At the state level, turtles are winning important new protections. At the federal level, Congress rejected a proposal that could have allowed the sale of small turtles as pets, threatening public health and animal welfare.

"World Turtle Day calls attention to these remarkable animals and the compelling need to keep them out of the pet trade," says Beth Preiss, director of the exotic pets campaign for The HSUS. "The Humane Society of the United States encourages people to enjoy the wonder of the world's turtles, but to give them space in nature where they belong - both for their health and ours."

Turtles in the United States

Oklahoma recently enacted a three-year moratorium on commercial harvest of turtles from public waters in the state. During this time, the state will study the status of Oklahoma's turtles and consider whether to extend the prohibition to private waters. The HSUS applauds the moratorium and encourages Oklahoma to enact permanent protection for turtles.

Florida also is reviewing its rules about the harvest of freshwater turtles. It is legal in Florida to capture and kill soft-shell turtles, except from May through July. It is also legal to take their eggs during most of the year. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider changes to these regulations at its June meeting. The HSUS urges the Commission to prohibit the commercial harvest of freshwater turtles in the state.

At the federal level, Congress rejected a proposal that could have allowed the sale of small turtles as pets. The turtle language was included in the original Senate version of the Farm Bill, but not in the final bill that was sent to the president. The HSUS applauds the bipartisan action.

The sale of turtles with shells less than four inches long has been prohibited in the United States since 1975 to prevent the spread of Salmonella. Although all types of reptiles carry Salmonella, turtles pose a special risk because of their perceived appeal to children and parents. Illegal turtle sales continue, however, with tragic consequences. In 2007, a Florida infant died from contracting Salmonella from a pet turtle. In January 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report on an ongoing multistate outbreak of salmonellosis associated with small turtles purchased at pet stores, flea markets and other outlets. Beyond human health risks, turtles suffer horribly in the pet trade, and so can the environment. Transportation and care of these animals is often inhumane. Many die along the way. Pet turtles who escape or who are released far from their home habitat can displace native species.

Turtles Abroad

The fate of turtles internationally has also seen encouraging news this year. Cuba declared a moratorium on sea turtle hunting, ending the annual hunt of 500 endangered Hawksbill sea turtles. Humane Society International has helped defeat Cuba's repeated requests for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species permission to trade stockpiles of shells from previous hunts -- and HSI will continue this effort if Cuba tries again to relax the ban on international trade in Hawksbill shell.

The HSUS' Turtle Conservation Efforts

The HSUS has been an active participant in an innovative effort to save box turtles in the path of a controversial highway near Washington, D.C. With the help of turtle-sniffing dogs, almost 250 Eastern box turtles were found before forest habitats were cleared for the first phase of construction of the Intercounty Connector. Since box turtles are notoriously difficult to relocate, those who had to be relocated are being studied to monitor their movements and survival. The project aims to learn more about box turtle relocation to protect other populations threatened by development.

An imperiled tortoise found only in the southeastern U.S. is receiving greater protection with help from The HSUS. In the past year, Florida raised the status of gopher tortoises to "threatened," indicating a greater risk of extinction, and ended a controversial "incidental take" policy that allowed developers to purchase a permit to bury the animals alive in their burrows.

The state now requires developers to relocate tortoises using a "soft-release" method, providing them with food and shelter until they adjust to their new home. However, thousands more tortoises are in danger, since Florida "grandfathered" all permits requested before August 2007. The HSUS continues to reach out to developers with grandfathered permits, and has coordinated efforts to rescue more than 700 tortoises from development sites.

Facts:

World Turtle Day was established by American Tortoise Rescue, a California-based nonprofit that advocates for turtle and tortoise protection.

Most turtle species in the world are declining as a result of habitat loss, pollution and collection from the wild. As long-lived animals with delayed reproduction, turtle populations are particularly sensitive to the loss of individuals.

Though all can be called turtles, in North America the word "tortoise" is used for species who live mostly on land; "turtle" for species who live in water; and "terrapin" for species who live in brackish water. Box turtles, who live on land, are an exception.

The Food and Drug Administration enforces the ban on selling small turtles. People who see small turtles for sale illegally can report them to the FDA here.

Photo credit: American Tortoise Rescue