STOP Desert Tortoise Translocation
The Desert Tortoise (Gopherus aggasizzii) is listed as a federally protected, threatened species. This species is protected by state and federal endangered species acts-yet threats to its survival are numerous.
Destruction of tortoise-friendly habitat due to military expansion into areas of designated critical habitat, off-roading in non-designated areas, pollution, livestock grazing, dumping, wild land fires, and razing of land/construction have all played a negative (and often catastrophic) toll on these desert denizens-who have called the Mojave Desert their home for many thousands of years.
Enforcement of existing laws to protect desert tortoises and sensitive habitats are often ignored and are seldom enforced.
Most recently, the Congressionally approved translocation (moving) of 760 wild, federally protected desert tortoises-from their homes at Fort Irwin, California, to less suitable habitat on public lands in March, 2008 has resulted in numerous injuries and deaths. The tortoises were released during cold weather and were unable to dig burrows for protection - areas of release were far less suitable habitat for their foraging and shelter needs, and is an area documented to have an ill tortoise population.
The Department of Defense, (DOD) Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), State Fish and Game Departments, and our elected officials must act immediately to halt further destruction of this species through "translocation" as well as the critical (and legally protected) habitats in which they survive.
The Department of Defense, nor any agency should be immune to the laws created to protect sensitive-and sometimes endangered species of plants and animals.
Please visit the Desert Tortoise Survival Alliance web pages for more information, or to join us as an Alliance organization.
The Desert Tortoise (Gopherus aggasizzii) is listed as a federally protected, threatened species. This species is protected by state and federal endangered species acts-yet threats to its survival are numerous.
Destruction of tortoise-friendly habitat due to military expansion into areas of designated critical habitat, off-roading in non-designated areas, pollution, livestock grazing, dumping, wild land fires, and razing of land/construction have all played a negative (and often catastrophic) toll on these desert denizens-who have called the Mojave Desert their home for many thousands of years.
Enforcement of existing laws to protect desert tortoises and sensitive habitats are often ignored and are seldom enforced.
Most recently, the Congressionally approved translocation (moving) of 760 wild, federally protected desert tortoises-from their homes at Fort Irwin, California, to less suitable habitat on public lands in March, 2008 has resulted in numerous injuries and deaths. The tortoises were released during cold weather and were unable to dig burrows for protection - areas of release were far less suitable habitat for their foraging and shelter needs, and is an area documented to have an ill tortoise population.
The Department of Defense, (DOD) Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), State Fish and Game Departments, and our elected officials must act immediately to halt further destruction of this species through "translocation" as well as the critical (and legally protected) habitats in which they survive.
The Department of Defense, nor any agency should be immune to the laws created to protect sensitive-and sometimes endangered species of plants and animals.
Please visit the Desert Tortoise Survival Alliance web pages for more information, or to join us as an Alliance organization.
Are gravely concerned regarding the plight of the few remaining desert tortoises, and the critical habitats and areas of critical environmental concern in which they call home.
A recent "translocation" of over 700 desert tortoises at Fort Irwin, CA from favorable (and critical) habitat to less favorable habitat on public lands in March 2008, has resulted in numerous casualties.
This is unacceptable treatment of a federally listed, protected species.
Desert tortoises have inhabited our desert lands for thousands of years, and are in rapid decline to do numerous threats.
We ask that:
1. Current state and federal endangered species and habitat laws are enforced at all times.
2. That "translocation" of desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) and other sensitive species be halted immediately.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
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Our tortoises, our state reptile and endangered species, needs to be protected. As part of the San Diego Turtle and Totoise Society, we wuld have taken in some of these animals and provided care for them. We don't want to watch them die. Its not to late to save them. Please help.
Stop messing around with nature!
Leave these animnals where they belong
Please reconsider what you are doing...the law of unintended consequences has already taken its toll.
May these magnificent creatures be able to live naturally in their habitat. I am an owner but rescued my babies from the evil pet store.
The relocation was incredibly costly for the tortoises AND the tax payers!
It is illegal to do what is being done to the poor desert tortoises. They are already an animal that faces extinction in the near future because we have already taken all of their land. Now we are adding undue stress and harm to these defenseless animals by removing them from there home for a stupid and irresponsible purpose. We should be lending these animals a hand instead of kicking them when they are down.
They were here first - you have no right to relocate them. They have not sought to give your home away. Leave theirs alone.
Is it really necessary to do this? I mean really, what's the point?!
Species like the Desert Tortoise are given federal and state legal protections because scientific evidence supports the need for their conservation -- as part of a functioning, diverse ecosystem. Designations of protected species and related critical habitat are rendered meaningless if those protections are not actively enforced. The will of the citizens should not be overturned by agencies that simply feel disinclined to follow the "inconvenient" requirements of the law. There are always attractive short-term "reasons" to waste our precious wild heritage, but the opportunities to save it are not infinite. History will judge us harshly if we squander the few remaining chances to preserve these unique ancient creatures and to maintain our dwindling biodiversity!
Please stop this action. God intended that man take great care of all His creation. Haven't we messed up enough? There must be other options. Thanks!
Other land should be located for government/military uses, preferably land already in use, that can have multiple uses. We do not know in full what animals or plants are in these desert areas (or much of anywhere else), that may be vital.
