities of our zoos, members are very capable of spreading this message.

2. Member zoos will be encouraged to work with more species of turtle and terrapins - to bring them into the safety of the Turtle Ark. With the current scale of the global turtle conservation crisis, many species are doomed to extinction in the wild in the next few years. In the short term therefore, the only hope of survival for many species is in 'Turtle Arks' - special captive breeding programmes have been set up in zoos, aquaria and private collections around the world, to prevent their total extinction. These Turtle Arks preserve these species, thereby retaining the option for future conservation action (i.e. their reintroduction) when circumstances have changed sufficiently in the wild to permit this.


3. To raise funds to directly support the conservation of turtles and tortoises in the wild where they can still be saved and also captive breeding projects in the countries of their origin. Turtle and tortoise conservation is not expensive. A project which can literally save a species from extinction costs less than the price of a second hand car!