I Two Turtles from Western Democratic Republic of the Congo

Volume 2, Number 4 - I 1: I - ,', KI=-lFj l&l-l w -

I,.: . -. ,,,I I . !I ,:: . I Two turtles from Western Democratic

r/. I :, I ,.

Republic of the Congo: ' > , , I . ./I /I 8 ($8 I:,( : . >>:1.1 .',, ,,I, Itt, Pe/usios cchapiand K/h/xys erosa

Bruce G. Marcot, Ph.D. Research Wildlife Ecologist USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station 620 SW Main St., Suite 400 Portland OR 97205 USA bmarcot @ fs.fed.us 20 October 2004 . " .To>--... .+ . -> - , During August-September 2004 I engaged in an expedition to . a , -. *. ,D.-.q+ -. western Democratic Republic of I' - I I bh o the Congo (DR Congo). During . I .:~d',. this trip, I encountered two turtle - f: -* -4, '---? i; species in villages along a remote : b, :t ::. t section of the Ubange River approximately 5-50 krn north of 4 the confluence with the Congo .', . .. =,I * A. River. . . - - - 1 -1'? *w:*m- 2. LL- R/par/;3ngrass and forest habiats dong the Ubangi River /hBobangi Wage. Pelusios chapini personal communication). : On 8 September 2004, in Photos I took may be one .. - -Ma-, .-.. ' Bobangi village (0" 6.67' S of the first taken of P. '.a ' latitude, 17 " 43.26 E longitude, chipini, at least in its native 'I I established by GPS), I encoun- ' 5-1- environment. tered a specimen of Pelusios

I chapini or Central African Mud This specimen was a male,

Turtle. Bobangi is situated along evidenced by the obviously . . the banks of the Ubange River in concave plastron, and

seasonally flooded riparian measured 27 cm carapace .*,.cm, . gallery forests with floodplain length (curved measure) grasses and shrubs. and 2 1 cm plastron length . . (straight-line measure). i,;?r,3;?,?r~ O/I~+ILI~IO~C~LIFII-I Apparently, many specimens of Pelusios housed in zoos and I encountered this specimen in a most i '0 me as a gift, with a live collections in the U.S. are mis- interesting manner. It was presented duck and bunches of plantains, identified to species (D. Senneke, continued on page 2 1 hosts to release it back into the wild further downriver. Kinixys erosa On 9 September 2004, in a river- side market in Mobenzino village (0" 22.80'

Carapace ofPelusios chapini Head of Pelusios chapini fuckedsideways ~hfoshe// S latitude, 17 " - -. - 45.16 E longi- Ci, tude) along the banks of the 1 Oubange River, I encountered five specimens of Kinixys erosa or Forest Hingeback (also called Eroded Hingeback, Serrated Hinge- P/astron ofpelusios chapini I Pelusios chapini back, Rosy Pelusios chapini andKinixys erosa, alive and well (no signs of Hingeback, and Schweigger continued from page I ecoparasites or disease). We kept Hingeback) being sold for food by the chief of Bobangi and his it alive and I urged our expedition (bushmeat). continued on page 8 council. Along with colleagues from USDA Forest Service and the non- government organization Innovative Resources Management, I had spent several days in Bobangi as part of our work with local villagers to help them establish sustainable forest resource management at the com- munity level. The chief knew of my interest and expertise in wildlife Your World Chelonian Trust Board of Trustees ecology, and presented me with this specimen as a token of appreciation. Darrell Senneke, Director Glen Jacobsen, Treasurer and Trustee Apparently, it had been captured in Paula Morris, Trustee & Newsletter Editor Lisa Weiss, Trustee the local riparian forest and was I I Ken Carlsen, Trustee Chris Hobson, Trustee Sharon Chancellor, Trustee Chris Tabaka, Veterinary Advisor Mike Pingleton, Trustee Chuck Slzaeffer, Trustee

Need to contact us by land mail? World Chelonian Trust's Mailing Address is mrll Irfm PI. It 8 Igt8lt WIY World Chelonian Trust to gat last %rawer8to wrrr PMB #292 685 Bridge Street Plaza hrsLardrr ~roattorr. I Owatonna MN 55060 group A Health Crisis started to by Shelly Jones, wind down World Chelonian Trust in the fall, I let her join them. She I guess this story all began at the seemed very 16th Annual Midwest Herpetological in tune to Symposium in Kansas City four the process, years ago. I met a fellow tortoise much to my lover and had some fun talks with delight, her. Even though we lived in differ- letting the ent parts of the country, we kept in sun tell her touch after the show. Later that year it was time she helped me refine an article on to slow refrigerator hibernation that I wrote down. that was to be published in an After a finya, a Russian to/fose, T. horsf ieldii, now recovered from a Me- upcoming World Chelonian Trust proper threatening accumu/ation of UIYC acidgranu/at/bn in her b/adde~ newsletter. Through this venture and autumn our common love of tortoises, we wind-down, I put her into hibernation mouth and was really wheezing. I became good online friends. with the rest of the group and she panicked and called the vet right A few years later, she decided to hibernated without incident. I gave away. I called in sick for the rest of part with her Testudo horsfieldii her a shorter hibernation than the the day and took her in within an hour group because she felt that her rest-only 12 weeks. When she to my local vet. climate did not best suit this particu- awoke, I had the digital camera ready With the aid of the Jimmy Tool, lar species' needs. It was a very hard and took pictures of her just waking the vet opened up her mouth and, with decision for her. Horsfields tortoises up and pictures of her eating the next a flashlight and hemostats, was able to are what I keep and really adore. My day and sent them to my friend. An- get more pieces of lettuce out of the Midwest climate is perfect for them. other successful hibernation. I was back of her throat. He said that she She offered me one of her big fe- relieved. I know my friend was also. did not appear to have RNS and he males. I was so honored that she felt Together, we gave a collective sigh of thought the foam I saw was from that I would provide a good home for relief. During the first week up, excess salivation due to the greens one of her tortoises. The tortoise she Tanya was alert, eating well and stuck in her mouth. Her lungs sent me was the biggest female I had gaining weight. Things were good. sounded fine. He sent me home with ever seen. She was and is beautiful, Exactly one week after she woke Baytril because we had been digging with a very gentle nature. I was from hibernation is when our health in her mouth and he felt it was a good thrilled, to say the least, to add Tanya crisis began. Upon soaking in a tub precaution to get her on antibiotics. to my tort family. of warm water, I noticed that Tanya The cost for this visit was $55.54. I promised this friend that I was making a rasping sound. I took During her course of Baytril, would keep her up to date on her tor- her out of the tub and noticed some Tanya did not improve much. Some toise that came to live with my greens sticking out of her mouth. days she was all foamed up at the group. I kept that promise and sent With my Jimmy Tool, I opened her mouth and sounded like she was many pictures and told many stories mouth and found some lettuce stuck blowing bubbles. She also was about what her tortoise was up to. to the roof of her mouth. I dug out all breathing through her mouth a lot. This bond strengthened our friend- that I could see and thought that Seven days after starting the Baytril, I ship. would solve the problem. I never had looked inside Tanya's mouth again After having this tort for over a a tort get greens stuck to the top of its and found a piece of lettuce stuck at year-and-a-half and her being very mouth; this must have been an odd the front near her nares. I got that out. healthy the whole time, I decided it occurrence, I thought. I put her back The poor girl must have been having a was time to have this tortoise hiber- in her indoor habitat as it was too really hard time breathing. She nate. She had been in captivity for at cold to go outside yet. seemed to clear up. Her open mouth least eight years and had not hiber- The next day, I checked on her breathing ended but I still occasion- nated during that time. I was hoping before I went to work and she ap- ally saw bubbles from her nose. she would be able to sense the peared fine. When I came home for I knew it was time to get back in change in seasons and let nature take lunch she had foam all over her its course. So, as the rest of my continued on page 4 3 A Health Crisis, continued from previous page to eat, she would get really bubbly. suggested that, if this did not do the touch with her vet. Timing is every- I felt so sorry for her. I felt so trick, I should contact Kansas State thing; I found out he'd just left for a sorry for me. Veterinary College which has an week vacation. I had to do some This tortoise had been sick for excellent reputation and is only a few quick research and ended up going to about a month at this point and I had hours away. I agreed. This vet visit the vet that takes care of the reptiles not told her previous owner yet. I was and antibiotic was $30.20. at our little children's zoo in town. hoping at the beginning that a quick Antibiotic number three. Poor He took one x-ray of her. He also round of Baytril would clear her up little gal was getting poked by swabbed the inside of her mouth. He and then I could say, " Oh, by the needles and tubed for nutrition from admitted that he had not done a lot of way, ...." But she wasn't getting over me. I felt like she was beginning to work on tortoises before. If a zoo this health issue and I was getting in hate me even though she always tortoise got sick, a quick course of deeper and was having a hard time listened to me when I told her it was Baytril had always done the trick and finding a way to tell my friend about for her own good and she always let he didn't have to look to other treat- the problem. It was time, though. me rub her head. I just wanted her to ment options. He did not think she She needed to know. get better and get to frolic with the had mouth rot or pneumonia. We did I e-mailed her with the details other torts who were beginning to not see anything on the x-ray that and waited for her reply. All my fears really enjoy the spring weather. I just would indicate a foreign object. So, of telling her the problems were for wanted her healthy! while we waited for the culture to nothing. She couldn't have been The amazing thing is that during come back, he put her on doxycy- more understanding and supportive. this illness she was still putting on a cline to keep the respiratory distress She became a great sounding board. nice little growth ring and she was from.worsening. The vet visit and It was also nice to have someone doing a little bit of shedding around antibiotic cost was $97.60. going through the crisis with me, the shoulders and head area. She was During her course of doxycycline someone who understood what I was growing despite her illness. she seemed to improve marginally. going through. A true friend. Well, the Fortaz didn't fix the The culture showed a gram- Like I said, Tanya seemed to get problem, either. It was time to negative strain which, according to consult K-State. With the help of the vet, should have cleared up Chris Tabaka, the World Chelo- with Baytril. We finished the nian Trust veteriaary advisor, I course of doxycycline as this also was made aware of a vet with treats gram-negative bacteria and experience with turtles and her strain may have been resistant tortoises at K-State. So, per to the Baytril. To my dismay, the Chris's recommendation, I made culture he took was not a precise an appointment with Dr. Brad test. I had asked him to culture it Lock. I was able to get in within so we would know exactly what a few days. So, on appointment antibiotic would work. He just day I packed my tort up for a tested to see if it was gram- comfortable drive, called in sick negative or positive. to work, and we headed two-and- a-half hours south. About three weeks into her Lungs (dark area at the top of the cara- illness, I had to learn to tube feed pace) distorfed by the mended b/adde~ What excellent service we because she was not eating much got down at K-State! We got and her weight was reflecting that. better but never got over the illness there early and they started seeing us She did have an appetite but, every with two different antibiotics. I was right away. A vet in training took us time she tried to eat, she got all doing a lot of reading during this first and got a detailed summary of mucousy and gave up. The mucous month of illness. I had been reading a my tortoise's ailments, treatment coming out of her became less slimy lot about pseudonomas and how they history, etc. Then we saw Dr. Lock. and overall cleared up but never went were becoming resistant to many He has written and published a lot of away. By this time, the weather was antibiotics. This is when another reports on boas and iguanas.Vira1 starting to warm up and so I was able friend told me about Fortaz (cefta- nasties are one of his specialties. He to get her to some good ole fashioned zidime). This antibiotic was proving completed his post-graduate training sunshine which really perked her up. very successful in resistant strains of at the University of Florida. I even got her to take some nibbles bacteria. I took some information on He suggested that we do three x- when outdoors. But, even though she this into the second vet and he agreed wanted to eat, every time she started to give one more antibiotic a try. He continued on page 14 4 Life is a zoo for WCT member alligators and caimans, frogs, toads, tarantulas, scorpions, Austra- Linda Putnam lian stick insects, roaches, etc., it is Anyone who has participated in opened the Tropical American the turtles and tortoises that I have the WCT Online Turtle and Tor- Rain Forest exhibit and Linda to admit make me grin the most. In toise Care discussion list at became the reptile keeper, one of 1993 the Aldabra tortoise exhibit was constructed. Our largest male, YahooGroups will be familiar with a group of specialist keepers Big Al, is on breeding loan from Linda Putnam's sunny and helpful working exclusively in the Rain the Oklahoma City Zoo and is my presence; she is always ready to Forest building. This was a new contribute her considerable direction for both the Zoo and favorite animal in the whole world! The Aldabras became especially expertise in afriendly, humorous Linda; for the first time her work and positive manner. wonderful to us in 1999 when we Linda's posts are finally were able reliably upbeat and to get eggs from encouraging, and in our female. They sharing her extensive hatched in 2000. experience with zoo Since then we've and private chelo- had babies in nian husbandry she 2001 and 2003. has helped countless Unfortunately, the other keepers online. eggs that should have hatched this spring and sum- Linda is the Curator mer have not of Reptiles at the done so. The first Tulsa Zoological clutch proved to Park. She has been be infertile when on the staff of the they were opened. Zoo since 1975, Curator of Reptdes at the Tu/sa Zoo in Ok/ahoma, Lmda Putnam poses with The second clutch working first as a a male Aldabran tortoise on breedig /oan from the OMahoma CiiZoo. is past due but, as seasonal keeper, then becoming a full-time employee in was concentrated in one facility. all tortoise keepers know, hope springs eternal so we'll probably 1978, when the Zoo opened its Four years later she was offered wait a little while before we open North American Living Museum. the job of Reptile Curator, and in those. The zoo's collection also Her first assignment was in the May of 2000 she accepted the includes Yellow-foots, Pancakes, newly-formed Aquarium Depart- position. "My first big job was to Flat-tails, Black-breasted Leaf ment, but in 1981 she switched hire a keeper to take my place. turtles, Twist-neck turtles, over to the Reptile Department. Talk about SCARY! ! ! However, I Hermann's tortoises, Radiated Though she enjoyed the Aquarium lucked out. I now have five full- tortoises, Spiny turtles, Pan's box work very much, Linda says that time keepers and two part-time turtles, Amazon River turtles, a within a week after moving to paid interns that I supervise. I Matamata and a Desert tortoise. reptile keeping she had, in her have been blessed with superb Also a Painted turtle, Stinkpot words, "...found my niche. The people who love the Zoo and their turtles, plus various sliders and rest is history!" For 19 years she animals and work hard. Talk about cooters." worked as a keeper in the reptile easy to supervise-I love self- department, caring for animals in starters! !" Caring for reptiles is not just three of the North American build- Linda,s husbandry responsibilities Linda's "day job." From her early zoo days, she kept a pair of Red- ings, a section of the Conservation at the Zoo are extensive. uAl- Center, and the Aldabra Tortoise though the Reptile Depmment foot Tortoises (Geochelone exhibit and yard. cares for numerous snakes (both carbonaria) at home, along with In the summer of 1996, the Zoo venomous and non), lizards, Leopard geckos, a boa, and a continued on page 6

Making chelonian information available around the world: released them. Because of these Yasunon' Enaka trans/afes WCTcare sheefs experiences, Yasunori writes, "I was concerned that it would be into Japanese on the WCT web site impossible for the turtles to adjust to living with people. However, I In this issue it is our privilege to I was hopeful that someday I would introduce a very important and be able to have turtles because I dedicated individual who helps knew that others had successfully put theUWorld" in World Chelo- helped turtles to adjust to life with nian Trust: Yasunori Tanaka. people." Yasunori has translated over 30 of our website articles and In 1992 Yasunori was admitted to caresheets into his native Japa- the agricultural department of nese, making this information Kobe University and started available to Japanese-speaking keeping turtles as pets. He real- Yasunori Tanaka3 tun'le, Yuu, is a Cuora ized that "Even the wild-caught turtle and tortoise keepers via the amboinensis kamaroma. Attention to her diel internet. He works from his home (more greens and vegetables and less pro- specimens can become accus- tein-ricn foods) has hewthe turt/e become tomed to people if you spend in Japan, donating his time and /cane/; more active, and much hea/t/ie/: expertise to help make our ANpholos by Yasunon. Tanaka. enough time and pay attention to website truly international. the aquarium space, water The WCT is deeply grateful quality, food, and so on." to Yasunorifor his devoted Unfortunately, with no efforts. A complete list of specialized veterinary care the many articles he has available nearby, some of translated appears at the his turtles died. It was not end of this profile. until several years later that a veterinary clinic Yasunori grew up in a rural providing expertise in area where it was not reptile care became avail- uncommon to see wild able near his home. Reeve's turtles (Chinemys reevesii). Though he was During his college years, always fascinated by Yasunori was also inter- turtles and wanted to keep ested in several types of some as pets, his parents tropical lizards, but he did not allow him to have never kept any as pets any, preferring that he because he was concerned concentrate on his studies. about obtaining live food As a high school student, for them during the cold he wondered if turtles winter months. He also could ever be happy in a thought about keeping captive environment, and tortoises as pets, but he what he should do if he only saw a few isolated could not fulfill their specimens and found that needs. There were a few he was much more in- instances when he brought trigued by aquatic turtles. turtles home, but when he Today, Yasunori keeps found that they would not only one turtle, a female eat and spent all their Yuu3 aquatic habitat is outside on Yasunori's deck The tank can receive sunshine from the top on warm days, but is a/so insdated Malayan Box Turtle energy trying to escape, he against the cold with styrofoam sheets. Supp/emntalyunderwater (Cuora amboinensis) wisely took them back to heaf and overhead UVassure that the tud/eis comfodab/e in any their wild habitat and weathe/: continued on page 70 7 DR Congo, Pelusios chapini and Prokop of Czechoslovakia, Dr. Kinixys erosa, continuedfrom Harald Artner of Austria, Bill I Page2 ern DR Congo, including McCord, and Ferry Gruneward herps, birds, and mam- of Netherlands. My photos of mals, has been greatly Kinixys were identified by Chris reduced or locally deci- Tabaka, D.V.M., Paula Morris, mated by local subsistence and Ken Carlsen, United States. Ihunting, by the illegal My appreciation to all these - bushmeat trade, and by experts.

Ch flage (7th from /eft) with tuba/ recent war. Influence of OF THE BOX? counci/ andg& of the tun'/e, plantains, and a duck such practices on turtle Please share your unique hus- populations needs study tc bandryideas with other WCT determine if these two members! Many of you use species and others are ordinary household or hardware secure or in peril. I spent items in innovative ways, several weeks in pirogues whether for habitat construction (dugout canoes) and or everyday chelonian chores. trekking in swamp forests We will be featuring some of and riparian forests, and these great ideas in future saw no other turtles. issues. If you have a special tool or product which makes turtle Acknowledgments and tortoise care easier or more Kin~xyserosa carapace I thank Darrell Senneke, efficient, please send it to Lisa Director of World Chelo- Weiss at the following e-mail nian Trust,for helping address: with the identifications tortoise@i~s.net

on these species. My with your idea (unless you ask

See you in the newsletter!

Rura/ market in Mobenzino vi//agealong the Ubangi River ,,,,,,A,; erosa head Egg dystocia caught on radiographs by Chris Tabaka, DVM, and World Chelonian Trust Veterinary Advisor Upper /eft and r/ght I Graptemys caglei. This an/ina/ disp/ayed s/gns of frying to /ay but was u&/e to do so. She'd been off her food for about 2 weeks and was sepfic when presented A radiograph shows an egg firm4 wedged /h herpe/vic canal unab/e to pass. This is a fair4 common prob/em in young fema/e che/onians that are not yef fu// s~zed when they a ffempt to /ay their list ova Wth aggressive therapy as we//as 1 surge% this an/ina/reco v- ered fu/& Be/ow left and /ight Chelodina longicollis. This animal nicknamed "Goofy': presented with a fractured egg h/gh up in her coelomic cavity as we// as one /h herpe/vic ;Met. Due to some congenital ma/formations, her c/oaca is extreme& constricted which made egg /wing difficult for her /eading to her dystocia fdifcu/u/ty/h egg /ay/hg). Nofe the miss/hgporfion of the egg on the radiograph. Again, with aggressive medics/ therapy as we// as some surge% she was ab/e to make a fu// recovey and now /ives done as a pet /h her caregiver's home.

Normal gravidity Left:Pancake tortoise, Malacochersus tornieri. Nofe the /arge, fu/& sheled and we//-ca/cifiedova in this Pancake tortoise, Pancakes are the on/y species that you can pa/pafe dorsovenfra//y through the she// itse/f fo deferme if they are gra vid rather than the fyp/ica/rear hinb fossa pa/pation technique. Go to page 22 fora radiograph ofa hea/thj gravidHeosemys spinosa. WCT Translator Yasunori Tanaka, continued from page 7 named Yuu. He got her in November of 1999, after doing some serious research and thinking about which type of turtle would be best for him to keep. Yasunori says, "The main reason I chose this species was because it is hardy. Furthermore, these turtles do not grow drastically large." Additionally, he was charmed by the hinged plastron and the way the species could completely close its shell. In the beginning, Yuu had many health problems and Yasunori relied heavily on the newly-built veterinary clinic. "Every time she became ill I took her to that clinic. If I had not known about the clinic, she would not be alive today." Lately, Yuu's health is good and she is calm and well-adjusted to her captive habitat. "She eats well, sunbathes a lot and is very used to people." For now, Yuu is the only turtle in Yasunori's life, and he does not plan to acquire any others unless it is to breed C. arnboinensis someday. In Yasunori's words, "This is partly because having one turtle is enough work and I want to make sure I can give her complete care. But the main reason is that having one turtle is satisfying enough for me." - Top photo: A textured wooden ramp /eading to a hau/-ouKbaskingarea. Bottom: Yuu on her basking platform. She has accfimated we// to humans bul is happiest fin her watery home.

Translations by Yasunori Tanaka currently available or soon to be on the WCT Website at www.chelonia.org

Chelydra (Snapping turtle) Graptemys (Map turtle) Chinemys nign'cans Zndotestudo forstenii Chinemys reevesii Kinosternon (Mud turtle) Chrysemys picta (Painted turtle) Ocadia sinensis Cistoclemmys (Cuora)galbinifions Podocnemis unifilis Clemmys guttata (Spotted turtle) Pseudemys Cuora amboinensis (Malayan Box turtle) Pyxis planicauda Cyclemys Rhinoclemmys pulchem'ma (Central American Geochelone denticulata (Yellow-foot tortoise) Wood turtle) Geochelone elegans (Star tortoise) Sternotherus Geochelone pardalis (Leopard tortoise) Terrapene (North American Box turtle) Geoemyda spenglen (Vietnamese Black-breasted Testudo graeca terrestris ("Golden Greek" tortoise) Leaf turtle) Testudo hermanni (Hermann's tortoise) , Glyptemys insculpta (North American Wood turtle) Testudo QWORLD

Question: I recently purchased a Red-foots, Brazilian Red-foots, worms (cut up, if necessary). This one year-old leopard tortoise and Barbados Red-foots and couple of s the best "starter food" I know of have been trying to learn all I can trios whose origins I'm unsure of, 'or Ornate Box turtles. It is not about its care and feeding. One urobably captively-bred "mixes." lnusual for turtle hatchlings not to question that seems to go unan- They all have slightly different :at for the first week or so as they swered in everything I've read is looking or differently shaped ire still using internal yolk re- about their sociability. Are they shells. I must say there seems to be ;erves. There is no reason to panic content to be alone or are they a lot of different types of G. car- yet. happier in the company of others? bonaria out there.

Answer: Tortoises do not "need" Answer: I have never heard of Question: At what agelsize can a companionship. I think that one Amazon Basin G. carbonaria Greek tortoise be correctly sexed? reason you see so little on this is fitting what you describe as a local because the interaction between "type", BUT what you describe is Answer: It is not so much age- individuals often depends on the a pretty good description of the related as it is size-related; tor- specific animal. Some seem to en- Amazon Basin Yellow-foots (G. toises in captivity typically mature joy it and others take offense and denticulata). much faster than those in the wild. fight. Usually they can be sexed when These do get extraordinarily large, they are sub-adults, about two- If you do attempt this, the second fully as big as you describe. They thirds the adult size. This can take animal should be of similar size are very rare in the United States. anywhere from 4 to 8 years or and you should watch for signs of There are some of these "off more. If it is a male he may dis- aggression. You are quite wise to display" in the St Louis Zoo and play his penis as a hatchling, but use the same species in this attempt they're fully as big as the zoo's not all males do it so that only is a if you should do so. Galapagos tortoises. help in some cases. a While I am not a geneticist I agree Question: I know that Star Question: I am trying tofind any that G. carbonaria possibly could tortoises are protected under info on the Amazon Basin Redfoot. have either subspecies or at least CITES. Do you know if there are I have been told that they get very ESUs (evolutionarily significant any restrictions on moving a pet large-30"-36"-plus-at maturity. units). Our Venezuelan-sourced Ifthey do exist they must be very Star tortoise f/om South Dakota to animals act and look much differ- California? rare, I have not gotten one email ent than our others. There also back and I have sent out dozens. I appear to be two different "types" Answer: There should be no was told that most of these subspe- of Cherry Heads. problems with this as Star tor- cies are exported to European toises are not protected by either hobbyist. If you could point me in state or the Endangered Species the right direction for information I Question: I have two-week-old Act. CITES only has weight in would be grateful. Also, would it be Terrapene ornata that are not international trade. As a result of fair to say that when it comes to the eating anything I have given them this many critically endangered Redfoot tortoise, there is currently (mealworms, greens and fruits). I species are still found in food not much information on subspe- have been told to try and give markets within their home coun- cies. It seems that they are all them cat or dog food. Can you tries. Ironically, in this situation lumped under one name. I am guide me a bit with these little because of the CITES protection breeding several different types of guys? they can not be purchased at these G. carbonaria: Brazilian Cherry food markets for shipment out of Heads, Surinam Red-foots, Guiana Answer: Try very small earth- continued on nextpage 1 Q & A, continued from page 77 mosquito exposure, and using Bti to not harmful to humans, other 1 the country-even to save their lives. target mosquito larvae if chemical mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, or control is necessary. beneficial insects. According to the manufacturer it is Question: With the West Nile Virus scare, a lot of people are using those cakes of BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) in their ponds to control mosquitoes. For those who have ponds with water turtles who can't use the mosquito fish, does anyone know the BTI will harm the turtles? Answer: One of the advantages of Bt or Bti (also called mosquito dunks; check the composition on the packaging) is that it is suppos- edly harmless to anything but Mayan Lidded Turtle Vessel in San Francisco Museum Exhibit insects. I tend to avoid any kind of The Maya likened the hard articulated shell of the turtle to the dry cracked soil from pest control other than traps, but in which maize emerges with the onset of the rainy season. The turtle was thus a metaphor the case of West Nile a bit of for the earth itself, from which the Maize God was reborn annually. consideration of consequences if Vasija de caparazon de tortuga con tapa (Pottery, 15" diameter). Provenance unknown. you do not protect yourself needs to The pot looks shiny, metallic on top (shell and details of head and tail). -Submitted by Carol Cranney be kept in mind.

Bt was actually already on the scene in the 1950's but was used FAUNA mostly in agriculture. Because it The Official Magazine had a short half-life (36 hours) an( of the was not toxic to mammals, birds, International Fauna Society reptiles, fish or worms, it was also seen as a very acceptable solution Www-FaU"dSOCk@~0 Every quarter, IFS members eagerly anticipate to the gypsy moth problem and w: and receive Fauna, the official publication of the used widely for this. However, Bt lnternational Fauna Society. Often compared with National Geo- did not uniquely target the gypsy graphic in scope and stunning photographic beauty, Fauna offers the very best in natural history information, fun facts, amazing articles, moth, but also killed some other and glimpses into some of the most far away and remote regions on moths and butterflies, which was a earth. In the near future, the IFS plans to introduce specialty publica- sad downside. tions, children's newsletters, I and interactive media that Bt that targets mosquito larvae is a will broaden their educa- more specialized larvicide, Bacillus tional reach and further thuringiensis israelensis, is be- support their goals. lieved to have a negligible effect on wildlife including fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife supports an Integrated Pest Management ap- proach to mosquito control that emphasizes taking steps to reduce -- 12 Education can be fun- I even learned something! by Ken Carlsen, WCT Trustee

The Thousand Springs Art Festival Idaho's agricul- was great! It was a beautiful late tural industry September day, about 85", and the today. location was a very unique place. I The Snake River headed east from Boise, Idaho about Canyon is very 100 miles and, after leaving the young geo]ogi- accompanied WCT 7iustee Ken Carlsen to the Thousand freeway, I traveled south over 10-12 I cally, which is Springs Arf Festival . miles of irrigated farmland. I could why it literally see fields for miles ahead. Most drops right out of the desert floor. It This is the canyon Eve1 Knievel travelers are unaware, but I knew was started by the Lake Idaho flood, unsuccessfully tried to jump on the fields in the distance were which drained much of southern his 'Skycycle' a few miles from actually on the other side of a large Idaho creating Hells Canyon in the the festival site 30 years ago. canyon, invisible until you get to the process, then continued by the When I arrived at the site, edge and there it drops several Bonneville Flood, which drained parking was in a farmer's field hundred feet straight down before ancient Bonneville Lake that cov- above the north rim of the angling toward the Snake River, ered much of northern Utah and canyon and people were bused named for the Shoshone (Snake) northeastern Nevada. The natural to an island at the bottom- Indians who have inhabited this re- dam broke near present day Poca- except those of us manning the gion for millennia. Pioneers on the tello in southeastern Idaho only booths. I was allowed to drive Oregon Trail hated this part of their about 14,000 years ago. It is esti- down. For that I was thankful journey as the only water they could mated that a wall of water 400 feet for I had Mrs. Mac with me, a see was at the bottom of the canyon, high suddenly flowed down the 120-lb. Aldabra tortoise, access points could be hundreds of existing river channel. The flood Geochelone gigantea. She's miles apart, and this is desert coun- continued for about an eight-week small for an Aldabra but carry- try. Tragically, many lost their lives period and a continuous flow of 15 ing her down the side of the trying to get to it, and to their family million cubic feet per second canyon would have been a and livestock. They were unaware scoured out the Snake River Can- challenge. Documentation of the huge aquifer just below the yon. The Great Salt Lake is the suggests she's a little over 100 desert floor that powers southern relative puddle that is left from the years old. She's a former resi- original Lake Bonneville. You can dent of Zoo Boise. Due to still see the old shoreline above scoliosis, she has a pinched downtown Salt Lake City, nearly spinal cord which has left her 1,000 ft above the present day level partially paralyzed in her front of the Great Salt Lake. limbs. Big Mac, the male still at Zoo Boise, weighs about 350 Another result of these cataclysmic pounds. events was the formation of the Hagerman Fossil Beds where we The festival was on a large continue to find Clemmys owy- island owned and maintained by heensis turtle fossils from the rela- the Nature Conservancy near tively recent Pliocene epoch. Since Idaho Power's Thousand these animals were alive, huge lakes Springs hydroelectric plant. The and adjacent marshes in this vast 'island' is not actually 'in' the region were changed to desert. Snake River. The river is on one Health Crisis, continued from page 4 through her cloaca, but the I rays to get a good look at her lungs. s~hincterinto the bladder was H; alsowanted blood work, fecals, too tight to allow him and viral, iridoviral, and mycoplasma through. tests done. He told me it would take The fecals came back a few hours so my husband and I negative. The blood work was left, had lunch and checked out all good. The kidneys appear Manhattan, Kansas. When we got to be working just fine and her back our vet student said we got our blood urea levels were fine. money's worth at this visit. They He said her white blood count threw in a free CT scan because the was a little low but everything students had never done a CT scan else was where it should be. on a chelonian and the x-rays were The vet said the results on the baffling and a CT scan would help mycoplasma and viral tests reveal what they were looking at. would be in the following This was such a great teaching ex- week. He is a virus guy, like I perience for all the veterinary stu- said, and he still suspected dents. Maybe this will help future that she might have a virus turtles as those students become lurking. veterinarians. He told me that this On the X-ray her lungs were SO discovery made sense why I cT scan: the so/idb/ackon top is the lung field tiny and they couldn't figure out was only seeing the mucous squashedagainst the carapace. Laye darkovalobject towards the bottom is the full bladde~Small white spots why. They should look like big ovals when she bent her head down bottom bladderminerahiation, -.-- when x-rayed from the front and her to eat. Tortoise lungs are like from a vet. It is not prescription so I lungs looked like small pencils. The sponges and her lungs had been don't know why they go this route. I CT scan r~ealedwhat I hoped was squeezed up top and filled with fluid; was lucky to find it in my home the underlying cause of all her prob- when she bends down to eat the fluid in town. I suggested to Dr. Lock that he lems: her bladder was so full and her lungs runs out. Chris Tabaka might want to carry some of this at distended that all of her organs and concurred with Dr. Lock that mechani- K-State if he recommended it often fluids were pushed, shoved, and cal causes from the "enlarged bladder to clients with herbivores. scrunched together. The lungs looked pushing up on the lungs" was causing Taking a look at a CT scan was so small because instead of lying in the symptoms seen when her head was You could see all of her their normal position, they were down attempting to eat. internal organs pushed and shoved in scrunched up above her head at the She had be placed On another strange places. That test is about 300 top of her carapace. antibiotic for 14 days because he put a dollars. The CT scan even showed The CT scan also showed some needle into her bladder. This antibiotic that the nares were clear, she had no "sand" in her bladder. The "sand" is called Ceftiofur. I was so to blockage and no masses, 1 definitely was little granules of uric acid lying get the results we found in just one visit out that they threw it in for at the bottom of her bhdder. They to this vet. My only concern was that free. The college was so nice and weren't big enough to be called the reason for her not peeing in the first they emailed me most of the cT stones. The vet removed 100 ml of place was an unknown. I would have scans and the X-rays. They could fluid from her bladder-over 3.5 felt a lot better if he was able to flush have charged me for those but ounces! Can You imagine! He said he out the bladder. I was afraid that the offered them to me free-of-chage. did not know why in the beginning bladder would just fill up again. Tanya My total visit including she was not able to pee but as the went from 810 grams to 710 grams ics was $290.00. bladder stretched and stretched, it with the fluid withdrawal! He said to I went home with my tort. became so inelastic that she couldn't give her lots of soaks and to continue Kansas State made several follow-up contract it. He didn't think the uric tube feeding if she wouldn't eat on her calls to see how she was doing. They sand which was visible in the x-rays own. He also suggested getting some informed me over the course of the was enough to block the bladder. He Oxbow Critical Care for Herbivores next two weeks that all other tests- was hoping that the bladder, being (www.oxbowhay.com) and adding it to viral, iridoviral, and mycoplasma~ small again, would be elastic enough the tube feeding. I called this company. were negative. It was at this point and she would be able to expel from They will not sell Critical Care to the that I put her back with my herd of it. He tried to do a bladder wash to general public and it must be purchased Russians. Her morale immediately , flush out the uric sand by going up continued on page 74 14 Remodeling a Tortoise Table by Amy Fredericksen, WCT

I recently remodeled a tortoise sure there were table originally built for a cata. As I have a larger indoor enclosure for all the Sulcatas, I decided to alter this table for my box small Red-foot. Of course, these two species are not kept together. We in- stalled a partition down t they would be separated. Because sulcatas are cies and the Box turtles and Red-foot are accus- Here are some before-and- tomed to a more humid after pictures. Just so you know environment, it was first a little about me, I have twenty- necessary to come up one reptiles: 9 tortoises, 2 with a different sub- Bearded Dragons, 2 strate. Uromastyx, 3 Leopard Gecko, 1 I modeled the change r~estedGecko, 1 Plated Lizard, after the ecosystems set Blue Tongue Skink, and 4 up for poison dart frogs. snakes. I have been a The original design of herpetoculturist for three years. the table had three holes My advice to anyone inter- cut into the bottom. Two ested in starting the hobby is to were for growing grasses do your homework first. Make for the tortoises to - sure you know all about the munch and the other was care, caging, and general per- a larger hole where they sonality of the species. I could burrow. Kitty litter learned the hard way. I pur- pans fit into these holes. chased a Tokay gecko at the I had found that the tor- Midwest Reptile Show in In- toises only trampled the dianapolis without knowledge grass so these holes were of the gecko species. I assumed covered with plywood it would be a docile creature and coated with urethane like my Leopards. as in the original design. continued on next page I left the larger burrow pan for the Red- foot. For the substrate, I first put in a one inch layer of medium sized aquarium garden sprayer gravel. In the box turtle side I added a for daily misting. thin layer of aliflor that was available The Red-foot at my local pet shop. This is usually now knows the available where floral supplies are sold. routine and after On the Red-foot side, the next layer the misting, was perlite. The reason for using the comes out to different materials was to test which is greet me and better for absorbing extra moisture. I look for a fruity then added pure potting soil making treat. 15 I Life's a Zoo for Linda Putnam, continued from page 6 don't have to fight, currently a 4th-degree black belt. teaching our kids how to She spends 12-16 hours per week at the school, now teaching classes as well as continuing her own studies. Not surprisingly, Linda brings her characteristic commitment and enthusiasm to her martial arts training. "Though most people think of the martial arts the way it is

portrayed in the movies (I adore the torto/lces~&da works Jackie Chan! !) a family-oriented with at the Tu/sa Zoo: school like ours concentrates on Radiated tortoise (G. radiata); an A/dabran (G. gigantea), hatchedat the zoo,, and a Desert to/fo/se

muscles and avoid the pain definitely wormed their way into and problems that come my heart for good. If it ever from fighting. We do a lot I became necessary for me to get I of work with ADHD kids, rid of some of the animals in my teaching focus and concen- life, the tortoises would definitely tration. It's really cool!!" be the last to go." teaching the tenets of the martial Linda describes turtles and tor- We at the WCT are proud to have arts-integrity, patience, self- toises as being "...the main love of Linda as a member, and wish her control, indomitable spirit, and my life." She adds, "It's hard to continued great success with all courtesy, as well as punching and say exactly when the shelled of her chelonian charges! kicking. We train to fight so we

Remodeled Tortoise Table, continued from page 15 waved my hand to get it off but it him off with the container bottom. My husband was driving and I landed on my husband's chest I still have a scar from the bite. I was in the passenger seat. I decided where it sat croaking. He was yell- was able to find him a new home to hold the newly acquired pet. He ing "get it off' and the only way to where he had the company of two promptly bit down on and refused to do this was to put the Tupperware other Tokays. It's comical to think let rro of mv hand. Bv instinct. I container over the to^ and scoop of it now-but not at the time.

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Health Crisis, continued fiom page 14 weighing to make sure she was improved. Whoever says that tor- eating and voiding. He wanted me toises are solitary animals should to tube feed her at least three times have seen her when she got to see a week with the Oxbow Critical the rest of her tort family. Her Care to get her weight back up, appetite increased but she still got soak her daily, and administer foamy when she attempted to eat. I Ceftazidime for a month. Her was monitoring her diligently to bladder surgery was on July 20th. see if she would expel uric acid, On the 31st of July I was outside but I never saw it. watching her eat. She let out a So let's review: Three antibiot- huge explosion of milky white ics to clear up the runny nose, foaming mouth, and breathing This poor gal has been through mouth symptoms. None through a lot this year. Even after worked enough to fix the problem. surgery she was showing difficulty They might have been treating the while trying to eat. She was not symptoms (possible bacterial opening her mouth well, and she infection) but they weren't fixing would have a lot of excess saliva- the problem. The first x-ray taken tion while attempting to eat. With was taken from the plastron side of the advice of my good friend and the tort. The lungs looked normal her ex-keeper, I discontinued the from the vet's limited experience tube feeding one month post-op. with chelonians. So, although my intuition was that intentions and the vets' intenti were all great, we were not ge the heart the problem. Now over the last few months. Within ten have a grasp the problem a fourth antibiotic to go, certainly, w have cleared the hump on this iss right? Wrong. s from last year, she's on he Over a month later a second to K-State was warranted. my tortoise had bladder surgery. ce for him because he had never removed all the uric sand inside bladder. She had a lot of it. It d t caused the uric sand in the show up well on X-ray or C as negative. He put her on Cefta- el Most likely some form of because it was not a solid dime for a month. The bill for this her bladder was almost full of it. Lock did not think the bladder They anesthetized her and they u Aftercare consisted of daily an endoscope, going in via the tone was that we thought left rear leg. They pulled the bladder outside of the body cavit as much as they can through the ough water. You know how opening in the front of the rear leg, sliced open the bladder, they can replenish. Both of us scooped as much uric sand out as thought that maybe because she they could, flushed it all out, had not been eating well, she was sutured it up, and placed it back not peeing for psychological/ into position within her body. ' ~iologicalreasons. While they had her asleep, they Andy Highfield was consulted used the endoscope to really look everal times during this crisis. inside of her. The vet mentioned Ie suggested "possible dehydra- lovely egg follicles all over. He tion in the past causing blockage." looked inside her mouth carefully, continued on page 20 Test udo margi nata husbandry overview of young tortoises, a humid area should be provided to prevent dehydra- by Lisa Weiss, tion. This can be an area of damper soil, WCT Trustee if the enclosure is large enough, or a Testudo marginata humid hide-box or cave. Diet should include the (Schoepff, 1792) is a .. . A. medium-sized tortoise I largest possible range ot species originally native to weeds, leaves and flowers, Greece. Adults can reach 12- and can include dandelion, 14 inches SCL, making plantain, mallow, chicory, them one of the largest of hibiscus, mulberry, grasses, the Mediterranean species. sowthistle, clover, vetch, Male tortoises are distin- romaine, endive, escarole, opuntia, and occasional guished.- hv- , their... - .. hroadlv - .- .. -- flared rear marginal scutes, summerlwinter squash or hence the name "marginata." pumpkin and tomato. Do not Males are also generally feed dog or cat foods; margi- smaller, with a more elon- iata are herbivores, not gate body shape than the :arnivores. Fruits females, and have longer, melon, strawberries, thicker tails. Typical wild ~pple,etc.) should only .habitat is arid, scrubby, rocky )e offered as a very where the tortoises spend mornings )ccasional treat. Foods. lhould be sprinkled with and late afternoons browsing on . . .2 weeds, shrubs and flowers while Tem- -7emtivite weeklv and resting in the shade during the hottest pera- afternoon hours. During the winter tures months, Marginated tortoises hibernate should underground, a characteristic which range should be taken into account by from " supplemented with vita- prospective keepers (see "Hibernation 90-95F in the basking area to high min D for indoor tortoises, and without Guidelines" on the WCT website for room temperatures on the cooler side of vitamin D for those living outdoors. more information). the enclosure; this will allow the tor- Water should be made available for Captive-bred marginata hatchlings toise to regulate body temperature and drinking and soaking. are often available and can be kept metabolism as needed. Bottom heat Marginata are generally easy-going, under the same captive conditions (from heat pads or mats) should be beautiful and friendly tortoises with few required by T. hermanni. They will avoided for this species due to reports health problems once established in best thrive if kept outdoors during the of deformity and injury from build-up good housing and environmental summer months; a good-sized, preda- under the flared margin of the cara- conditions. tor-proof fenced enclosure planted pace. Substrate can be a 50150 mix of Top photos: Adult (note pronouncedrear with edible shrubs and weeds and topsoil and play sand, and can include marginal flare) and hatchhg (with beginnings of furnished with a choice of shelters and areas of dry orchard hay for feeding marginal flare). Bottom photos: Shoder tail on female, r~ghf,with the vent closer to the she4 a shallow water tray will suit them and burrowing. Especially in the case dist~flguishesthe female from the male. nicely. These tortoises are capable diggers, so peri- meter fences should extend below ground to prevent escape. Indoors, a roomy tortoise table or other arrangement should include both basking and UV fixtures or a combi- nation UV-heat bulb, a variety of landscape features for hiding and climbing, and a very A Health Crisis, continued from page I8 ested in reading an article Dr. Chris Tabaka also suggested about tortoise bladder dehydration. surgery. This surgery was a According to Chris, "Basically, little outdated because vets though they are from somewhat arid are now going in through the climates, Testudo, in my opinion, rear leg with the availability require access to waterlmicroclimates of an endoscope instead of with some humidity. If they do not cutting through the plastron. have this access for long periods of It does give you some good time they develop bladder stones visuals and general knowl- which is what you are seeing. These edge of the surgery. It also stones, if large or numerous enough, offers a list of usual present- will block the bladder, leading to the ing symptoms of a bladder The payoh? a natura/ ~~hat/bnaand expu/sion of extreme distention that Bradlyou stone: lethargy, loss of -~Irafes. . -. - - . were seeing." So I ask myself: Could appetite, and runny nose. My years of less-than-adequate water tort had all of these symptoms and access have caused this? was assumed to be fighting a bacterial It's never too early Could subjecting her to hiberna- infection for half of her illness. to be a herper tion after so many years without have caused this? Could she have voided Rachel Kelley, WCT member, precious bladder reserves during is proud of her daughter Renata, hibernation? Could I be over-supple- I also included the web site for a who's taken after her parents in her menting my torts with calcium? bio on Dr. Brad Lock. He did such a love of things herpetological. These questions may never be an- thorough job in diagnosing and "Renata likes all reptiles," says swered. Although I have ten more treating my tortoise. I strongly her mother, "especially snakes. Her Russians showing no signs of uric recommend him to anyone within a favorite is a Hognose snake named stones or dehydration, I am taking few hours' driving distance as a very Rosie." Renata also favors the their hydration more seriously. I have knowledgeable reptile veterinarian. Bearded dragons her mother used gone from once a week to twice a The service my tort and I received to breed. week soaking them in warm water. during our visits-and the concern Among the numerous turtles While outdoors I give them an arti- they gave with many follow up and tortoises living at the Kelley ficial shower with the hose several calls-was remarkable. They are truly homestead, Renata "really likes the times a week, and I provide a con- a first rate veterinary teaching college Wood turtles and a large Desert tainer with water at all times in their tortoise named Jellyroll that once enclosure now. I have always made disappeared and then came home sure they have a lot of burrows in on Easter while Renata was hunt- their outdoor habitat which provides K-State University College of ing for Easter eggs." excellent microclimates. I added Veterinary Medicine Rachel, who's a teacher, never several more this past year. 101 Trotter Hall misses an opportunity to educate I have learned through educating Manhattan, KS 66506-5601 her child. "Whenever Renata sees myself this year that bladder stones (785)-532-5690 me cleaning a cage she wants to are fairly common in captive chelo- Dr. Brad Lock hold something, so I have her help nians. I went nine years without any so she see both sides of pet stew- illness in my group of torts. I thought Total costs associated with treatment: ardship. She digs it all!" I had everything under control. I $668.14. This does not factor in all Rachel tells a story about when thought I was an excellent keeper. the betadyne, feeding tube require- Renata was only two years old. Now, I don't know where I went ments and other miscellaneous "Some elderly guests were looking wrong. I urge all of you to reassess expenditures. I am not a wealthy at our animals. The lady leaned the water needs of your torts and err person. However, I take the care of down to Renata and said in baby on the side of hydration. No one my tortoises seriously. If I had to do it talk, 'Do you wike du tuddle?', to wants to go through what my tortoise all over again, I would. which Renata responded clearly, and I went through this year! Shelly Jones, Copyright 2004 'Actually, it's a towtise.' " For further information, I have Her mother taught her well. included a web site for those inter- Show Reports from Around the Country Trustees Darrell Senneke, Mike Pingleton, Glen Jacobsen and On August 14 and 15, 2004 the educational opportunities and to Chris Tabaka were in attendance. WCT hosted an educational / raise funds to purchase and protect Chris Tabaka DVM spoke on the membership table at the 2004 rainforest and critical habitats. Asian Turtle Crises. More than 500 free care sheets were distrib- National Reptile Breeders Expo Funds raised at MARS are donated in Daytona, Florida. Trustees uted at this event. The Midwest to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Symposium rotates between the Paula Morris, Glen Jacobsen, to acquire and protect critical Chuck Schaffer and Darrell various herpetological societies in habitat in Costa Rica and similar the Midwest on a yearly basis. If Senneke as well as WCT member projects. This is the brainchild of Fred Erwin were in attendance as possible, this yearly symposium is Tim Hoen and has, since its incep- well worth your effort to be there we answered questions and dis- tion, been directly responsible for tributed free care sheets for the for the quality of the multitude the purchase of thousands of acres presentations. The WCT donated two days of the world's largest of rainforest. reptile exposition. Though they a print to be auctioned off at the planned on attending, Chris On the 9" and lothof October, charity auction that was held Tabaka and Sharon Chancellor 2004 the WCT hosted an educa- Saturday evening. were not able to make it as an- tional / membership table at the In November the snow started other unwelcome guest also North American Reptile Breed- flying early but there was one last attended this year's show; Hurri- ers Conference and Trade Show show to attend on the East coast. cane Charley put in an appear- in Chicago Illinois (Tinley Park). On the 13Ihand 141hthe WCT ance, making this show very This was the third year for this hosted an educational / member- memorable. rapidly expanding show and the ship table at the North American WCT was very pleased to be in Reptile Breeders Conference Fully 3,000 care sheets were attendance. Board members distributed over this two-day and Trade Show in Philadelphia, present were Darrell Senneke, Pennsylvania (Valley Forge). This event. It is our fervent hope that, Chris Tabaka and Sharon Chancel- through our efforts, much was event was put on by the same lor. In addition, Darrell's daughter organizers as the Tinley Park done to help the immediate care of Sara lent a much-appreciated hand animals bought at this show. event in early October and, in at the table throughout the show. this, its second year, it is proving In addition the WCT donated a The WCT distributed 1,500 care to be a growing show. Over 1,000 several items to be auctioned off sheets as well as offering on-the- care sheets were distributed at this at the charity auction that was spot care advice. The WCT do- event. Trustee Darrell Senneke held Saturday evening. nated a print to be auctioned off at and member Salvatore Santelli On September 18 and 19, the the charity auction that was held manned the table during the two- Saturday evening. Darrell also World Chelonian Trust hosted an day show. Darrell also gave a talk education and information table at gave a talk as part of the parallel as part of the parallel NARB NARB educational efforts at the the Mid-Atlantic Reptile Show educational efforts at the show. show. WCT offers special thanks (MARS), in Timonium, Maryland. The WCT donated a print to be to the organizers of this fine event. This was the second MARS show auctioned off at the charity auc- that the WCT attended, once again On October 16 and 17,2004 the tion that was held on Saturday supporting this great effort. Trus- WCT hosted an educational 1 evening. tee Darrell Senneke manned the membership table at the 18th On a humorous side note: Darrell table during the two day show. Annual Midwest Herpetological Senneke drove to all of the afore- Symposium in St Louis, Missouri. What makes the MARS show mentioned events, racking up an While this symposium is not as different is that all profits from it impressive 6,500 miles and seeing highly trafficked as commercial go to conservation. The goals of much of the country during the the MARS show are to promote endeavors it was still a worthwhile course of his travels. effort and important to be there. the captive breeding of reptiles and amphibians; provide unique 1 conhued on nexf page 21 Show Reports, continued from previous page decibel levels. we found several The Puyallup Show opportunities to The tenth annual Captive-Bred prospective Reptile and Exotic Animal Show sulcata buyers and Sale took place at the Fair- exactly what that grounds in Puyallup, Washington on October 23-24,2004, and the look like in a WCT was on hand with an infor- few years. mation and caresheet table staffed WCT member by Trustees Ken Carlsen and Lisa Hartley was' Weiss. Sponsored by Northwest a nearby Captive-bred Reptile Breeders table for the Global Carisen, at the ~uya//u/upWashhgton Captive-Bred E~~~ and the B~~~ F~~~,the event Gecko Association, Reptile and Exotic Animal Show adsale. was well-attended on both days, and had a truly unique and many new and experienced experience on Sunday; a keepers stopped by to pick up a Ptychozoon gecko belonging to caresheet or talk turtle. In addition Freer laid eggs to WCT info and caresheets, our while sitting on Melody's wrist! table featured a slide show of che- This was a well-run and lonian photos on Ken's laptop enjoyable event, and the computer and a TV video loop of NCRBE focus On captive bred some of his own habitats and animals is very commendable. animals. Most popular was the Uncharacteristically rain-free close-up footage of Tinkerbelle, a weather in the Seattle area was a A P/ychozoongecko /ays two eggs on very large adult sulcata, munching happy WCTmember Me/ody Han'/ey's wrisf. dried mulberry leaves at very high

I Egg Radiographs, continued from page 9 Normal gravidity 'Heosemys spinosa /ay 7-2eggsper c/utch. L oooking at this radiograph Left: The pseudohinge on a feme H. spi nosa faci/iates ' passage ofa /arge ovum. Below: C/ose-

one can te// why/ The eggs are so /arge /i, this species that the I fema/es de ve/op a pseudo- hhge /h theirp/astron /i7 order to get them to pass. The /ff - cred/;b/vsharp points of the carapaces of the hatchbngs as we// as their immense hatching size he@prevent predath, wwhh is extreme4 impotfant 1i.l a species w/i%, such hinifed egg production. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Membership form World Chelonian Trust PMB #292 685 Bridge Street Plaza Owatonna, MN 55060 Periodically, the WCT receives alerts from the USFWS about confiscations of numbers of turtles and tortoises that are in our country illegally or without proper importation paper- work. If you are interested in fostering these needy animals, please let us know by contacting the World Chelo- nian Trust or indicating this at the bottom of the address box at left. You will be contacted regarding the specie(s) you can accept, along with Please make checks, etc. payable to WORLD CHELONIAN TRUST Anything over $8.00 may be tax deductible. Please consult your accountant. other pertinent information. " This amount may be tax deductible. Please consult your accountant. By becoming a foster caregiver, you 5 Members who choose this option will be listed on our web site as "Friends of the Trusl' are not adopting these tortoises, but P/ease PR/NT vour name and address be/ow will be caring for them while their Name case is being prosecuted. Often, once the case is settled, the animals are Address turned over to an organization like the City World Chelonian Trust for permanent adoption. There are legal criteria by State =. - - which you must abide in these adop- Zip Code tions (such as not being able to sell E-mail address (if applicable) the animals to others), but they're Web site address (if applicable) small limitations in light of the I am interested in fostering confiscated animals Here is my phone number Please contact me satisfaction of knowing that you're I I helping needy chelonians.

Your on-line source for all your herpetological needs! I 1 Phone: 425-861-7964 I or 425-333-4205; I FAX: 877-708-5882 32514 NE 77th Street Carnation, WA 98014

Beddinglcage supplies Enclosureslcages Health care Incubation supplies T-shirts Thermometerslhydrometers Books Handling equipment Heating supplies Lighting Temperature control Rodent cages & supplies Food Thousand Springs Art Festival, continued from page 13 logical Society and The World Chelonian Trust. Other large side of the island and crystal clear reptiles included a B~~~~~~ streams coming from the many python and very large boa con- waterfalls flowing out of the canyon strictor, and a myriad of other walls bound the other side. A constant water temperature, was the 5" summer and winter, fuels Burmesepyfbon, Python molurus the growth of huge lush senta- from big band jazz to cowboy green under- tive. ~11yodeling. There were comedi- water plants ans, cowboy poets and Lewis waving back required and Clark re-enactments. and forth in to wash "Meriwether Lewis" was very the flow of , their taken with Mrs. Mac. the streams.. : -! hands Kids were prior to Our main purpose in traveling having a great touching to this event was to introduce time swim- i another reptiles of various sorts to as ming through animal. many people as possible. Mrs. the underwa- Mac was one of the favorites. . .- ter scenery. Several thousand people came Water flowing us by during the festival and some from the was for returned to see her several springs is . . the Snake times. Many commented that harnessed to I,000 Springs before Hydroe/ectric deve/opmenf /SHS they first thought she was a #69-4,219b River generate statue as she sat very still. electricity. It's a very surreal place. These people had never seen The Thousand Springs area is an such an animal. The whole outlet of the Snake River Aquifer into effort was simple. I just sat in the canyon. It is thought the water we a lawn chair next to her and see flowing out today has been explained what she was and a percolating through the aquifer for little of her personal history, about 200 years. A major source is then answered questions. If several hundred miles away, on the any of you are so inclined (or north side of the desert, where the Big reclined), seek out similar Lost and Little Lost Rivers, fueled by events. Education of the public mountain shows, disappear into the can be a very enjoyable thing, desert floor through porous lava Meriwefber L , background and can take you to some very flows. Birds of Prey and they had an owl unique places. and a Swainson's hawk as ambas- Mrs. Mac and I eventually made it to sadors. ~h~~~are a number of the manned volunteers from functions where our organizations Coming in the next WCT newsletter the Herrett Center from the College of ,b shoulders. ~h~~~was lots of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls and the great food and drink and a concert Eggs, Incubation Idaho Herpetological Society. I was stage where we heard every thing and Hatchings. there representing the Idaho Herpeto- 24