Hello all,
First, we would like to thank everyone again who has already helped support the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre by purchasing a calendar. Second, we are in a position right now where the year is quickly coming to an end and we have not yet reached our target goal of 2000 calendar sales.
So, we are again appealing to the ssnakess.com users to help support the KTTC so that road-injured turtles can be rehabilitated and reintroduced back into the wild.
In June of 2002, The Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre opened its doors. Located in Peterborough at the Riverview Park and Zoo, the Centre provides medical, surgical and rehabilitative care to injured native turtles in order to eventually release them back into their natural habitat. The Centre is a registered Canadian Charity.
Six of the eight species of turtle in Ontario have been identified by COSEWIC (the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) as being at risk. Most turtle populations are declining and unless drastic measures are taken, scientists fear that several species may disappear from our province.
In Ontario, roadkill is one of the most significant causes of mortality and many of the turtles being killed are nesting females. The adult female is extremely important to the survival of the population. Dr. Ron Brooks, professor at the University of Guelph, warns that even the loss of 1-2% of adults annually from the "extra" mortality of roadkill can, and will, inevitably push turtle populations toward extinction.
In the natural state, adult turtles have an extremely LOW mortality rate- only 1% per year. In a healthy population, 99% of adult turtles survive each year!
• Turtles do not compensate for an increase in the mortality rate by producing more eggs per year.
• Very small increases in the adult mortality rate, such as being killed on roads, can lead to the decline and eventual extinction of the population
Consider this: the adult female turtle is of GREAT value to the survival of a population. Considering as few as 1% of hatchlings reach maturity, and only half of these are likely to be female, it would take 200 eggs and 18 years to produce another adult female!
The KTTC can, and does, save these populations from experiencing this extra mortality by preventing the loss of adult females (that would have otherwise experienced an agonizing death on the side of the road). The centre is currently hoping to move into a new building as space is quickly running out at the current location. We need your support!
With your thoughtful purchase of a 2005 Endangered Reptiles of Canada calendar, 75% of all proceeds will be donated to the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre and the remaining 25% will go to help fund reptile conservation research. The 13 month calendar features original photography of 17 reptile species, as well as descriptions of their behaviour, habitat, distribution, and status in Canada.
The calendars are selling for:
$15 They make great Christmas gifts!
Please email the Brooks' Lab at
brookslab@hotmail.com and instructions will be e-mailed to you.
Thanks for your support!
Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre
All of the details for mail order are above and I will also be at the KTTC table at the expo in February, if we have any calendars left.
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