This critically endangered turtle has its measurements taken. Photo by L. Luiselli.

Our Quarters for Conservation (Q4C) initiative, which gives you the opportunity to “vote” for a conservation project on each visit to the Zoo, highlights three unique programs every three months. This spring, one of your choices is Institute for Development, Ecology, Conservation & Cooperation (IDECC).

IDECC works on a variety of projects, though the one it will use its Q4C funding for is protecting the critically endangered Nubian flapshell turtle. This species has no surviving individuals in human care and was only rediscovered in South Sudan in 2017. Fewer than 10 individuals have been observed in their natural habitat in the last 50 years.

The Nubian flapshell turtle is threatened by the bushmeat trade, habitat loss and a poor understanding of its natural history. IDECC will use their grant to conduct field research, define the distribution of the Nubian flapshell turtle and come up with immediate management plans in South Sudan in order to save the species from total extinction.

To cast your vote for the Institute for Development, Ecology, Conservation & Cooperation, visit the Zoo and drop your token into the corresponding Q4C box! Stay tuned for spotlights on this cycle’s other unique conservation projects.