Tortoise Protection Group

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Tortoise Protection Group
Tortoise Protection Group (emblem).jpg
MottoDedicated to the Conservation and Protection of Tortoises
FoundedJanuary 2007 in United Kingdom
Type Non-profit
Focus Environmentalism
Location
MethodLobbying, research, consultancy
Website www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk

The Tortoise Protection Group (TPG) is a British non-profit organisation founded in January 2007 with the aim of stopping the importation of tortoises into the UK for the commercial pet trade, and to promote high standards of husbandry in tortoise keeping. The mission of the Tortoise Protection Group is to help ensure the survival of tortoises in the wild and to promote high standards of husbandry for tortoise keepers in the UK. Over the last year,[ when? ] it has been working closely with members of Parliament and various charities to bring about a change in legislation, with a petition enlisting thousands of signatures.

United Kingdom Country in Europe

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north-western coast of the European mainland. The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state, the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east, the English Channel to the south and the Celtic Sea to the south-west, giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world. The Irish Sea separates Great Britain and Ireland. The United Kingdom's 242,500 square kilometres (93,600 sq mi) were home to an estimated 66.0 million inhabitants in 2017.

A nonprofit organization, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is dedicated to furthering a particular social cause or advocating for a shared point of view. In economic terms, it is an organization that uses its surplus of the revenues to further achieve its ultimate objective, rather than distributing its income to the organization's shareholders, leaders, or members. Nonprofits are tax exempt or charitable, meaning they do not pay income tax on the money that they receive for their organization. They can operate in religious, scientific, research, or educational settings.

Contents

It aims to increase public awareness of the conditions under which tortoises are brought into the UK for the pet trade. Various strategies are utilised, including petitioning the government for a ban on the importation of tortoises bound for the UK commercial market. In addition, the TPG provides information and guidance on the best methods of tortoise husbandry for many species of tortoises and provides detailed care sheets on the website for many different species of tortoises.

The Tortoise Protection Group aims to inform the general public of the licensing requirements to help stop the illegal trade continuing and reduce the taking of tortoises from their natural environment. It aims to encourage DEFRA to work more closely with the wholesalers and retailers and the general public to tighten up the licensing regulations and to ensure that those that continue to illegally trade in tortoises are prosecuted. [1]

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs agriculture ministry of United Kingdom (British ministerial department)

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Concordats set out agreed frameworks for co operation, between it and the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive, which have devolved responsibilities for these matters in their respective nations.

History

The TPG was initially set up in 2007 by a group of experienced tortoise keepers with the main aim or preventing tortoise importation to the United Kingdom from other countries such as Slovenia; a trade which has restarted.

Slovenia republic in Central Europe

Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country located in southern Central Europe at a crossroads of important European cultural and trade routes. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, and the Adriatic Sea to the southwest. It covers 20,273 square kilometers (7,827 sq mi) and has a population of 2.07 million. One of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia is a parliamentary republic and a member of the United Nations, of the European Union, and of NATO. The capital and largest city is Ljubljana.

The Shellshock campaign of 2004/2005 followed on the heels of the TRAFFIC Report for DEFRA (2002) and this campaign was the main incentive for the Tortoise Protection Group initiative and launch on 5 January 2007. The campaign partly involved the raising of public awareness of the threats which are faced by many species of tortoise to their continued survival in the wild. The campaign also highlighted the fact that endangered, and therefore protected, species are still being illegally caught for the pet trade too (Shellshock, the EAZA Turtle and Tortoise Campaign 2004/2005).

European Association of Zoos and Aquaria organization

The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) is an organisation for the European zoo and aquarium community that links over 340 member organizations in 41 countries. It operates the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). The organisation is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

It was from this that the Tortoise Protection Group formulated aims with the focus being to campaign for a ban on the importation of tortoises into the UK for the pet trade. The Tortoise Protection Group encourages people in the UK to buy tortoises which have been bred in the UK by true, reputable breeders. [2] [3]

Current events

The TPG now has its official website launched and is participating in numerous animal welfare events scheduled nationally in the United Kingdom. It is also aiding fellow animal welfare organisations in the fight against Tesco selling live turtles in its stores and campaigning against internet tortoise dealers as well as numerous other campaigns. [4]

Animal welfare the well-being of (non-human) animals

Animal welfare is the well-being of nonhuman animals. The standards of "good" animal welfare vary considerably between different contexts. These standards are under constant review and are debated, created and revised by animal welfare groups, legislators and academics worldwide. Animal welfare science uses various measures, such as longevity, disease, immunosuppression, behavior, physiology, and reproduction, although there is debate about which of these indicators provide the best information.

Tesco British multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer

Tesco plc trading as Tesco, is a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer with headquarters in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by gross revenues and ninth-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues. It has shops in seven countries across Asia and Europe, and is the market leader of groceries in the UK, Ireland, Hungary and Thailand.

Tortoise family of turtles that live on land

Tortoises are reptile species of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines. They are particularly distinguished from other turtles by being land-dwelling, while many other turtle species are at least partly aquatic. However, like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, and like other members of the suborder Cryptodira, they retract their necks and heads directly backwards into the shell to protect them.

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Turtle Order of reptiles

Turtles are diapsids of the order Testudines characterized by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs and acting as a shield. "Turtle" may refer to the order as a whole or to fresh-water and sea-dwelling testudines. The order Testudines includes both extant (living) and extinct species. The earliest known members of this group date from the Middle Jurassic, making turtles one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than snakes or crocodilians. Of the 356 known species alive today, some are highly endangered.

Red-eared slider Species of turtle

The red-eared slider, also known as the red-eared terrapin, red-eared slider turtle, red-eared turtle, slider turtle, and water slider turtle, is a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is a subspecies of the pond slider. It is the most popular pet turtle in the United States and is also popular as a pet across the rest of the world. Because of this, therefore, they become the most commonly traded turtle in the world. Red-eared sliders are native to the southern United States and northern Mexico, but have become established in other places because of pet releases, and have become an invasive species in many areas where they outcompete native species. The red-eared slider is included in the list of the world's 100 most invasive species published by the IUCN.

Greek tortoise species of reptile

The Greek tortoise, also known commonly as the spur-thighed tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. Testudo graeca is one of five species of Mediterranean tortoises. The other four species are Hermann's tortoise, the Egyptian tortoise, the marginated tortoise, and the Russian tortoise. The Greek tortoise is a very long-lived animal, achieving a lifespan of upwards of 125 years, with some unverified reports of up to 200 years.

Giant Asian pond turtle species of reptile

The Giant Asian pond turtle inhabits rivers, streams, marshes, and rice paddies from estuarine lowlands to moderate altitudes throughout Cambodia and Vietnam and in parts of Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand.

Leopard tortoise species of reptile

The leopard tortoise is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa, from Sudan to the southern Cape. It is the only member of the genus Stigmochelys, although in the past it was commonly placed in Geochelone. This tortoise is a grazing species that favors semi-arid, thorny to grassland habitats. In both very hot and very cold weather they may dwell in abandoned fox, jackal, or aardvark holes. Leopard tortoises do not dig other than to make nests in which to lay eggs. Given its propensity for grassland habitats, it grazes extensively upon mixed grasses. It also favors succulents and thistles.

Pig-nosed turtle The only living freshwater turtle that has flippers

The pig-nosed turtle, also known as the pitted-shelled turtle or Fly River turtle, is a species of turtle native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea.

Yellow-spotted river turtle species of reptile

The yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle or yellow-spotted river turtle is one of the largest South American river turtles. It can grow up to 45 cm long and weigh up to 8 kg. This species can be recognized by its black or brown oval carapace with distinctive low keels on the second and third scutes. Yellow spots on the side of its head give this species its common name. These spots are most prominent in juveniles and fade with age. Females can be up to twice the size of males.

<i>Chersobius signatus</i> Species of tortoise

Chersobius signatus is the world's smallest species of tortoise. The species is commonly known as the speckled tortoise and also known locally as the speckled padloper and internationally as the speckled Cape tortoise. A member of the genus Chersobius, it is endemic to South Africa.

Indian star tortoise species of reptile

The Indian star tortoise is a threatened species of tortoise found in dry areas and scrub forest in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This species is quite popular in the exotic pet trade, which is the main reason it is endangered.The Indian star tortoise was upgraded to CITES Appendix I in 2019 by full consensus among all member states, giving it the highest level of international protection from commercial trade. Conservation group TRAFFIC found 6,040 were seized globally that were intended to be sold in the pet trade.

Wildlife trade trade in wildlife

Wildlife trade refers to the commerce of products that are derived from non-domesticated animals or plants usually extracted from their natural environment or raised under controlled conditions. It can involve the trade of living or dead individuals, tissues such as skins, bones or meat, or other products. Legal wildlife trade is regulated by the United Nations' Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which currently has 183 member countries called Parties. Illegal wildlife trade is widespread and constitutes one of the major illegal economic activities, comparable to the traffic of drugs and weapons. Wildlife trade is a serious conservation problem, has a negative effect on the viability of many wildlife populations and is one of the major threats to the survival of vertebrate species.

Painted terrapin species of turtle

The painted terrapin, painted batagur, or saw-jawed turtle is a species of turtles in the family Geoemydidae. It was formerly in its own genus, Callagur, but has been reclassified to the genus, Batagur.

Spider tortoise species of reptile

The spider tortoise is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae.

Hispaniolan slider Hispaniolan slider

The Hispaniolan slider or Haitian slider is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae found in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The Hispaniolan slider is a freshwater turtle. They can live on land and water, but prefer to be near freshwater. These sliders are not on the endangered list, but are considered vulnerable.

Jamaican slider Jamaican slider

The Jamaican slider also known as the Cat Island slider is a species of fresh water turtle in the family Emydidae. It is found in the Bahamas and Jamaica. As it is not currently found on any of the other surrounding islands in the region it is assumed that the Jamaican slider was introduced from one of these countries to the other. Even though the popular theory was that these turtles originated from Jamaica, current geological evidence may suggest that they were in the Bahamas long before the native Indians first went to the Bahama islands. There is also evidence from archeological sites on San Salvador that the native Indians ate these turtles and transplanted them around the West Indies.

Angulate tortoise species of reptile

The angulate tortoise is a species of tortoise found in dry areas and coastal scrub vegetation in South Africa. This tortoise in the only known member of the genus Chersina.

Angonoka tortoise species of reptile

The angonoka tortoise is a critically endangered species of tortoise endemic to Madagascar. It is also known as the angonoka, ploughshare tortoise, Madagascar tortoise, or Madagascar angulated tortoise.

Turtle Conservancy

The Turtle Conservancy (TC) is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to protecting threatened turtles and tortoises and their habitats worldwide.

Animals in the Canadian legal system are considered property. Property rights include the rights of possession, the rights of use, and the enjoyment of property to the exclusion of humans. Jurisdiction over animals is divided between the federal government and the provinces under the Constitution of Canada. The federal government, using its criminal law power, has created offences in the Criminal Code, in relation to animal suffering, defining the limitations and penalties in the event of breaches. The federal Parliament also has jurisdiction over the import of animals. The provinces have jurisdiction over animals as part of their power to regulate property laws.

Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV) was set up in 2000 and according to their website is Vietnam's "first local non-governmental organization to focus on wildlife protection."

References

  1. ↑ "TPG Petition Tortoise FAQ Slide show - Tortoise Protection Group". www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "History - Tortoise Protection Group". www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  3. ↑ "Mission Import Ban How you can help - Tortoise Protection Group". www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  4. ↑ "News Events - Tortoise Protection Group". www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
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