Request for a "Conservation / Ecology" section

[Richard Harrison-Cripps]

I know that the emphasis of the forum is as a discussion site for husbandry and captive care, but would there be any scope for a section on conservation and ecology of wild tortoises? As a chelonian field ecologist I for one would greatly appreciate that.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

We have a loose localized discussion here. For example the Florida members often compare notes and share photos of recent encounters with Gopher tortoises, etc.
You mean a conglomerate of wild species in one link?

 

[Richard Harrison-Cripps]

Yes, a section of the site that can be used to discuss conservation, wild population issues, current field work (by members and other groups relevant to discussion), tortoise ecology, etc. on any and all tortoise and f/w turtle species, and at both local and global levels. I recognise that discussion of these matters on specific species can currently take place on the geographical / species specific areas of the forum, but I think that a dedicated section for wild tortoise issues would be a great asset.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

This would be a matter for an administrator or maybe the "BIG" dude, himself, @Josh.
It's seems like a sound and interesting idea.

 

[Yvonne G]

We have one other conservationist member that I'm familiar with - @chelonologist

 

[Richard Harrison-Cripps]

Thanks ZP, I really appreciate it. Do we just wait now for the big dude to do (or not do!) his stuff?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thanks ZP, I really appreciate it. Do we just wait now for the big dude to do (or not do!) his stuff?

You could click on his name and then send him a Private Message. @Josh (START A CONVERSATION)

 

[Richard Harrison-Cripps]

Oh, there's got to be more of us out there somewhere!

 

[Richard Harrison-Cripps]

@ZEROPILOT ... great, thanks. I'll do that now.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Oh, there's got to be more of us out there somewhere!

I'm still kinda new, but there have been many articles written that I've read.

 

[Yvonne G]

Oh, there's got to be more of us out there somewhere!

Chelonologist - Michael, is the only one who has said he actually works in the field. He basically works in western U.S. with the desert tortoises.

 

[Merrick]

I hope this is made I am really intersted in scientific finding about tortoises and how to protect them, in their native environment.

 

[dmmj]

for the record josh is not that big he's actually average sized.

 

[Richard Harrison-Cripps]

A quick bump, after 4 months!

 

[mike taylor]

Isn't Thomas a member ?

 

[Tom]

Isn't Thomas a member ?

Which Thomas?

 

[Yvonne G]

I think he meant Tomas (Diagne?)

 

[Richard Harrison-Cripps]

Really?! The principal forum for tortoises on the web, with tens of thousands of members with an apparent passion for tortoises, yet there's no interest in discussing, or posting information on, their conservation, decline, or other pertinent issues affecting their existence in the wild? I find that very strange, and not a little concerning in the grand scale of things. And on top of that not a single moderator in four months willing to step and make any response on whether a conservation / ecology section would be relevant to the forum and its members (even after messaging a number of them personally). I know for a fact that a significant number of forum members do have an interest in (and, in some cases, a valuable expertise in) chelonian conservation, some of whom can and have provided some fascinating and enlightening information that we could learn a lot from.

Please don't think I'm decrying the majority simply for having a genuine interest and love for tortoise keeping. I have had tortoises in the past and I completely respect that this is the principal function of this forum. I feel, though, that some of us, maybe even a lot of us, would benefit from and appreciate a section for discussing wild tortoise issues.

 

[Yvonne G]

Moderators don't have any clout when it comes to adding subjects on the Forum. That all boils down to our administrator, Josh. He's not on very often, but when he is on, he checks out this 'help and feedback' section.

I see nothing wrong with having a section devoted to conservation, but in the meantime, I think conservation would be a subject discussed in our "Advanced Tortoise Topics" section. Most of the folks in our general membership are mainly concerned with keeping their new tortoise alive and getting him set up properly.

 

[Richard Harrison-Cripps]

Thanks Yvonne. I understand completely that the subject is on the periphery of most people's direct interest in hobbyist matters and, without trying to sound like a mutinous zealot, I just feel it adds an extra dimension to the hobbyist content.