Spring has arrived and our conservation center in Ojai, CA is in full bloom! Due to the temperatures rising, some of our chelonian residents have been waking up from their hibernation period and they’re currently easing into their mating season. Spring is also a wonderful time here at our center as our incubators have been full of activity. We have had the honor of welcoming multiple species of hatchlings over the month of March and some of our hatchling numbers include:

• One Forsten's Tortoise (Indotestudo forstenii) which is an endangered species of tortoise native to the Sulawesi Island of Indonesia.

• One Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) which is a critically endangered tortoise species native to the African countries of Tanzania and Kenya.

• One radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) which is a critically endangered star tortoise native to Southwestern Madagascar.

• Nine Indian Roofed turtles (Pangshura tecta) which is a vulnerable species native to Northern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

We will be expecting an abundance of egg clutches and we look forward to seeing how this year’s hatchling rate continues to grow.