To help bolster data analysis and information management for assurance populations of the Galapagos tortoise, the Galapagos Tortoise Alliance (GTA) has joined global nonprofit Species360. The Alliance is a central resource for the Species Survival Program for Galapagos giant tortoises, an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) conservation program, and focuses on protecting the future of the Galapagos Tortoise and other individual pure species.
At any given time, the Alliance is caring for as many as 700 Galapagos giant turtles at its various locations, and all of these animals are part of the AZA Species Survival Program. The nonprofit coordinates more than a half dozen locations across the United States, including Memphis Zoo and Gladys Porter Zoo, and raises funds to support education and research such as Temperature Dependent Sex Determination, the blood testing to identify genetics, using blood samples to identify the sex of neonate and young tortoises, and more.
“By having different colonies is separate locations, we can better manage the distribution of certain pure species as well as hybrids and ensure no single disaster could wipe out an entire bloodline. Although these gentle giants are a complete pleasure and wonder to work with, keeping them, and giving them the room they need is a costly and time-consuming endeavor,” states the Alliance.
As part of Species360, the Alliance will use the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) to record and manage records on its entire population. Doing so will make it easier for Alliance members to share information, allow greater insight to the population through ZIMS dashboards, reports, and analytics, and ensure these vital records – including husbandry, medical, and studbooks information – are secure for the future.
Because Alliance members like Memphis and Gladys Porter Zoos also use ZIMS to record and share data on the animals in their care, nearly one-third of the turtles that are part of the Alliance population already have an identification number in ZIMS.
Thank you Galapagos Tortoise Alliance for all that you are achieving on behalf of this critical AZA SSP population. We are grateful to help support your work.
Learn more and enjoy watching this short video about the tortoises at Memphis Zoo, including the fact that “all tortoises are turtles but not all turtles are tortoises!”
