John Binns - IRCF - February 1st 6pm PST Kingsnake.com Chat Month

http://www.pethobbyist.com/ChatMonth11.html

"Sunday, February 1 6pm PST....

John Binns : International Reptile Conservation Foundation

Sunday, February 1, at 9 PM Eastern, in the kingsnake.com chat room. Binns, one half of the driving force behind the International Reptile Conservation Foundation, will be joining us to talk on past and current projects, ways you can get involved, ways you can help endangered species and more...."

Dutch fill Crew get lucky with Elke

MCSS Research Officer, Elke Talma was recently joined on a turtle patrol by a Dutch film crew who were in Seychelles to make a travel documentary on Seychelles as an eco destination. The crew consisted of Mrs. Floortje Dessing (presenter), Mr. Edwin Schipper (director) and Mr. Bas Bakker (cameraman), who were travelling from the city of Amsterdam to the isolated sub-Antarctic island Amsterdam. During this long and adventurous journey Floortje will travel over land and over sea and every week ‘3 op reis’ (translated as ‘Channel 3 travels’) shows a new part of her trip, which includes visits to Turkey, Syria, Israel, Saudi-Arabia, Yemen, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles and Mauritius.
In Seychelles, one of the themes was turtle conservation, with the Floortje participating in a turtle patrol with MCSS. Before setting off on the hour long drive, the team had been warned that while it was the beginning of the turtle nesting season, they should not get their hopes too high and expect to see a turtle during the 3 hour time period scheduled for the MCSS portion of the travel documentary – tracks, on the other hand, they would get plenty off!

Elke and Floortje on a turtle nesting beach, photo Edwin Schipper

Having arrived on the beach, Elke and Floortje walked along the beach searching for turtle tracks while doing an informal interview, often repeating things so Bas could get various angles on film. There were 2 tracks on the first beach but no turtles, so they moved on to the next beach – again no turtles! The crew feeling a little parched in the hot tropical sun had sent their driver from the Seychelles Tourism Board off to the shops to get some drinks. On his return, he rushed over with some good news – a turtle was spotted on the first beach! The team was able to spend over an hour with a nesting turtle which had been tagged in 2004 on a neighbouring beach.

Floortje trying to get a better look at the nesting turtle, photo Elke Talma

Christmas and New Year break

For the those of you who may regularly log onto the MCSS turtle blog, you may have noticed a decided lack off activity on the site during January. While Elke continued to write blogs, David was in Djibouti chasing whale sharks and with no internet access, he was unable to post any of Elke’s blogs for the period he was away..... but will make up for it now!


Our apologies.

Iguana Specialist Group Book Auction to Support International Student Travel [some auction items ending soon!]

Please check out the website - there is a nice selection of books. Help support ISG! ~ des

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The Iguana Specialists Group is a Species Survival Commission of The World Conservation Union (IUCN). Through partnerships with government agencies, conservation organizations, and research institutions, the IUCN Iguana Specialists Group seeks to help design and implement immediate and effective conservation measures for this magnificent group of lizards. When this group was first established we focused mostly on West Indian Iguanas, of the genus Cyclura. Now, however, we are expanding our focus and working hard to include individuals focusing on all Iguanas throughout the world.

In order to help facilitate this goal, we are holding a book auction to raise money in support of international student travel to meetings and workshops. The website is
http://www.ircf.org/auction/index.php

Stesha Pasachnik
Iguana Specialists Group
spasachn@utk.edu

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Information about the auction site: http://www.ircf.org/auction/index.php

Welcome to the IRCF Auction Site. This site has been created to benefit conservation programs and projects approved and/or supported by the IRCF.

The IRCF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. All approved donations to auctions as well as all payments made for winning bids of auctions are tax deductible.

IRCF at NARBC, Texas - February 7-8, 2009

Next stop: TEXAS! :) This is my second time attending this show! Had a great time last year.

Stop by the IRCF table! Always looking forward to seeing friends and meeting new folks!!

Arlington Convention Center
Arlington, TX
http://narbc.com/htm2006/dfw_index.htm
Note: Also plan to stop by the PIJAC auction Saturday evening after the show!

Much thanks to Bob Ashley and Brian Potter for their continued support of IRCF :)

IGUANA journal going full color for 2009

"Become a member of the International Reptile Conservation Foundation and by doing so, support our conservation awareness and educational efforts. You will receive four quarterly issues of the IRCF journal IGUANA, Conservation, Natural History, and Husbandry of Reptiles ..."

For more information: https://www.ircf.org/memberships.php

Visit the IRCF website for latest news and updates!!!
http://www.IRCF.org

2009 Herpetology Opportunities

From PARC listserv, dated 2009-01-05
COURSES OFFERED FOR THOSE WANTING TO QUALIFY FOR SOON-TO-BE-REQUIRED FWC CERTIFICATION

Individuals interested in working with gopher tortoises must demonstrate a certain level of experience, or attend classes, to become an Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent certified by the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission (FWC). The FWC Gopher Tortoise Management Plan requires individuals working with tortoises, including relocating tortoises and/or their commensals (e.g., gopher frog, indigo snake, pine snake, Florida mouse), to become certified or to work directly under an individual that has certification. For details about when certification is required or to obtain an application go to: http://myfwc.com/permits/Protected-Wildlife/apps/GopherTortoise_PermitRevisedRequirements.pdf

The Ashton Biodiversity Research & Preservation Institute, Inc. (ABRPI) and Wildlands Conservation, Inc., have joined together to offer classes designed to train people to become Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agents in all the required areas. Our new course schedule is now posted: Classes in February and March will be taught at ABRPI, about ½ hour east of Gainesville, FL. We are in the process of scheduling other locations throughout the state over the year. Registration information can be found on the previous site or http://ashtonbiodiversity.org.

Ashton Biodiversity Research & Preservation Institute, Inc. 14260 W Newberry Rd. PMB 331Newberry, FL 32669 www.ashtonbiodiversity.org

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HerpDigest.org: The Only Free Weekly Electronic Newsletter That Reports on The Latest News on Herpetological Conservation and Science
Volume # 8 Issue #57, Sunday, December 21, 2008
Publisher/Editor- Allen Salzberg

Join the John G. Shedd Aquarium Andros Iguana research expedition from March 20-29, 2009.

Join Shedd biologists on their spring visit to the Bahamas to study the charismatic but endangered Andros Iguana (Cyclura cychlura cychlura). Since 1999, participants in these research excursions have been instrumental in our ability to collect crucial life history data on this endangered species. Participants this year will spend days capturing and tagging iguanas alongside Shedd staff and also potentially witness breeding activity and pre-nesting behavior. After a hard day’s work, we will return to the R/V Coral Reef II, Shedd’s comfortable research vessel, to enjoy a ship-cooked meal, filled with camaraderie and story telling. Besides long days in the field, participants will also have opportunities to snorkel and swim, visit with local people, and travel to cays never before explored. This iguana research expedition is for anyone with a sense of adventure and a desire to make a difference for wildlife conservation. We’ve designed a field experience that is exciting, challenging, and entertaining while also safe, accessible, and meaningful. Shedd provides the expertise and equipment, but the volunteers provide the teamwork that makes the project possible.

For more information, please contact Cecelia Ungari at iguanaresearch@sheddaquarium.org or view a brochure in PDF format at http://www.sheddaquarium.org/rockiguana.html.

KINGSNAKE.COM and the IRCF Trade T-Shirts for Donations at the Reptile Super Show - Pomona, CA January 3/4

"KINGSNAKE.COM and the IRCF Trade T-Shirts for Donations at this Weekend's Reptile Super Show.

KINGSNAKE.COM and the International Reptile Conservation Foundation (IRCF) are partnering for this weekend's Reptile Super Show at the LA County Fairgrounds to raise public awareness of the IRCF Blue Iguana Recovery Program and it's many other conservation efforts. The first 250 people to stop by each day at the Super Show's IRCF booth and donate a dollar ($1.00 or more) toward IRCF conservation programs will get a brand spanking new "My Snake Is Bigger Than Your Snake" T-Shirt from Kingsnake.com........"


To continue reading:
http://www.ircf.org/news_kingsnake123108.php