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Links of Interest |
Desert Tortoise Survival Alliance PLEASE EXCUSE OUR DUST-THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION! |
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Current News: California Nevada Arizona Utah (some links will take you away
from this web site) |
A consortium for the dissemination of information is crucial to the survival of this species in our southwestern deserts. Several organizations work for the benefit of desert tortoises, but information, news, press releases, etc. are at best fragmented. Making a difference for these animals will take a combined effort by all. The Desert Tortoise is listed as a federally protected, threatened species. This species is supposed to be protected by state and federal endangered species acts-yet threats to its survival are numerous. Destruction of tortoise-friendly habitat due to military expansion into areas of designated critical habitat, off-roading in non-designated areas, pollution, livestock grazing, dumping, wild land fires, and razing of land/construction have all played a negative (and often catastrophic) toll on these ancient desert denizens. Enforcement of existing laws to protect desert tortoises are often ignored. Most recently the translocation (moving) of over 700 wild tortoises from their homes at Fort Irwin, California to less suitable habitat has sadly resulted in numerous injuries and deaths. Tortoise researchers and biologists were left with no choice but to assist in the Fort Irwin translocation. A few wildflowers did grow this year, giving Fort Irwin officials the "fuel" they needed to force the tortoises off of their native habitat. The consequences of this hasty move have been disastrous-and deadly. The informed public, conservation, tortoise welfare organizations, and tortoise biologists/researchers are all deeply saddened by these events. Please join us to help make a difference before it is too late. Many tortoises are already in harm's way. For those lucky few who still live in peace, it isn't known when another threat to their survival is realized, but it will happen, and we need to be prepared. Here, we hope to keep all interested parties informed with the latest news and information. We also hope to give needed tools, to make your voice heard on behalf of these beautiful animals-so that you may be their voice-to help them to live unmolested, humane lives in the habitats they have called "home" for thousands of years. If organizations interested in the survival of our desert tortoises will work together, we can give these animals a badly needed, and even stronger voice. Please join us in this to help desert tortoises to remain where they belong-protected in the wild! Please use the menu to your left to access all information. To join us as an Alliance organization, and to have your web site linked, please click HERE. Anyone wishing to place the petition on your own website, please copy ALL of the following code, and paste it into the pages you'd like to see the petition displayed. <div id="peSiteTargetDiv375589215"><a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/" style="display: block; width: 252px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Petition powered by ThePetitionSite.com</a></div> |
