American Tortoise Rescue Celebrates World Turtle Day 2012
Tomorrow May 23rd
Malibu, CA – May 22, 2012 – American Tortoise Rescue (http://www.tortoise.com), a nonprofit
organization established in 1990 for the protection of all species of tortoise
and turtle, is sponsoring its 12th annual World Turtle Day on Wednesday, May
23rd. Featured in Chase’s Book of Annual
Events, the day was created as an annual observance to help people celebrate
and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the
world. Susan Tellem and Marshall
Thompson, founders of ATR, advocate humane treatment of all animals, including
reptiles.
Since 1990, ATR has placed about 3,000 tortoises and
turtles in caring homes. ATR assists law
enforcement when undersize or endangered turtles are confiscated and provides
helpful information and referrals to persons with sick, neglected or abandoned
turtles.
“World Turtle Day was started 12 years ago to increase
respect and knowledge for the world’s oldest creatures.
These gentle animals have been around for about 200
million years, yet they are rapidly disappearing as a result of the exotic food
industry, habitat destruction and the cruel pet trade,” says Tellem. “We are
seeing smaller turtles coming into the rescue meaning that older adults are
disappearing from the wild, and the breeding stock is drastically reduced. It is a very sad time for turtles and
tortoises of the world.”
This year American Tortoise Rescue was selected by
Groupon to be promoted in the Los Angeles market with a Groupon’s Grassroots
fundraising campaign with donations going to a “sustainable tortoise
garden.” Donors can donate $10 here http://www.groupon.com/deals/grs-american-tortoise-rescue.
All monies go directly to the tortoises. The campaign will run from May 21
through the 27th. A matching donation up
to $2,000 has been pledged by Malibu Country Mart. The garden will feature six large above
ground areas and have plantings of spring, summer and fall vegetables.
Tellem says, “We have heard from organizations throughout
the world that are also hosting World Turtle Day, including India, Australia,
Malaysia and other countries.”
Tellem and Thompson note that experts predict the
complete disappearance of one of the world’s oldest creatures within the next
50 years. They recommend that adults and
children do a few small things that can help to save turtles and tortoises for
the next generation:
• Never
buy a turtle or tortoise from a pet shop as it increases demand from the wild.
• Never
remove turtles or tortoises from the wild unless they are sick or injured.
• If a
tortoise is crossing a busy street, pick it up and send it in the same
direction it was going – if you try to make it go back, it will turn right
around again.
• Write
letters to legislators asking them to keep sensitive habitat preserved or
closed to off road vehicles, and to prevent off shore drilling that can lead to
more endangered sea turtle deaths.
• Report
cruelty or illegal sales of turtles and tortoises to your local animal control
shelter.
• Report
the sale of any turtle or tortoise of any kind less than four inches. This is illegal throughout the U.S.
“Our ultimate goal is to stop the illegal trade in
turtles and tortoises around the world.
Our first priority here in the U.S. is to stop pet stores and reptile
shows from selling illegal hatchling tortoises and turtles,” says
Thompson. “We also need to educate
people who are unfamiliar with their proper care about the real risk of
contracting salmonella from turtles.
Schools and county fairs are no place for turtles. Wash your hands
thoroughly every time you touch a turtle or its water, and do not bring live
turtles into homes where children are under the age of 12.”
For answers to questions and other information visit
American Tortoise Rescue online at www.tortoise.com
or send e-mail to info@tortoise.com; on
Twitter @tortoiserescue; “Like” American Tortoise Rescue at www.Facebook.com/AmericanTortoiseRescue;
and join World Turtle Day on www.Facebook.com/WorldTurtleDay.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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