Slow and Steady : Protect Desert Tortoises

Tortoises Need Protection, Too!

It is easy to forget Tortoises in every day life. They are not cute like sea otters, seal pups, wolves, whales . . . However, they do have their place in our world and they need our help today. The army want to relocate 1000+ desert tortoises so they may have a tank warfare training area in the California desert. We are not discussing the warfare training range. Just the tortoises.

In the spring of last year, over 250 desert tortoises died after a disastrous attempt by the Army to relocate approximately 600 tortoises. The result was 252 tortoise deaths (both resident and translocated tortoises) have been documented as a result.

The desert tortoise population cannot withstand yet another ill-conceived and hastily implemented governmental plan. This year, the Army and the Bureau of Land Management are rushing forward with a plan to TRY TO move over 1,100 more tortoises.

The public comment period is only 15 days long. In order to to comment on this proposal, send your thoughts to the Army and the Bureau of Land Management--which you may easily do by clicking here and taking action. When you click, you will be taken to an online hub for sending these messages. You can read more on the issues, send funds to help, volunteer, send alerts and emails to your friends.

Please remember to include these points if you write your own letter or edit the sample letter:

• Extend the deadline for public comment for an additional 60 days.
• Conduct an Environmental Impact Statement, before moving forward,
  
• If tortoises must be moved, translocation must be designed to discourage them from making the perilous journey back to their homes on the base.
• No tortoises should be moved in a drought year when their survival is already compromised.
• Assurances must be provided that overall tortoise deaths from the translocation will be significantly reduced from last year.

Tags: take action, desert tortoise, center for biological diversity