4. Turtles

4. EAZA Turtle & Tortoise Campaign 2004/5 - Shellshock

  

                          

   

Tortoises and turtles have been on our planet for over 200 million years. They have witnessed the rise and fall of dinosaurs, they have seen the first birds fly, and they have observed our own evolution from the most harmless of primates. Now, in the space of less than twenty years they are being wiped from the face of the planet. EAZA therefore organised the EAZA Turtle and Tortoise Campaign in 2004/2005.
 
The Shellshock Campaign focussed on three Mission Targets:
 
  1. Increasing public awareness of the crisis that they are facing
  2. Saving species directly by promoting and supporting further EAZA institution participation in Turtle Arks - the managed captive safety net populations set up for priority species
  3. Raising funds to support new or existing priority turtle & tortoise conservation initiatives in range countries.

 

(more at www.eaza.net)

 

In Brno Zoo:
 
  • We informed public on more locations of our zoo and in Permanent aquarium exhibition in the city centre
  • Our zoological garden organized painting competition. Children made informational comics showing critical situation and threats of turtles and tortoises
  • Brno Zoo adopted 20 rare turtles confiscated from illegal trade in Hong Kong. Recovered Malaysian Giant Turtles and Spiny Hill Turtles still live in „Tropical kingdom“ exposition.
  • The cruel deal of tortoises and turtles appealed also to the Union of Czech and Slovak Zoos. The Union, cooperating with the Brno Zoo, the Prague Zoo and an Indonesian non-profit organization (founded by husbands Jeglík from Brno), created a conservationist project. The project is aimed to build an educational centre for Indonesian natives as well as foreign tourists and visitors on the Nusa Penida Island situated near the Bali Island. The Centre Kura Kura (Indonesian „Save the turtle!“) will warn about the serious problems related to the protection of one of the most endangered groups of Indonesian fauna – turtles and tortoises. The building of the centre will be followed by building of a rescue station for confiscated turtles from illegal business. The Kura Kura centre will be gradually transformed into an important centre of conservationist activities integration in favour of endangered turtles including their living environment and the Indonesian natural assets in general. (more at www.kurakura.org)