Grant Money to Help Save the Turtles

Do you have or know of a turtle project that needs funds?  Well...   now is the time to apply for a grant!  I received the information below in an email from the Turtle Conservation Fund a few days ago.  Sorry I'm lagging on posting it.  Pokey tried to bite me last night to get me to stop procrastinating...  which is why I did it the second I got home today!  The turtles of the world need our help and the oh-so-kind Turtle Conservation Fund is here to help fund your effort.  Thank you TCF for all that you do!  Pokey sends along her love too.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
TURTLE CONSERVATION FUND
Next Proposal Deadline: 1 May 2011

A Partnership Coalition of Leading Turtle Conservation Organizations and Individuals
_________
Strategic Action Planning and Funding Support for Conservation of
Threatened Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles
(http://www.turtleconservationfund.org/)
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Conservation International • International Union for the Conservation of Nature / Species Survival Commission / Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group • Turtle Survival Alliance • European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Shellshock Campaign • Chelonian Research Foundation • Chester Zoo • Fort Worth Zoo • Asian Turtle Program • Wildlife Conservation Society • Behler Chelonian Center / Turtle Conservancy • Chelonian Research Institute • Humane Society International - Australia
____________________________________________________________________
TCF Board:
Hugh R. Quinn, Co-Chair (DoubleHQ@aol.com)
Anders G.J. Rhodin, Co-Chair (RhodinCRF@aol.com)
Gary Ades; Chris B. Banks; Kurt A. Buhlmann; Kevin R. Buley; Antone Cadi; Bernard Devaux; Eric Goode; Douglas B. Hendrie; Brian D. Horne; Rick Hudson; Gerald Kuchling; Richard Lewis, Susan Lieberman; Luca Luiselli; George Meyer; Russell A. Mittermeier; Vivian Páez; Hans-Dieter Philippen; Colin Poole; Peter C.H. Pritchard; Martina Raffel; Walter C. Sedgwick; Peter Paul van Dijk; Henk Zwartepoorte

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The Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF) administers a turtle conservation and research grants program. Awards are granted to organizations or individuals for specific conservation or research projects dealing with tortoises or freshwater turtles, but not marine turtles, with either partial or full support as funding allows. Awards at the present time are approximately in the $2000 to $5000 range per project, with occasional funding up to $10,000.
Priority for funding is given to projects that focus on species that are already highly threatened (Critically Endangered) as determined by the IUCN Red List (http://www.iucnredlist.org/). 
TCF’s highest priority species targeted for funding are listed below.
We welcome proposals for the conservation of species other than those listed, provided a convincing rationale is included why the species’ conservation status merits funding from the TCF.
Award recipients enter into contractual agreement with one of our partner organizations (Conservation International, Chelonian Research Foundation or EAZA Shellshock Campaign) to produce the proposed work.  Award recipients are also encouraged to publish at least partial results of the supported research in the international scientific turtle journal, Chelonian Conservation and Biology, published by TCF Alliance Partner Chelonian Research Foundation (CRF; http://www.chelonian.org/).
For further information and application guidelines go to http://www.turtleconservationfund.org/
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Turtle Conservation Fund
Priority Species List

Species included in this list are Critically Endangered (CR) or proposed as CR (by IUCN Red Listing Workshops).  Listed exceptions include Elusor macrurus (Mary River Turtle) (Endangered), and Terrapene coahuila (Coahuilan Box Turtle) (Endangered).

Apalone spinifera atra  (Black Spiny Softshell Turtle, Cuatro Cienegas Softshell Turtle)
Astrochelys radiata  (Radiated Tortoise)
Astrochelys yniphora  (Ploughshare Tortoise, Angonoka)
Batagur affinis  (Southern River Terrapin)
Batagur baska  (Northern River Terrapin)
Batagur borneoensis  (Painted Terrapin)
Batagur kachuga  (Red-crowned Roofed Turtle)
Batagur trivittata  (Burmese Roofed Turtle)
Chelodina mccordi  (Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle)
Chelonoidis (nigra) abingdonii  (Abingdon Island Giant Tortoise)
Chelonoidis (nigra) duncanensis  (Duncan Island Giant Tortoise)
Chelonoidis (nigra) hoodensis  (Hood Island Giant Tortoise)
Chitra chitra  (Asian Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle)
Chitra indica  (Indian Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle)
Chitra vandijki  (Burmese Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle)
Cuora aurocapitata  (Yellow-headed Box Turtle)
Cuora bourreti  (Bourret’s Box Turtle)
Cuora glabinifrons  (Indochinese Box Turtle)
Cuora mccordi  (McCord’s Box Turtle)
Cuora pani  (Pan’s Box Turtle)
Cuora picturata  (Southern Vietnam Box Turtle)
Cuora trifasciata  (Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle, Golden Coin Turtle)
Cuora yunnanensis  (Yunnan Box Turtle)
Cuora zhoui  (Zhou’s Box Turtle)
Dermatemys mawii  (Central American River Turtle)
Elusor macrurus  (Mary River Turtle)
Erymnochelys madagascariensis  (Madagascan Big-headed Turtle)
Geochelone platynota  (Burmese Star Tortoise)
Glyptemys muhlenbergii  (Bog Turtle)
Gopherus flavomarginatus  (Bolson Tortoise)
Heosemys annandalii (Yellow-headed Temple Turtle)
Heosemys depressa  (Arakan Forest Turtle)
Leucocephalon yuwonoi  (Sulawesi Forest Turtle)
Manouria emys (Asian Giant Tortoise)
Mauremys annamensis  (Annam Pond Turtle)
Mauremys mutica (Yellow Pond Turtle)
Mauremys nigricans  (Red-necked Pond Turtle)

A Turtle's Tale

Have you seen A Turtle's Tale yet? If so, please tell me what you thought in the comments section. While I'm sure that Sammy could never surpass Nemo's place on my top movies list, I am hoping A Turtle's Tale is more true to the sea turtle's plight but fun enough to draw an audience.

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Super Turtle

I was amazed to learn today that there was a cartoon character in the 1960s named Super Turtle.  There's an interesting story about Super Turtle and Supermam here on Big Shiny Robot.  It seems plausible that Superman overshadowed his terrapin counterpart making him frustrated, selfish, and looking for fame and gratitude.  But, you'll just have to click on over to see if that scenario is actually true.  I can't believe Super Turtle appeared in so many scenes and I never knew he existed! 

Sea Turtles Eat Plastic

I've found a lot of good articles this week which Pokey wants me to get posted, but haven't had much time.  However, we were able to agree that this article, "One Sea Turtle's Worth of Plastic" should be mentioned first.  You have probably already heard how much plastic ends up in the ocean each year, but did you know that sea turtles end up eating it on accident?Sometimes it gets intertwined with the plankton and algae that makes up their normal diet.  Sometimes it gets mistaken for actual food on the ocean floor.  Either way, it is pretty crazy motivation for me to use less plastic when I see pictures like this.  I hope it is for you too!

The Conclusion of Pokey vs. New Zealand

by Rachel Hoyt

Image by kongsky via freedigitalphoto.net

Pokey started talking to me again this morning and, as often happens after a bout of silence, she had sincere wisdom to share with me.  She admitted she was jealous and didn't want any other animal or insect to rank above her on the coolness pyramid.  I comforted her the same way men comfort us ladies... "Oh Pokey dear.  Don't be silly.  No one could ever take your place." and gave her a kiss on the nose.  Unfortunately, when it was Pokey's turn to speak, the bottom line was revealed.  The fact is, I don't have enough money to buy a plane ticket at the moment.  My designated travel savings consists of a jar full of change interspersed with a few dollar bills of different denominations.  Despite the fact that there are some very affordable package deals available, I don't have enough yet.  But, if anyone would care to bribe a writer with an all inclusive trip, I am avaialable... assuming I can get the time off work...  I can tell the world about your country through letters to Pokey or using my rhyming poetry.  For now I'll just have to dream of the Jaffa Roll, building my own spa at hot beach, and seeing creatures that have lived since the time of dinosaurs... and get back to writing about turtles instead of my crazy conversations with Pokey... unless, of course, you want those to continue too...

Pokey vs the Nga Manu Nature Reserve

by Rachel Hoyt

All photos in this post are courtsey of Jim McIntosh of Holes in My Soles.  No reuse without permission.

I wrote yesterday about an argument Pokey and are having about whether or not I should travel to New Zealand soon.  She recognizes that not all areas of the island were harmed by the Christchurch earthquake, but had thought I would visit a certain person in Christchurch whenever I did make it to New Zealand.  I, however, am completely swept up in the Blog4NZ worldwide blogosphere event and can hardly think of anything other than traveling to New Zealand.  So, today I continued my debate with Pokey using information about other extremely rare animals to entice her.

My friend Jim at Holes in My Soles sent me some photos from the Nga Manu Nature Reserve and the place looks amazing!  It is one of those places where I want to pack a picknick lunch (and maybe dinner too) so I can just sit and watch the animals because I know how lucky I am to be in their presence.  Some animals are so rare that most of the world will never see them in real life.

First I showed Pokey The Tuatara.  Sometimes called a "living fossil" this reptile has been around since dinasour times and is only found in New Zealand.  Pokey agreed the Tuatara sounded pretty cool and perked up slightly when I told her they were both members of the reptile family.  My hopes of winning her approval rose slightly.

Then Pokey saw the pictures of the eels and her mother's creepy smile as she thought about feeding them...

Then came the photo of a Weta.  What's that, you ask?  An insect that has been around since before the dinosaurs.  I think it looks a little scary, but interesting here.  I've never been a girl to freak out about seeing a bug before.  Yet, after a bit further research, I learned this particular insect took out the rat population in New Zealand.  I'm not sure if I should be frightened of them or tempted to bring one back to the U.S.?  Obviously I wouldn't actually bring one, but which is the normal human response to a giant insect?

 Pokey was a little upset by how much these creatures enticed my curiosity.  So, although I'm convinced she did see the value of a trip to view such a unique country, she is now giving me the silent treatment.  She stomped off into her log cave for the day and won't come out.  I guess we'll have to continue the conversation tomorrow.

Pokey vs New Zealand Travel

by Rachel Hoyt

Image by Federico Stevanin via freedigitalphoto.net

Hey there readers.  Pokey and I have been having a little argument. I've been trying to tell her that I want to promote tourism in New Zealand as part of a worldwide blogosphere event - Blog4NZ - but she just won't stand for it.  Pokey claims that she never knew anything happy about New Zealand until we read about the Turtle Lady a few weeks ago.  Now Pokey wants me to promise I won't go there until the Turtle Lady has recovered from her losses.

I know what you're thinking.  Pokey can't talk.  Well, you are right, but she and I communicate telpathically.  Sure, I may be interpreting, as I have no training in telepathic communication, but the way that she looks at me says it all.  She knows; and she knows that I know that she knows.  So, she tells me things.

My argument is this: I haven't taken an exciting trip in a really long time and there are so many fun things to do in New Zealand.  Not all areas of NZ were affected by the earthquake, you know? They have 14 national parks there!  I can visit a glacier and build my own spa at the hot beach on the same trip.  Why would my dear beloved pet want to deprive me of this pleasure?!

This post was written for Blog4NZ.  Please tweet it using #Blog4NZ to show your support!