May is a busy time for turtles and tortoises: In the wild, they're shaking off their winter hibernation and starting to seek mates and a nice place to nest. Six years ago, these annual behaviors inspired the establishment of May 23 as World Turtle Day by
American Tortoise Rescue. In honor of World Turtle Day 2006, The HSUS takes you around the globe to learn the latest on how turtles and tortoises are faring, and to identify ways that you can help brighten their prospects.
Good News for Florida Gopher Tortoises?
The gopher tortoise (pictured above)—a slow-moving burrowing turtle—faces the dual threats of habitat destruction and degradation. These slow-to-reproduce turtles face the prospect of being buried alive by bulldozers and hunted by humans, who consider tortoise meat a delicacy. So far, Florida has left gopher tortoises to fend for themselves, even granting permits to kill more than 79,000 since 1991. But on June 7, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will decide whether to follow recommendations to classify gopher tortoises as "threatened," which would require the state to start implementing protections.
Take action: You can help by telling commissioner Kenneth Haddad to vote "yes" on gopher tortoise protection by June 6.
Florida Steps up for Small Turtles 
There has been a national ban on the sale of small (those with shells smaller than 4 inches across) turtles as pets since 1975 because of the health risks they pose, but too often it isn't enforced. In warning letters, Florida has made it clear that it won't allow sales of small turtles, even if the buyer claims the turtle is for educational or exhibition purposes. The popularity of pet turtles is bad news for both turtles and humans: Turtles suffer in the pet trade, and when humans bring turtles into their homes, they're inviting in Salmonella, a bacteria that doesn’t make turtles sick but can cause life-threatening complications, especially in children.
Take action: Spread the world that both turtles and people are happier and safer when turtles stay in their natural habitats.
The Year of the Sea Turtle
This year turtles around the world are receiving extra attention because the United Nations has designated 2006 the Year of the Turtle to create international awareness of the plight of the seven species of sea turtles, all of which are considered endangered.
Take action: Go to this page if you’d like to participate in the Year of the Turtle.
Mexico Defends Sea Turtles, While Nicaragua Sells Them Short
Every species of sea turtle is protected from international commercial trade by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Some nations, understanding that sea turtles face threats other than trade (habitat loss, pollution, fishing lines and nets, and boats, to name a few), have passed their own sea turtle protection laws. We can now add Mexico to that list. This month Mexico’s legislature banned both the capture of sea turtles and the sale of sea turtle products. Meanwhile, Nicaragua still allows the legal sales of sea turtle parts for trinkets shops and breakfast buffets.
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Crying out for Protection in Costa Rica
Commercial shrimp fishing is one of the greatest problems for sea turtles worldwide, but it's a problem that is easily (and cheaply) solved: Shrimpers can attach a Turtle Excluder Device to their boats, which will allow turtles to escape from shrimp nets. Surprisingly, although Costa Rica generally scores high marks for environmental legislation, the federal government has yet to enforce the use of these life-saving devices.
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A Cagey Deal in the Caymans
The Cayman Islands Turtle Farm, a government-owned, for-profit breeding facility in the British West Indies, is working to churn up trade in its endangered green sea turtles—a market that has been illegal since 1977. The United Kingdom (U.K.)government approved a shipment of 20 live green sea turtles from the Cayman Islands to be displayed in the for-profit Sea Life Centre aquaria in Europe, saying that the sale doesn't constitute international trade because the Caymans are a U.K. territory. Observers say that it’s obvious the U.K. facility will export the turtles to other aquaria in Europe owned by the same company, thereby setting a precedent for other turtle exports. Join The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and others in condemning this shipment.
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