Maurice spent his youth seeking out the wildest parts of the northeastern United States. His passion for reptiles and amphibians blossomed at the age of six when his father gave him a box turtle found crossing a road. Despite growing up in the New York City area, Maurice's first turtle ignited his passion for finding and hatching

turtle eggs from nests threatened by destruction. He went on to earn a degree in natural resource management, wildlife science from Rutgers University. Maurice's unwavering interest in wildlife, especially turtles, let him to the Bronx Zoo where he volunteered for eight years under John Behler. During this time, he completely renovated the aquatic filtration and lighting systems in the reptile house and installed the Zoo's first reverse osmosis system which allowed for the breeding of amphibians in numbers that were formerly unprecedented.

While volunteering at the Bronx Zoo, a serendipitous circumstance led to a fruitful collaboration and friendship – the meeting of Maurice and Eric Goode. Eric called the Zoo to seek help with a fish tank at one of his Manhattan restaurants and Maurice happened to be there. While working on the tank, Maurice and Eric discovered their mutual interest in turtles and tortoises.

In 2002, Maurice created the Tewksbury Institute of Herpetology to promote turtle conservation through captive breeding and education. Unfortunately, after three years the organization was still not sufficiently focused on conservation, which was Maurice's initial vision, so he left the Institute. Shortly thereafter, John Behler approached Maurice and Eric Goode with the proposition of continuing the 30 year old turtle and tortoise program that the New York Zoological Society was terminating on St. Catherines Island, Georgia. The Behler Chelonian Center was created in southern California.

Founder

Turtle Conservancy

49 Bleecker Street, Suite 601

New York, New York 10012 USA

Phone: (212) 353-5060

Fax: (212) 353-5014

Email: maurice@turtleconservancy.org

Maurice Rodrigues