The Tortoise Reserve makes regular financial gifts to individuals and private
organizations working on chelonian conservation programs. We support
activities dealing with tortoises and freshwater turtles. Local awards,
typically in the $250 to $1,000 range, are regarded mostly as recognition
awards for important and innovative regional programs. Our international
awards are usually larger and to date have ranged between $500 and $17,000.
Because of the differences in economies between the United States and those
of developing nations the modest amounts go far overseas. These awards and
grants are primarily intended for nongovernmental organizations. We seldom
support work through major universities or large non-profit organizations in
that there are numerous granting institutions already available to them as
potential funding sources. Our awards are made on a regular basis with the
number, frequency, and amounts being being dependent on various fund-raising
activities.
We also have a scholarship endowment fund. At this time the principal is
still building in a Merrill Lynch account dedicated for this purpose, and the
annual interest is not yet adequate for scholarships at the level we
envision. We see this as an important future activity of the Tortoise
Reserve. Scholarships will be awarded to students conducting research that
has direct affects on chelonian conservation.
We also encourage researchers with proven track records to route grants
through The Tortoise Reserve. We do not require overhead so small grants and
contracts should go further toward the target program than when traditional
overheads are withheld.
Examples of awards given by The Tortoise Reserve, Inc.:
- Baltimore Zoo. An innovative educational bog turtle exhibit which also
incorporates research, captive management, and restocking of wild sites as
part of its goals.
- Ashton Biodiversity Institute. To help develop a protocol for the
management and restocking of turtle and tortoise populations.
- Funding for teacher education workshops in Venezuela focusing on the
conservation of the arrau (Funds were donated through AZA).
- Funding assistance for a symposium on turtles of the Central Atlantic
States organized by Jug Bay Wildlife Center.
- Funding of head-starting programs for the arrau and Orinoco crocodile in
Venezuela. (ongoing).
- Funding to PROFAUNA for research on arrau nesting in Venezuela.
- A recognition award to Turtle Homes Asia for their efforts in Asian Turtle
conservation.
- Ongoing contributions to Cuc Pong Conservation Project (Vietnam).
- Student support for studies of breeding bird communities in wetlands
inhabited by bog turtles in the southern Appalachians.
- Participation in and contributions to programs run by the Mid Atlantic
Reptile Show Preservation Fund.
- Assistance in fund raising for Cuc Pong, The Terrapin Institute, Ashton
Biodiversity Institute, Project Bog Turtle, and the Gopher Tortoise Council
and numerous donations, and loans of educational materials and live
chelonians to various zoos and nature centers.
- Donations of photographs for a number of turtle newsletters and web sites,
turtle books, and for display materials for non-profit groups.
- A recognition award to Kathy Mitchell for break through research addressing
release of rehabilitated and head started wood turtles.
- Cosponsored IUNC Asian Turtle Workshop on Captive Management (Ft. Worth,
Texas January 2001)
- We are currently providing seed money to incorporate the Asian Turtle
Consortium, and working with the Florida State Museum of Natural History and
the Bahama Department of Agriculture to develop and find funding for
freshwater turtle exhibits.
"And now a light truck approached, and as it came near, the driver saw the
turtle and swerved to hit it. His front wheel struck the edge of the shell,
flipped the turtle like a tiddly-wink..."
John Steinbeck, from The Grapes
of Wrath 1939
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