Left to right: Firoz Ahmed (India), Ji chao Wang (China), and Nara Heng (Cambodia) in front of the Wetlands Institute after their arrivial in May.
Photo by William Espenshade III.
Visiting Southeast Asian
Turtle Researcher Project
Update from the Wetlands Institute
George L. Heinrich
1 July 2002
Three visiting Southeast Asian turtle researchers arrived at the Wetlands Institute (Stone Harbor, New Jersey) in late May supported by the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society's Asian Scholarship Program. Ji chao Wang (Hainan Island, China), Firoz Ahmed (Guwahati, India), and Sovannara "Nara" Heng (Phnom Penh, Cambodia) will study the ecology and conservation of the northern diamondback terrapin and learn field techniques, data collection, and analysis under the direction of Dr. Roger Wood (Stockton State College/Wetlands Institute).
Ji chao, Firoz, and Nara with an alligator snapping
turtle at Spring Creek near Bainbridge, Georgia.
In mid-August, the latter two will travel to Camp Shelby (Hattiesburg, Mississippi) to begin a month-long program sponsored by the Gopher Tortoise Council. During that time, Firoz and Nara will study gopher tortoise field research techniques and conservation methods under the direction of Colleen Heise (The Nature Conservancy of Mississippi). Readers wanting to learn more about the development of the Council's first international conservation project are referred to articles in the past three issues of the Gopher Tortoise Council newsletter. In addition, you can visit the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society's website to view photos of the interns and read about their individual backgrounds.
Response to our recent fundraising efforts has generated an additional $1,905 in support of this project. We are well within reach of our expected final budget due to the generosity of the members and individuals listed below. Council members who want to assist with the success of this program and international tortoise conservation efforts still have time to do so.
Checks made out to the VSATRP can be mailed to the:
Gopher Tortoise Council,
c/o George L. Heinrich,
1213 Alhambra Way S.,
St. Petersburg, FL 33705-4620.
Thank you to everyone that contributed to the financial success of this project!
Donations in response to recent fundraising efforts
for this project were received from:
- Jan and Dave Anschuetz
- Mark and Karan Bailey
- Robert E. Brechtel
- Kate Caldwell
- Alex Cannon and Marina Liem
- Rebecca Christoffel
- Marcie Clutter
- Coastal Wildlife Club, Inc.
- Eleanore E. Farrell
- Gainesville Herpetological Society
- Craig Guyer and Sharon Hermann
- Judith C. Hancock
- George and Donna Heinrich
- Roger L. Ivey
- Jo Ann Jennier
- Thomas H. Keenan
- Donald M. Kraus
- Willy The Losen, Jr.
- Joseph T. Maier
- Mary L. McAuliffe
- P. J. Meacham
- Patricia and Edward Ruby
- Raymond A. Schlueter
- John B. Smith
- Lora L. Smith
- Elizabeth L. Wagner
- Wally Wahlquist
- Linda J. Wilson
List last updated December 2002