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STAKEHOLDERS ARE ASKED TO GATHER INPUT ON THE URTD
Last November opposing groups of biologists were called together to discuss
and work toward a final decision on URTD testing. The group was unanimous
in its decision to call for a moratorium on URTD testing to determine
whether or not tortoises could be relocated or not. We know a lot more now
about what the disease is and is not and the lack of conservation value in
the testing of tortoises to decide to permit relocation. Testing clearly is
a driving force for the TAKE rule which then forces land developers to Take
tortoises whether they want to or not. For more details about why their is
NO Conservation Value in testing, read the GTCI Petition to Stop URTD Testing. Those points were basically the points agreed to by the committee that included top Chelonian Veterinarian, Dr. Elliott Jacobson (opposed to testing as is) and Mary Brown an authority on the disease organism (but not tortoises). PLEASE CONTACT FWC AND THE GOVERNOR TO PUSH FWC TO DROP THE TESTING AND NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME WILLY-NILLY HALF WAY MEASURE THAT WILL NOT STOP THE UNNECESSARY TAKE OF TORTOISES.
Read about the Gopher Tortoise Take Rule.
Make youself heard on the URTD testing rule.
Latest Information on Gopher Tortoise FWC Stakeholder Proceedings. |
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