30 June 2016
Parken Zoo supports in-situ projects and organisations around the world. One of these is TSA (Turtle Survival Alliance).
TSA was formed in 2011 when the IUCN observed an increase in the number of turtles appearing on the black market in China and other parts of Asia, fearing that certain species would become completely extinct if nothing was done about the situation. TSA was tasked with starting breeding programmes for the most endangered species.
Today, TSA operates in both the USA and Europe and has a broad network of partners (e.g. zoos, aquariums, universities, private breeders, serious hobbyists, veterinarians and rescue centres) who help. This broad network is one of TSA's strengths and has contributed to establishing global breeding programmes, both *in-situ* and *ex-situ*. TSA is also good at making contact and negotiating with governments and authorities, for example, in order to bring confiscated turtles into conservation and breeding programmes, which would otherwise be doomed to death.
TSA is today the only non-governmental organisation solely focused on turtle conservation and committed to a single goal: no turtle species will become extinct in this century.
Read more at: www.turtlesurvival.org
One of the species TSA works with is the Radiated Tortoise. Radiated tortoise which can be seen here at Parken Zoo. It is a critically endangered turtle that is naturally found in Madagascar. Parken Zoo is part of EAZA's breeding programme for the species.