Through AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are working together to protect some of the world's most vulnerable species, such as the critically-endangered radiated tortoise. AZA plays a vital role in the conservation of endangered species, like these. I wanted to share with you a note from our colleague, Rick Hudson, President and CEO of the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA). Rick, TSA staff and staff from nearly 40 AZA-accredited facilities are or have been in Madagascar assisting with the historic rescue of 10,000 confiscated radiated tortoises. Please take a moment to read Rick’s update, and if you can help, please consider doing so.
Best regards,
Dan.
To the AZA Community:
On behalf of the Board of Directors, and the entire Turtle Survival Alliance family, we want to extend out sincerest gratitude for the TREMENDOUS outpouring of support for the ongoing Radiated Tortoise crisis in Madagascar. To date 37 zoos and aquariums have stepped up by sending volunteers (veterinarians, vet techs, keepers and construction workers), cash donations, and medical supplies. The number continues to grow but here is the impressive list of AZA institutions that have enabled our response to this crisis:
Abilene Zoo, Arizona Center for Nature Conservation (Phoenix Zoo), Birmingham Zoo, Brevard Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Dallas Zoo, Denver Zoo, Dickerson Park Zoo, El Paso Zoo, Florida Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, Houston Zoo, Indianapolis Zoo, Jenkinson's Aquarium, Kansas City Zoo, Little Rock Zoo, Louisville Zoological Garden, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, New England Aquarium, North Carolina Zoo, Oklahoma City Zoo, Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, Point Defiance Zoological Society, San Diego Zoo Global, Sedgwick County Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Tennessee Aquarium, Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center, Tulsa Zoo, Utah's Hogle Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society, Zoo Atlanta, Zoo Knoxville. The response from foreign zoo and organizations, as well as non -AZA facilities, and private donors has also been impressive, with hundreds of online donations to date.
TSA has been tested in the past, and we consider ourselves veterans of these types of crises. But nothing could have prepared us for this. Never before in the history of the TSA have we been confronted with a crisis of this magnitude, and one that demanded so many resources and skilled staff. Our initial response was swift and effective, and doubtless saved countless tortoises. That response would have been impossible without the generosity of the AZA community and I want to mention those that deployed staff for Team Radiata I: Dallas Zoo, Knoxville Zoo, Oklahoma City Zoo, Utah’s Hogle Zoo, and Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society.
To date our overall mortality has been less than 10%. Our first team arrived on the scene April 21 and is coming out now; Team Radiata II is in transit today, and Team III is being organized. But we will have demands well beyond the next month and will be in touch as we better assess our needs. Within the past week we have shifted largely from emergency critical care to daily husbandry and routine medical cases; though we still have a have a large number of medical cases that are responding well to therapy. Dr. Bonnie Raphael (WCS retired), who is riding herd on our veterinary response team, extends kudos to the outstanding dedication and expertise of our Malagasy vet team, which includes vets from TSA and Durrell.
Appeal for Help: Construction will be primary on our agenda in the coming month. The TSA has a tortoise rescue center in Itampolo, 5 hours south of where the confiscated tortoises are being held, and we are being pressed by local wildlife authorities to move tortoises here as soon as possible. So, our challenge now is to expand this facility and make it a functional place to care for thousands of tortoises – new enclosures, food prep and storage area, water storage, and structures for vets and caretakers to work. We have a “cracker-jack” construction team leaving today for two weeks, but we must back them up with other teams of qualified builders who can work under “less than ideal conditions” (there is no Home Depot nearby or anywhere else in Madagascar for that matter). Local Malagasy construction staff are on site to help.
I am leaving for Madagascar Friday (May 4) so please direct inquiries and offers of support to TSA COO Andrew Walde who is handling the logistics of volunteer travel and material delivery: Awalde@turtlesurvival.org
Again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the AZA community for your generosity in helping TSA turn this crisis around.
Warm Regards,
Rick Hudson, TSA President/CEO
Andrew Walde, TSA COO