The Calusa Herpetological Society Of Southwest Florida

Thursday, June 2, 2022 - 6:00 pm

Terrapin Webinar 6:00 - 7:30

Daniel's Talk 7:30 - 8:45

 We are live-streaming the FWC Terrapin Webinar concerning the captive-breeding of terrapins in Florida. This is your chance to participate and give your opinion about this topic. Daniel's talk will begin after the webinar ends.

A Proposal for the Captive Breeding of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Florida

 This month's speaker will be Daniel Parker, the Director of Media for the United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK FL). He will be talking about a proposal that was submitted to FWC concerning the captive-breeding of diamondback terrapins in Florida. Daniel will be here to answer questions about this terrapin issue, as well as how USARK FL operates and what you can do to protect your rights to continue to keep reptiles and amphibians as pets.

People all over the world like to keep Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) as pets. The high demand for terrapins in Asia, especially China, has driven illegal wild collection to dangerous and potentially unsustainable levels. The remarkable recovery of the American alligator through farming efforts has proven that captive breeding of reptiles is effective in reducing poaching by supplying the market with captive-produced products. Despite receiving proposals for a captive breeding program from turtle breeders as well as top Florida terrapin biologists in the past, FWC has not implemented their suggestions into policy. 

Threats to wild Diamondback terrapins include habitat destruction, crab traps, road mortality, predation, and poaching. Florida’s turtle breeders can help address at least one of those threats. USARK FL supports a program allowing for captive breeding of terrapins and the sale of captive bred offspring. The result would be the availability of a captive bred alternative to poached wild caught animals in the market. Florida turtle breeders are some of the best in the world and would have the ability to produce many thousands of captive bred terrapins within a few years if allowed to do so. This program should be regulated to ensure that any turtles sold can be verified as captive bred offspring and that adult breeder animals are not replaced with wild caught animals. 

Daniel Parker is currently a biologist with DRMP and the Director of Media for United States Association of Reptile Keepers Florida (USARK FL).  In the past he has worked for Ashton Biodiversity Research and Preservation Institute, Ashton and Ashton and Associates, University of Central Florida (UCF), Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Dunn Diagnostics, and Altamaha Environmental Consulting. Parker is the owner of Sunshine Serpents (www.sunshineserpents.com). Through his company he guides reptile-themed eco tours, gives educational presentations, photographs herps, assists with TV and film production, and breeds captive reptiles. Parker consulted on the Emmy Award-winning wildlife documentary My Life as a Turkey. Parker's photographs have been published in books such as Amphibians and Reptiles of Florida and Amphibians and Reptiles of Sanibel and Captiva Islands: A Natural History. His photos have also appeared in Reptiles, Reptilia, and Herp Nation magazines as well as numerous other publications worldwide. He hopes that his work has helped to promote an increased understanding of Florida's natural environment and the wildlife that lives there.

 After the meeting, you are invited to join us at a nearby restaurant (announced at the meeting) for more herp discussions and camaraderie over food and drinks. See you there!

$5.00 for non-members per meeting or buy a year membership ($25 individual) or ($30 family/business). The address of the Calusa Nature Center is 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33905.