New York Turtle and Tortoise Society, Inc. (NYTTS)
1214 W. Boston Post Road, Box 267
NY 10543 Mamaroneck
United States
Contact person: Lorri Cramer
Topics
- Environmental organization
- Environmental project
- Educational policy/project
- Volunteers are welcome.
About us
The New York Turtle and Tortoise Society (NYTTS), founded in 1970 as an organization to exchange among members both the captive care and scientific information on these unique animals. However, increasing awareness of the dire conservation status of many of the world´s turtle species has brought about a profound shift in the organization´s focus. Conservation and environmental issues as they relate to the survival of turtle species has become a major focus of the Society´s mission.
NYTTS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation, preservation of habitat, and the promotion of proper husbandry and captive propagation of turtles and tortoises. The Society emphasizes the education of its members and the public in all areas relevant to the appreciation of these unique animals.
Activities of the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society
• Meetings: Regular meetings are held September through April, often at the American Museum of Natural History, and in other locations in New York metropolitan area. Guest speakers — zoologists, veterinarians, conservationists, and other recognized experts — present topics of special interest to Society members.
• Annual Seminar: This full-day meeting features in-depth presentations by noted turtle and tortoise authorities on a wide range of topics, designed to appeal to both serious hobbyists and professional turtle biologists.
• Conservation: The Society actively seeks protection for both endangered species and critical habitat. Past activities have included participation in the nationwide campaign to require and enforce the use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in shrimp nets, the promotion of legislation prohibiting environmentally hazardous balloon releases, and petitions to the NY Department of Environmental Conservation, resulting in the enactment of protection for the diamondback terrapin in New York State. With the American Museum of Natural History´s Turtle Recovery Program, NYTTS cosponsored Conservation, Restoration, and Management of Tortoises and Turtles
• Asian Scholarship Program: The Society´s Asian Scholarship Program, originally conceived as a response to the Asian Turtle Crisis, was formed to build conservation capacity in Southeast Asia and other parts of the world by bringing young aspiring herpetologists to the United States for intensive summer conservation courses—enabling them to return to their native countries armed with the knowledge and skills to begin to save their nation´s chelonian fauna. The program has continued as an intenational student research project at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, New Jersey.
• Animal Welfare: The Society is a strong advocate of protective legislation for turtles and tortoises and actively promotes the enforcement of humane laws.
• Annual Show: Each spring, members display their animals at the Annual Turtle and Tortoise Show. This educational event provides attendees the opportunity to examine a wide variety of species. Informal discussions focus on the animals´ health, diet, and captive husbandry requirements.
Lorri Cramer is the Director of Turtle Rehabilitation and Curriculum Development of NYTTS.
For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.