Save the Turtles!

On the prodding of an old friend, who noted the relative lack of natural conservation links on the blog, I want to begin by flagging several links to organizations dedicated to protecting turtles and tortoises, which are among my favoritest living things (as well as some of the oldest extant animal orders). I will strive in future to correct this omission.

"Why are sea turtles relevant?" (from the Smithsonian Institute)

A heart-breaking story: "Conservationists Attempt to Save Legendary Vietnamese Turtle"

Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)
"...The unsustainable commercial exploitation of chelonians for the food and traditional medicine is convincing and undeniably real.... Perhaps the greatest and most immediate concern is the progress being made to establish genetically diverse and viable captive populations (Assurance Colonies) of every species of Critically Endangered chelonian and to prevent their extinction. This is the driving force behind the Turtle Survival Alliance...."

The Carribean Conservation Corporation and Sea Turtle Survival League
Allegedly the "the oldest and most accomplished sea turtle organization in the world," founded in 1959. Includes adopt-a-turtle program.

Sea Turtle Conservation Project of Asociación ANAI (Costa Rica)

The Tortoise Village (Gonfaron, France), a program of the SOPTOM association
There's a whole VILLAGE for endangered tortoises!

www.seaturtle.org