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CURRENT NEWS
Update: Management of Recipient Sites, two day Course at the Institutes's Education Center.
August 22, 2008
Adjusting Dates
We have ample numbers to teach the course, "Planning and Running Tortoise Relocation Sites." We now have 2 spaces to fill the course. The course will be taught on the originally planned dates: September 11 and 12, 2008.
For more information on the course, click here.
FWC GUIDELINES
The latest version of the FWC guidelines regulating tortoise mitigation and relocation can be downloaded from www.myfwc.com. From the FWC homepage go to "Licenses/Permits" then click "Protected & Imperiled Wildlife" then select "Gopher Tortoise" to find the gopher tortoise guidelines. You can download it as a PDF file. Please send your comments to the Tortoise Program Coordinator at Deborah.Burr@MyFWC.com
WORKSHOP ON PROPER PLANNING AND METHODS OF TORTOISE RELOCATION
BEING HELD AT THE TURTLE SURVIVAL ALLIANCE CONFERENCE, TUCSON ARIZONA, SEPTEMBER 17-20, 2008. The workshop will be held the morning of Saturday, Sept 20, 2008 ...read more.
AMENDMENT 4 CONSERVATION TAX SUPPORT
Statement of Groups Endorsing "Yes on 4, the Conservation Land Amendment" ...read more.
PROFESSIONAL COURSES
Current Courses: Go to the Professional Courses section to find out the dates.
- Tortoise Boot Camp: THE BASICS OF TORTOISE MITIGATION, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT
A three day "Tortoise Boot Camp" or basics course. This course provides hands on, in the field and classroom training that covers the accepted or best management practices including trapping, health evaluations, transport and handling, commensals, tortoise surveys (GPS), excavation, and recipient site evaluation methods. Each participant receives a copy of Ashton and Ashton 2008. The Natural History and Management of the Gopher Tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus (Daudin), a $70 value.
- Management of Relocation: PLANNING AND RUNNING TORTOISE RELOCATION SITES
This course includes understanding how to work with recipient site landowners to be sure that the concept of relocation and its obligations, financial arrangements and contracts are understood. The course covers the methods of evaluating various types of recipient sites from cattle pastures to more natural areas, establishing permanent monitoring programs, data collection, storage and evaluation.
- Expanding the Courses: New Relocations (Save Fuel)
We are in the planning stages of offering at least one each of the above courses at the Nokuse Plantation in the Panhandle and in Lee or Collier Counties. Watch our web page for dates.
MENTORING ON-THE-SITE TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS OR CORPORATE/AGENCY STAFF
If your company is scheduling a dig, you can arrange for Ray teach staff at the dig site and several people can receive hands on training ...read more. FWC approval of this method of teaching for advanced certification should occur sometime after 1 June 2008. WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE APPROVAL ON THE WEB PAGE AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE IT. ALSO WATCH FOR THE NEW DATES AND SITES FOR THIS SUMMER AND FALL PROGRAMS.
IN THE NEWS: TELEVISION PROGRAMS featuring the Institute:
- "IN COLD BLOOD" - BBC, DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
- WILD FLORIDA - PBS SERIES "FLORDIA TURTLES AND TORTOISES"
WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES AND THEIR TORTOISES
The Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative (GTCI) has been working with residents from Sugar Mill Woods, Don Pedro Island and Cedar Key to protecttortoises in their community ...read more.
ABRPI WORKING TO PROVIDE COURSES FOR ZOO PROFESSIONALS ON REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
The first of a series of workshops for Florida zoo professionals took place May 1, at the Institute’s Education Center. Jen Stabile from the Central Florida Zoo coordinated the daylong workshop. Instructors included Ray Ashton, Dr. Elliott Jacobson, UF Vet School, Kevin Enge, herpetologist with FWC, and Mark Robertson, engineer and expert on zoo water filtration systems all talked on Using Natural History knowledge on developing proper husbandry of frogs, salamanders and other amphibians in captivity. The American Zoo Association has deemed 2008 as the year of the frog in zoos. The Central Florida Zoo has been made famous with its exhibit and annual festival centered on the Puerto Rican Coqui, a tiny frog from the disappearing rain forest. The frog plays a big role in native folklore and Jen Stabile has brought the folklore and Puerto Rican festival of the frog to the Central Florida Zoo. Each year hundreds of people come to the zoo to participate. Jen has been volunteering at the Institute for several months to learn more about how to naturally manage species in captivity and how to investigate the animal in situ to learn more about husbandry. Her experience stimulated the zoos to sponsor this workshop. The next program in this series will be on tortoises and turtles.
TORTOISE RELOCATION IN BURMA (MYANMAR)
Prior to the great devastation of Myanmar from the cyclone, The Turtles Survival Association (TSA) had been planning a program to help save the Burmese Star Tortoise. The Institute has been providing information on how to establish tortoise relocations based on what we know about how to successfully to do it with gopher tortoises. Two officials in charge of the program will be visiting the United States during this coming summer. The Institute will be hosting these individuals to teach and give them hands on experiences with developing tortoise relocation, particularly how to evaluate and create recipient sites. We have data on forage and habitat of the Indian Star tortoise and other species of savannah dwelling tortoises and find that their forage is very similar. We will take this experience and the data they have collected on the habitat of the Burmese star tortoise to develop a plan to move tortoises from areas being destroyed to more protected habitats. The Institute has hosted officials from Viet Nam, Bangladesh, and South Africa in the past.
IT IS FINALLY PUBLISHED!!!!
THE NATURAL HISTORY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE GOPHER TORTOISE GOPHERUS POLYPHEMUS (Daudin) 2008. Written by Ray and Pat Ashton. Published by Krieger Press.
You may order your book from ABRPI and support the fight for better conservation and research of the Gopher Tortoise.
Go to the BOOK ORDER page to order. Mail check or pay online through PayPal.
Or, you may purchase copies from the Krieger website, amazon.com or your local book dealer.
Excellent Book On Florida Turtles and Tortoise:
BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF FLORIDA TURTLES. Huge account on Gopher Tortoises with Dr. Henry Mushinsky as senior author. This is an excellent reference to the past 50 years of published research. It does not look forward to what has been or is in press, so much of the materail that fill gaps or defuse some dogmas will have to wait till next year. There was limited space after all. Other turtle accounts are great and bring things in most cases up to 2006. This is one of the best state works on Chelonians that has been done since the old masters. Hats off to all the contributors, editors and publisher.
IT IS TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2008
We need your support more than ever. We are traveling and talking with counties, landowners, and others to help develop a wise and successful conservation program throughout the state. Thanks for your continued support. BECOME A MEMBER
TORTOISE RELOCATION INFORMATION
Detailed information on planning and carrying out tortoise relocations... Establishing a Program. Where's the Money? Site Evaluations. Fencing. Monitoring & Management.
Conservation Tax Exemption
Tax Exemption for Land Owners Who Manage For Endangered Lands and For Wildlife ...read more.
Tortoise Conservation Issues
Research at the Institute
 The Ashton Biodiversity Research & Preservation Institute, Inc. is a non-profit (501 3C) foundation created in 1999 to contribute to better understanding and management of biodiversity in Florida, the U.S. and world wide. Its work is currently focusing on turtle and gopher tortoise conservation.
The institute is involved in the development of techniques to establish self-sustaining semi-wild colonies for savannah dwelling endangered tortoises. The Indian star tortoise is the first species we are using for this program. |
 The Ashton Biodiversity Research and Preservation Institute has a well equipped laboratory with an incubation room where the tortoise eggs are incubated and juveniles are raised until they are placed in outdoor pens with natural vegetation. Screening is used to protect them from aerial predators. Data on movements, home range, microhabitat use and social behavior are maintained as well as growth records. |
GOPHER TORTOISE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
The Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative (GTCI) is a proactive program to encourage and support private citizens, landowners, organizations, corporations, scientists, and governmental agencies that are concerned about or are interested in gopher tortoise and upland wildlife conservation in the state of Florida and the Southeastern U.S.
For information about services, professional level training courses, the Gopher Tortoise Reserve Program and informational downloads, go to the GTCI page.
GTCI Activities
We are participating in the FWC stake holder's meetings.
We have been meeting on various issues such as the URTD testing and its conservation value.
We are working with Nokuse Plantation to develop 11,000 acres of tortoise relocation lands in Walton County.
GTCI is working on developing the first agreement between FWC and a county to manage gopher tortoise conservation.
GTCI is meeting with officials to insure that policies are set to protect tortoioses and all the other protected species and habitats in the 18,000 acres of development on Orange County's Innovation Way project.
We have been working in South Carolina working with the Department of Natural Resources to develop the state’s Gopher Tortoise Assurance Colony Program.
Spread the Word!
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REPTILE TEES FOR SALE
Click here to see our new reptile shirts! This is a new way to help Ashton BRPI raise funds for gopher tortoise conservation.
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Looking for a great gift?
Order Gopher Tortoise book, click here.
BOOK CHALLENGE SUCCESS
MC Davis provided a $15,000 challenge grant to GTCI to raise matching funds to send copies of the Gopher Tortoise, A Life History to schools throughout Florida. WE WERE SUCCESSFUL! |
A message from Ray Ashton
Now you can make donations to Ashton Biodiversity through Paypal. Click here:
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BECOME A MEMBER
14260 W. Newberry Rd. # 331
Newberry, FL 32669
Phone: 352-495-7449
Fax: 352-495-7433
E-mail: Tortfarm2@aol.com |
