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Shellshock

EAZA Turtle and Tortoise Campaign 2004/5

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Introduction

Turtles and tortoises have been on our planet for over 200 million years. They have witnessed the rise and fall of dinosaurs, they have seen the first birds fly, and they have observed our own evolution from the most harmless of primates. Now, in the space of less than twenty years they are being wiped from the face of the planet.

Shellshock, the EAZA Turtle & Tortoise Campaign, was held in 2004/5 to fight the crisis facing these ancient animals. The Campaign was officially launched at the EAZA Annual Conference 2004 in Kolmarden, Sweden.

Twelve months later the Campaign ended with an official closing session in Bath during the EAZA Annual Conference 2005. A final report to summarize and conclude the EAZA Shellshock Campaign 2004/5 was sent to all EAZA members in November 2006.

Click here to download the Shellshock Campaign Results (pdf).

© Creature Comforts
- Aardman Animations

Results

Although turtles and tortoises may not always be seen as 'high-profile' species, the Shellshock Campaign has been very successful. The main achievements in the light of the three Shellshock mission targets ('increase public awareness', 'save species' and 'raising funds') are:
  • 119 EAZA member institutions have participated in the Shellshock campaign, click here to see the overview of all registered participants;
  • The participants have organised many fundraising and awareness activities. Thereby reaching zoo visitors (and beyond) all over Europe.
  • Many organisations and individuals outside the EAZA community have shown interest in the campaign. Thirteen non-EAZA members were welcomed as official participants and over 30 British and Irish aquaria (including several non-EAZA members) participated in the 'Shellshock - Leatherback Turtle Tour 2005'. Furthermore, several organisations have received information through the Campaign Info Pack and Shellshock leaflets.
  • The campaign fundraising target of €150,000.00 has been reached: at the official closing session a preliminary fundraising result of €250,058.60 was announced. In July 2006, the fundraising result was presented in EAZA News #55: €372,093.30
  • Shellshock supported a small community in Sri-Lanka to rebuild their village and reactivate their turtle conservation activities, directly after the tsunami that hit South-East Asia in 2004 had devastated their livelihoods. Read more about these joint forces for tsunami turtles.
  • Shellshock funds have been transferred to several conservation projects in turtle and tortoise range countries.
  • Several EAZA member institutions have created space for (additional) turtle or tortoise species in their collections to support the ex situ 'Turtle Arks'.
Click here for a more extensive overview of the Shellshock
Campaign Results (pdf).

Future

Shellshock has been the largest conservation effort for turtles and tortoises ever. The fundraising results provide great opportunities to support conservation projects for in the coming months and years. The many awareness activities have placed turtles and tortoises and their conservation crisis in the minds of zoo visitors (and beyond).

But Shellshock will continue to have an impact in the coming years. In the first place by continued turtle and tortoise activities in EAZA member institutions. All participants are encouraged to keep up their Shellshock exhibitions and to continue organising turtle and tortoise activities. Obviously the efforts to create viable ex situ populations will continue. The space created for turtles and tortoises in EAZA member institutions will contribute to this in the years to come. But more space for turtles and tortoises is needed, therefore all EAZA members are invited to indicate their interest in keeping one or more species by completing the Reservist List.

One of the major achievements of Shellshock did not take place in Europe. The Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens (CAZG) decided to adopt the Shellshock Campaign and is organising its own turtle and tortoise conservation campaign in China in the coming years. With the huge problems of turtle and tortoise consumption and use for medicinal purposes in China, the CAZG campaign, called Careshell, has the possibility to have an enormous impact. Careshell will bring Shellshock into Asia and fight the problems at their source.


Shell n. 1. The usually hard outer covering that encases certain organisms such as arthropods, turtles and tortoises. 2. A projectile or piece of ammunition.

Shock v. To fill with a powerful feeling of horror, disgust, revulsion or incredulity; to outrage; to disturb emotionally.

Shellshock n. Colloquial term coined during the First World War that describes the psychological consequences of exposure to acutely traumatic, stressful or life threatening experiences.

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>> Targets    >> Contacts
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     information