Search

Popular Search Terms

Our Work

Donate

Wildlife
Critically Endangered Turtles & Tortoises

13 species

WCS maintains 13 species of critically endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles in its New York-based zoos and aquarium, a number of which are approaching extinction in the wild.

WCS works with critically endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles both in situ and ex situ.

On site, for instance, WCS Myanmar began releasing captive-born Burmese star tortoises into the wild in 2015. The species was ecologically extinct in nature, with only a few hundred remaining anywhere.

In New York, among the species we maintain at our facilities are Asian box turtles from the genus Cuora. Commodities as pets, these box turtles command tens of thousands of dollars. As a result, they're captured nearly whenever they're encountered. WCS breeding groups could help repopulate the wild when that view changes.

Related Regions

Related News

View All News

Stand for Wildlife

Join more than one million wildlife lovers working to save the Earth's most treasured and threatened species.

Year End Challenge: $500,000 for Wildlife

Last chance to make a difference in 2018: Your help is crucial to securing the resources to keep wildlife safe and protect the places they call home.
Donate
Year End Challenge $500,000 to Save Wildlife