Press Release
May 23, 2003
American Tortoise Rescue Celebrates World Turtle Day May 23rd
California Sanctuary Sponsors Day To Honor One of the World’s Oldest Creatures
Malibu, Calif. – May 23, 2003 – American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), a nonprofit
organization established in 1990 for the rescue, rehabilitation, adoption and
protection of all species of tortoise and turtle, is sponsoring World Turtle Day
launched several years ago. Featured in Chase’s Book of Annual Events, the day
was created as an observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles and
tortoises, and their disappearing habitats around the world. Susan Tellem and
Marshall Thompson, husband and wife founders of ATR, advocate humane treatment
of all animals and especially reptiles. They decided to devote their free time
to rescuing these gentle creatures after adopting two captive bred California
desert tortoises in 1990.
“We started ATR to rescue turtles found by humane officers wandering the street.
Everyone seemed to know what to do with dogs and cats, but turtles and tortoises
were a unique problem. Animal Control didn’t have the training or facilities to
care for these wonderful little guys,” says Thompson. He adds that when they
started ATR only one or two turtles every few months came into their shelter. It
was then that an active adoption program was established to place these
foundlings into carefully screened homes. “Now,” Thompson says, “We get one or
two, or sometimes even 10, a week, so the adoption program has really expanded.”
ATR offers permanent sanctuary to injured, abandoned and lost turtles and
tortoises, as well as temporary housing for those confiscated by law
enforcement. The ones that are too ill or abused for adoption remain in the care
of ATR permanently. Since 1990, ATR has placed about 2,000 tortoises and turtles
in caring homes. Thompson says that many people mistakenly see these special
creatures as just “rocks with legs,” while, in fact, their existence is a
bellwether of survival of life on this planet as a whole.
“These creatures have walked the planet for about 200 million years,” says
Tellem. “But in the past 50 years, unbridled development, habitat destruction,
the cruel pet trade and the exotic food industry have killed millions of these
endangered animals.” Because of ATR's activities on the Internet and direct
mail, the rescue enjoys an international reputation among humane organizations,
federal and state animal protection agencies, reptile lovers and the general
public who run into problems with sick, neglected or abandoned turtles. American
Tortoise Rescue assists law enforcement when undersize or endangered turtles are
confiscated.
“Outlaw vendors at the beach, at downtown Mercados and at Asian live food
markets throughout the U.S. are a major problem for turtles, especially cute
hatchling water turtles called red eared sliders which have an almost 100%
mortality rate due to ignorance,” Tellem says.
ATR spends thousands of dollars a year for food and veterinary care for their
turtle and tortoise population. Tellem is a registered nurse and does most of
the turtle nursing care and medicating herself, but “there are those tough cases
that need to see a veterinary specialist.” This gets expensive, but Tellem says
it’s worth it to ensure survival of the species.
“Our ultimate goal is to stop the illegal trade in turtles and tortoises around
the world. But our first job is here at home where pet stores and reptile shows
are selling illegal hatchling tortoises of all species,” says Thompson. “Most
buyers are unaware of the 1974 Federal law that prohibits the sale of any turtle
or tortoise under four inches, no matter what the species. People who are
unfamiliar with their care and run the real risk of salmonella infection buy
these babies. These illegal vendors must be stopped!”
For answers to questions, adoption forms, information sheets and other
information, call American Tortoise Rescue at 800-938-3553. American Tortoise
Rescue can be found online at
www.tortoise.com.
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