Have you ever heard the phrase “a rising tide lifts all boats”? It means “what’s good for one of us is good for all of us”. As turtle and tortoise enthusiasts we don’t all agree on everything, including what we keep and how we keep it. If you look hard enough you’ll find common ground and you can use that to start a conversation or a point of connection.
I joined the Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group in May 2023. Right away I could tell the group was different, there wasn’t much arguing or putting others down. Even with topics people obviously had strong and passionate opinions on there was respect on both sides. Then I realized the group literally gives away turtles and tortoises – I can’t think of any other animal group I’ve been a part of that does this. It’s a way for keepers to get species they otherwise might not be able to. In my first year I more than made up my membership fee by getting an expensive baby tortoise for the cost of shipping. I’m still a little blown away by that today, and so grateful for the program (thanks Cameron Lamb!) and the breeders who believe in it and participate. Why would a breeder take an animal they can sell and give it away? It’s because they’re the rising tide for all of us.
I also noticed certain members were beacons of positivity, every interaction was supportive and encouraging. With their limited time to spend online, they put all their efforts into supporting others, sharing others content and adding words of encouragement. Michael Thathuvaswamy is one of those people (if you’re an active TTPG member you’re nodding along with me right now), and a big part of why the TTPG means so much to me. He’s someone who exudes kindness and the infectious type of enthusiasm that you can’t help but to be pulled in. He’s a sounding board for my copious (and sometimes crazy) ideas and someone I hope to emulate. I also want to thank Russ Gurley and James Badman, as they’ve also been welcoming and open to ideas. If you have ideas, share them with the group!
If we want to continue keeping turtles, and the turtles themselves to survive we have to get the younger generations involved and excited with us. So many animal related hobbies and sports are dying off because of gatekeeping and just being unfriendly to newbies. If your hobby isn’t growing it’s dying. I feel that the TTPG does a great job of welcoming newcomers, and since I’ve joined have seen several memberships given away to young people who are just getting started. The annual conference is free for students, and the TTPG provides free educational materials yearly to all educators who request it. Know a young person who’s into turtles and tortoises? Gift them a TTPG membership to fuel that passion.
So what’s the point of all of this rambling? I just wanted to share my appreciation for this group and the people who make it happen. I also want to share how you can be a part of it. You don’t have to be breeding endangered species or doing research in the field to make a difference. Heck, you don’t even have to have turtles and tortoises, just a passion for them. Here’s how you can help:
- Join the TTPG! If you aren’t a member – why? Membership funds support the CPP/CRP, ITTW (free learning material for educators), the Batagur, the annual conference and various conservation projects around the world.
- Be encouraging and kind to all members, but especially our younger members. This is not blindly cheering for everything, but if you see something that needs to be corrected in a setup or care, approach it from a place of kindness and empathy.
- Openly share your successes and failures. Everyone shares the good stuff, don’t be afraid to share the bad. We learn from our mistakes and maybe your mistake will help someone avoid making the same one.
- Donate where you can to groups you believe in. It doesn’t have to be much, even $10 here and there can make a difference. Personally, I like to donate to the TTPG, the Turtle Room and the Turtle Survival Alliance. Do your research and find a group that speaks to you.
- Share updates on what you’re doing with your animals. They don’t have to be rare or endangered, I love seeing Redfoot babies or updates as much as I like seeing critically endangered Chinese box turtles.
- Join us on Meet a Member. When Michael contacted me to be on Meet a Member the first thing I asked was “Why? I’m nobody.” He said (and he was right) that we all have something to share that others can learn from. All of you have something to teach us.
- Support other turtle nerds. Clicking like or sharing content takes no time and is easy – but can make an impact in boosting our friends who take the time to make content. If you aren’t subscribed to the TTPG YouTube channel we’d love if you would: https://www.youtube.com/@TurtleandTortoisePreservation
If you’ve made it this far I thank you – love you all! #fortheturtles