Our rescue facility in New Jersey, managed by TC’s co-founder Maurice Rodrigues, provides shelter, care and safety for a number of highly endangered turtles and tortoises from all around the world. Most of these animals were being smuggled for the illegal pet trade and sent to our facility after confiscation by the authorities. From relevant medical care and adequate food to setting up complicated necessary housing arrangements, Maurice and a team of volunteers work hard to make sure all of the animals  receive the best possible care.

Current residents include critically endangered Burmese narrow-headed softshell turtles (Chitra vandijki) (this species is named after Peter Paul van Dijk, Turtle Conservancy’s Field Conservation Programs Director!); Indian Spotted Turtles (Geoclemys hamiltoni) with their big heads and large inquisitive eyes; alien-look alikes the Mata Mata Turtles from the Amazon (Chelus fimbriata); and African small black mud turtles (Pelusios nanus), the smallest of all Africa’s turtle species with their shiny chocolate brown carapace and yellow plastron.

And then there is Ruby, the exceptionally rare, beautiful and friendly Burmese Roofed Turtle ( Batagur trivittata), that we have the privilege of taking care of. With what looks like a constant smile on her face, Ruby can eat Several pounds of vegetation per day, making the cleaning of her tank a rather messy affair.

In the fight against their extinction, we ask whether this is the ideal way of life for them? Certainly not. Ultimately, the goal is to restore confiscated turtles to their natural habitats where it is safe and feasible to do so. Until then, however, providing appropriate care and protection for these animals in rescue centers like ours is an important step in ensuring their survival. Most other trafficked animals that do not find themselves in such careful care; they die either in transit to their final destination or in the hands of the owners who purchase them.