The New York Turtle and Tortoise Society

Still from National Geographic Society film Black Caimans Project In Memoriam: John Thorbjarnarson Well-known Wildlife Conservation Society herpetologist John B. Thorbjarnarson died of malaria in India on February 14. While focusing much of his work on crocodilians, he also studied turtles extensively and was a presenter at the NYTTS-sponsored 1993 Purchase Conference and a senior author in the Proceedings of the conference. University of North Florida herpetologist Chuck Schaffer has written the following tribute: A Life in Conservation March 23, 1957–February 14, 2010 By Chuck Schaffer It is certainly a difficult task to put into words a person’s life in such as short tribute as this, especially after such a tragic loss. It is all the more daunting when it is to honor someone who lived such a full life, even in such a short period of time, as did John Thorbjarnarson, or John T as many of us knew him best. I’ll always remember him in a baseball cap and tattered button down shirt with a ready smile and story for any occasion. He was not only the consummate conservationist, but was a person to be remembered for so many things. He had an amazing memory for personal interests and always had something interesting to add. He always had a Manouria anecdote or sighting of them from some distant land, or news of a strange book for me. And I was certainly not unique in that respect. He was universally well liked, and I can honestly say, I never heard a harsh word spoken of him. John was born on March 23, 1957 and died on February 14, 2010, in India. Collapsing after giving a course at the Wildlife Institute of India, he was taken to the best hospital and given the best possible care. But by then it was already too late. He was diagnosed with advanced falciparum malaria likely contracted on his recent trip to Uganda working to save the animals he loved. And John died in New Delhi, India, doing what he loved, passing on his knowledge to those who will now carry his torch. Although for many years, he had called Gainesville, Florida, his home, he spent a great deal of time traveling to the far reaches of the globe — Africa, India, South America, Southeast Asia… Growing up near Old Tappan, NJ, he attended Northern Valley Regional High School, followed by college at Cornell in 1979, and later received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 1991. John was Senior Conservation Officer of the Wildlife Conservation Society and had been with them since 1993. He was also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University. His accomplishments were many and myriad. John was well known for his studies of reproductive ecology, diet, feeding behavior, movement patterns, habitat use, social behavior, and population dynamics. But for him, this research into the ecology and behavior of reptiles, didn’t stop here as a purely academic endeavor. He utilized this data in the development of conservation programs for a number of endangered species. Seeking solutions outside of the box, he explored subsistence and sustainable use of reptiles, fitting this approach into a number of in-situ conservation efforts. Although John was primarily known and respected as one of the world’s premier crocodilian biologists, he was much much more. Among his many exothermic interests were the American and Orinoco crocodiles, spectacled caiman, Chinese alligator, anaconda, and of course, turtles. His approach to conservation through community-based programs and sustainable use were both innovative and effective. Perhaps Anders Rhodin worded it most succinctly in his tribute, “I echo the sentiments of others as I stop to reflect on the dedication to conservation, crocodiles, and turtles that John had, and how he was always traveling to the ends of the earth and into wilderness regions to pursue his passion and work. His energy and devotion will indeed be sorely missed. How fragile is our existence sometimes and how close to the brink we all walk — yet at that brink are the challenges and opportunities we all savor. The risks we take are commensurate with the benefits we accrue — be they personal or professional. John loved his work and I'm sure he would not have changed what he did. His passing is untimely and incredibly sad, but his life was an inspiration. We shall remember and honor that life.” His sister, Lisa, wanted me to add that, “he was a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend. Words can’t express, obviously, what he meant to us. Thanks again for all your support.” John was a truly unique individual, one in a million as they say, and a good friend to those of us who knew him. He was incredibly well respected, putting all of his energy, his heart and his soul, into conserving the animals he loved. He leaves large shoes to be filled and will be sorely missed and always remembered fondly. ____________________________________________________________________ Editor — For more on John you might want to go to the blog of the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, which has a nice interview with John about his work: http://madrascrocbank.blogspot.com/2008/05/herp-talk-1-in-conversation-with-john.html. You may also want to see John in action in the Amazon at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/field/projects/black-caimans-project.html on the Black Caimans Project.

At the November 1st meeting, NYTTS members who participated in turtle biologist George Heinrich’s Florida Turtles Natural History Tour last summer shared their experience with slides and stories. (NYTTS tour group pictured right.) Another tour for NYTTS is being planned for mid-June 2011. See more information, including a slide show of last summer’s tour.

Next NYTTS Meeting:  Date and topic to be announced soon. Location will be The Gallery, Central Park Zoo, 64th Street and 5th Avenue, Manhattan. See the Central Park Zoo’s Web site for Directions to the Zoo.

Long-time NYTTS member Michael Sherwin has alerted us to the production of a new film Turtle: The Incredible Journey, from saveourseas.com, opening this fall in Europe and in 2010 in the U.S. It is a documentary that follows the life of a single loggerhead sea turtle from hatchling to adulthood. For more information go to Turtle: The Incredible Journey. Web site includes a high-definition trailer.

Citizen Scientist Michael Musnick — In NPR’s “Turtles On The Wrong Side Of The Tracks” (Science Friday, Ira Flatow), long-time NYTTS member Michael Musnick is featured as citizen scientist:      Michael Musnick is a citizen scientist who studies wood turtles in the Great Swamp—a stretch of wetland about 60 miles north of New York City. He found turtles dying in the railroad tracks and proposed a solution to New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority: tiny turtle bridges.      Filmed by Shelley DuBois and Flora Lichtman. Additional footage and photographs from Michael Musnick. Edited by Ira Flatow and Annette Heist. Produced by Flora Lichtman. (Click arrow to begin video.)

Clarifying Regulations in New York State for all Native Species:  The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation now requires a permit to keep any species of reptile and amphibian native to New York State. This includes all twelve species of New York turtles. The mechanism by which owners of New York turtles may acquire permits is being investigated.  Read and download an overview of the new regulations.

The Asian Turtle Crisis — An Update
From “Eaten to Extinction”—Assignment Earth, on Yahoo.com Video from guardian.co.uk		Compare these two videos. The first, from Assignment Earth, draws upon the video tapes of the Guangzhou market in China taken by Dr. Bill McCord in 1997. His widely distributed video footage and photos published by NYTTS and others became a clarion call for action. The state of urgency was dubbed “The Asian Turtle Crisis” (a take-off the Asian financial crisis of the 90s), and numerous Web sites and news articles helped raise public awareness. Conservation programs were launched both in Southeast Asia and in the United States. These included the Turtle Survival Alliance, the Asian Turtle Conservation Network, breeding endangerd turtles at the Tennessee Aquarium (referenced in the video), and the Asian Scholarship Program (originally launched by NYTTS and the Terrapin Conservation Project at the Wetlands Institute). But how much has changed in the twelve years since the orginal market videos and photos were taken? The second video was just taken in May, also in Guangzhou. In this video, by guardian.com.uk, student activists Wen Zhenyu and Luo Xinmei are trying to halt the illegal sale of endangered animals for food and medicines. Note the footage of tanks and pens filled with turtles. The facilities look a bit more modern, but the conditions differ little. See the complete story at guardian.co.uk.

A Yangtze giant softshell turtle was rescued and returned to the wild last November after flooding caused a dam to break on a lake outside of Hanoi. In February the Asian Turtle Program of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo hosted a workshop for residents of the Vietnamese communities bordering the lake. See report on this workshop from Asian Turtle News (PDF).

     This critically endangered turtle is one of only four in the world, one in Hoan Keim Lake in central Hanoi, and two in China at the Suzhou Zoo in a breeding program, which was reported on by Dr. Paul Calle at the Annual NYTTS Seminar in March.

Reptile Blog by Frank Indiviglio:
     Frank Indiviglio, former Staten Island Zoo and Bronx Zoo keeper, and long-time friend of NYTTS, writes numersous articles for That Pet Place, especially for That Reptile Blog as well as others. About 130 articles have been posted to date, covering pet care, natural history, Frank’s own experiences, and breaking research news. Frank writes all the articles for the Reptile Blog and for the Avian Blog, as well as many for the Fish Blog. Turtle folks may go directly to Frank’s collection of Turtle and Tortoise articles. Readers can leave comments, ask questions, and share observations. See also Frank’s biography of experiences.

     Pictured right: Frank Indiviglio demonstrates proper way to handle an alligator snapping turtle (“Handling Snapping Turtles, Chelydra serpentina, and Other Large Turtles”)

Children’s Books About Turtles:  Turtle Rehab Program director Lorri Cramer has assembled a list of books about turtles recommended for children.  See the Children’s Book List.

Membership Membership in the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society, which includes subscriptions to NYTTS publications and discounts to books and other sale items, is open to all interested persons (children are welcome to join under the supervision of their parents or guardians) for an annual fee of $25.  Please send check, payable to NYTTS Membership, to NYTTS, P.O. Box 878, Orange, NJ 07051-0878. Subscribe to NYTTSNews Powered by groups.yahoo.com NYTTS News Group E-mail Service.  Society members may now subscribe to the NYTTSnews e-mail service. This is an important means of communicating with our members.  To add your name, enter your e-mail address in the space at the left and click the Join Now! button.  To learn more about the NYTTSnews group, please visit groups.yahoo.com/group/NYTTSNews.   Questions?  Send your e-mail inquiries to the following addresses: Information about NYTTS and general animal care — Barbara Daddario:  QandA@nytts.org Turtle Rehab and Questions about Injured Turtles — Lorri Cramer:  lorric@nytts.org Mail Orders:  Books, T-shirts, and Sale Items — Allen Foust:  allenf@nytts.org Conservation and Trade Issues — Allen Salzberg:  allens@nytts.org      (See also www.herpdigest.org, an electronic newsletter.) Speakers and Programs — Alex Ypsilanti:  alex@nytts.org NYTTSnews News Group — William Espenshade:  william.espenshadeiii@gmail.com This Web site — Jim Van Abbema:  jim@nytts.org