2011 Annual Report

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

2011 Annual Report

Contents

Message from CEO And Executive Director……….5 About The Orianne Society……….7 Indigo Snake Initiative—Lands Program……….9 Indigo Snake Initiative—Captive Conservation……...11 Indigo Snake Initiative—Conservation Science………12 Venomous Reptile Initiative……….14 Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Initiative……….15 Staff……….16

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

Become Involved……….20

Photo Credit: Steve Winter

Mission Statement……….4

“Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land. By land is meant all of the things on, over, or in the Earth. Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left.”

Photo Credit: Steve Winter

Aldo Leopold Excerpt from “Round River”

Mission

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

The Orianne Society works nationally and internationally to conserve reptiles and amphibians in the wild. We are dedicated to the range-wide conservation of our flagship species, the Eastern Indigo Snake. Using our Indigo Snake Initiative as a model for species conservation, we work with a diverse group of partners to achieve success by using sound science to direct on-the-ground conservation. We are focused on outcomes and succeed through dedication and hard work.

Above: Adult Eastern Indigo Snake.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

Message from the CEO and Executive Director 2010 was one of success and growth for The Orianne Society. We have set forth the most ambitious plan for snake conservation in the world - to save a species. Our flagship species, the Eastern Indigo Snake, is listed as threatened on the US Endangered Species List; however, very little was being done to conserve this species before The Orianne Society was formed. We work with tireless dedication to achieve our conservation goals and our hard work has been rewarded as we look back on the year and examine our successes.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

The year has also been one of growth. We made the decision to transition away from being a private operating foundation and toward being a public charity. As part of this transition, we welcomed new staff including our Director of Turtle Conservation and our Director of Development.

We also welcomed new supporters and partners who are providing resources and expertise critical to achieving our mission. While the Eastern Indigo Snake is and will always be our flagship for conservation, we began projects on additional rare reptiles species including projects on Bushmasters, Timber Rattlesnakes, Bog Turtles, and Radiated Tortoises. The approaches we use in these new projects are modeled after our successes with the Eastern Indigo Snake, and together these new projects are helping us broaden our scope to become the world’s leading organization for the conservation of reptiles.

Above: Dr. Christopher Jenkins, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of The Orianne Society

But our work is not done; we look forward to 2011 and many after that of working to conserve the Eastern Indigo Snake as well as other rare reptiles around the world.

Join us as we embark on another year; the relationships we build help us create conservation success stories.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

About The Orianne Society

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

The Orianne Society’s unique name honors a young girl who had the opportunity to hold an Eastern Indigo Snake.

Her love for this snake prompted her to ask her father if he could do something to save this threatened and declining species. In response to her request, the Kaplan family created The Orianne Society and forever changed the future of North America’s largest and most charismatic snake.

The Orianne Society became a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization in 2008.

Left: Longleaf pine forest. Top: Juvenile Eastern Indigo Snake.

Above: Adult Gopher Tortoise.

Right: Adult Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

The Eastern Indigo Snake continues to be the flagship species of The Orianne Society. Our success toward our goal of saving this species has prompted us to use our Indigo Snake Initiative as a model to develop other programs. In 2010, we developed a Venomous Reptile Initiative, where we focus on the conservation of species such as Bushmasters, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes, and Timber Rattlesnakes; and a Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Initiative, where we focus on the conservation of species such as the Radiated Tortoise in Madagascar, as well as Gopher Tortoise, Wood Turtles, and Bog Turtles in the United States.

“Having toiled in its preparation, it is especially gratifying to witness a longleaf pine natural community recover from a late spring prescribed fire.“

Photo Credit: Wayne Taylor

Wayne Taylor, Director of Land Management

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

Eastern Indigo Snake Initiative—Lands Program

Land protection and management play a vital role in our efforts to save Eastern Indigo Snakes. Since the inception of the organization, The Orianne Society has protected 2,600 acres of quality Eastern Indigo Snake habitat. Approximately 800 acres of the most prime habitat are being placed in a conservation easement in late 2011 so that this area may be protected for Eastern Indigo Snakes forever.

OISP

The Orianne Society focuses on land protection within the Altamaha River Corridor where the Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve (OISP) is located. The OISP abuts another 13,000 acres of protected land, allowing for contiguous Eastern Indigo Snake habitat with very little fragmentation.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

Georgia DNR Property

The Nature Conservancy Property

Above: Map depicting the protected areas which abut the OISP, allowing for contiguous Eastern Indigo Snake habitat with little fragmentation.

Left: The Orianne Society Land Management Team

Accomplishments of the Land Management Program 

Partnered with 27 landowners representing 35,000 acres of Gopher Tortoise and Eastern Indigo Snake Habitat in the Altamaha River Corridor.

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Applied prescribed fire to approximately 3,000 acres of Eastern Indigo Snake Habitat.

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Assisted in planting 267 acres of longleaf pine.

Future goals of the Lands Program 

Increase the size of the OISP by 3,000 acres within the next three years.

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Continue to develop private landowner partnerships that support Eastern Indigo Snake conservation in the Altamaha River Corridor.

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Restore native wiregrass and longleaf pine communities on private lands and the OISP.

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Removed 240 acres of sandpine on the OISP.

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Further develop Geographical Information Systems mapping to improve landowner communication and land management planning.

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Developed a 5 year forest plan for the OISP.

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Continue building land management infrastructure to implement prescribed fire on OISP and private lands.

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Welcomed numerous new partners, including private landowners, state, and federal agencies.

Left Top: The Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve.

Left Bottom: Monitoring a Prescribed Burn.

Fred Antonio, Director of the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation

Photo Credit: Steve Winter

“Predators, especially snakes, have been relentlessly persecuted and eliminated from our landscapes. Their absence has damaged the fabric of these natural communities. It is our responsibility to mend them while we still can.�

Photo Credit: Dirk Stevenson

The heart of the Captive Conservation Program is the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation (OCIC), the world’s leading facility for the propagation of Eastern Indigo Snakes. The cutting edge design of the OCIC focuses on a preventative health care program that integrates the most favorable environments for Indigos with recent advances in reptile medicine. The outdoor enclosures at the 25 acre facility will allow our Indigos to enjoy all the natural rhythms and stimuli of their native habitats. This habitat, combined with excellent healthcare and nutrition, will ensure that our breeding colony remains in the peak of health.

Accomplishments of the Captive Conservation Program 

Completed the Captive Propagation and Reintroduction Plan in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Purchased property in Eustis, Florida for the OCIC.

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Began Phase 1 construction of the OCIC, including the construction of a Herpetarium, a Quarantine Building, and Outdoor Indigo Snake Enclosures.

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Acquired 38 Eastern Indigo Snakes for OCIC breeding stock and education outreach.

Left: Juvenile Eastern Indigo Snake.

Photo Credit: Val Johnson

Indigo Snake Initiative—Captive Conservation

Top: Juvenile Eastern Indigo Snake and Indigo Egg. Above: Eastern Indigo Snake Eggs.

Future Goals of the Captive Conservation Program 

Complete Phase 1 of the OCIC construction and initiate Phase 2 construction by raising funds through a capital campaign.

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Establish an OCIC volunteer program that will promote citizen involvement in our work.

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Establish a formal veterinary program in collaboration with the University of Florida Wildlife Medicine Field Service.

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Continue production of Indigos for reintroduction.

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Evaluate the potential for captive propagation of other species The Orianne Society is working to conserve.

Indigo Snake Initiative—Conservation Science

Left: Radio Tracking Eastern Indigo Snakes in Florida.

Javan Bauder, Research Ecologist

Photo Credit: Javan Bauder

Photo Credit: Javan Bauder

Above: Marking Gopher Tortoise.

Below: Juvenile Eastern Indigo Snake.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

To successfully conserve Eastern Indigo Snake populations we must understand the factors that caused their decline. Our Conservation Science Program focuses on rigorous, science-based research projects that will inform our on-theground conservation efforts. The Conservation Science Program also focuses on the inventory and monitoring of longleaf pine associated species, particularly Eastern Indigo Snakes and Gopher Tortoise, as well as the reintroduction of Eastern Indigo Snakes into areas where they are now extinct.

“Effective conservation of any wildlife species requires an understanding of its life history and ecology. The Indigo Snake Conservation Science program is dedicated to providing this information”

Future Goals of the Conservation Science Program 

Reintroduce Eastern Indigos to four sites distributed across southern Alabama, the panhandle of Florida, and southwest Georgia.

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Continue with research that will provide us with an improved understanding of Eastern Indigo Snake ecology and factors causing their decline.

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Continue range-wide inventory and monitoring program.

Accomplishments of the Conservation Science Program  Currently conducting a study on the

relationship between Indigo Snakes and Gopher Tortoise Burrows to determine how changes in the snakes’ thermal environment may have contributed to their decline  Currently conducting a study in

peninsular Florida to determine the effects of habitat fragmentation on Indigo Snake movement and habitat selection.  Completed the first year of a long-

term Indigo Snake monitoring program in southern Georgia’s Altamaha River Corridor on both private and public land.  Conducted a pilot study to

determine the effectiveness of using specially trained wildlife detector dogs to locate Indigo Snakes (published in Herpetological Review, 2010) and conducted canine surveys for Eastern Indigo Snakes at potential reintroduction sites.  Initiated a long-term Gopher

Tortoise monitoring program on the Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve.  Completed a Range-wide Genetics

Study and a Population Demographics Study of Eastern Indigo Snakes in Partnership with University of Florida.  Developed a GIS-based tool to

prioritize land conservation activities in Eastern Indigo Snake habitat in Partnership with the University of Massachusetts.

Eastern Indigo Snake Reintroduction into Alabama in Partnership with Auburn University and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

 Completed the first year of an

Above: Scoping a Gopher Tortoise Burrow with a Burrow Camera.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

Venomous Reptile Initiative Venomous reptiles are one of the most misunderstood and heavily persecuted groups of animals in the world. This, combined with loss of habitat, has caused the majority of the world’s venomous reptiles to decline in numbers. In response to this, The Orianne Society recently embarked on a Venomous Reptile Initiative with the vision of promoting the global conservation of venomous snakes and lizards. We have many goals we hope to achieve through this initiative, the first of which is to promote the understanding of venomous reptiles and to educate people on their place in ecosystems. In order to stop human persecution of these species, we need to emphasize that these are species to be respected but not necessarily feared.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

The focal species of the Venomous Reptile Initiative is the Black-headed Bushmaster. The Black-headed Bushmaster is one of the more rare vipers of the world and is an icon for undisturbed rainforest ecosystems and one of the most diverse regions in the world, the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. The continued destruction of pristine rainforest, combined with heavy human persecution, are threatening this already rare species with further declines. We will work to ensure the range-wide viability of the Black-headed Bushmaster, as well as to achieve positive conservation outcomes for a variety of additional rare and declining venomous reptiles. Targeted species include Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Timber Rattlesnakes, Western Rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters, and Beaded Lizards.

Top: Bushmaster. Above: Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

An additional facet of the Venomous Reptile Initiative is the Viper Specialist Group. In 2010, The Orianne Society teamed with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to form The Viper Specialist Group, a group of viper experts from around the world. Several staff members serve on the board of the Viper Specialist Group, including Dr. Jenkins who serves as the group’s chair. Together, this group will serve as the global voice for implementing viper conservation, and The Orianne Society is very excited to help lead the way.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Initiative Tortoise and freshwater turtles are heavily exploited for food and the pet trade around the world. This, combined with habitat loss and fragmentation, has caused most tortoise and freshwater turtle populations to decline at a rapid rate. In late 2010, The Orianne Society developed at Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Initiative under the leadership of a new staff member, Dr. Christina Castellano, to combat these declines.

Photo Credit Steve Winter

The focal species of the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Initiative is the Radiated Tortoise in Madagascar. Dr. Castellano has been diligently working to conserve this species. The Radiated Tortoise has been chosen as a focal species due to its drastic decline in population and the threats associated with that decline. Radiated Tortoises inhabit a small stretch of spiny forest along the coast of Madagascar and are hunted regularly and illegally for bushmeat. This, combined with their high vulnerability to climate change and loss of habitat has caused many researchers to believe that this species will be extinct within the next 20-40 years. The Orianne Society intends to remedy this by surveying and monitoring the Radiated Tortoise population in Madagascar, as well as working with local communities to teach the importance of this species to the local ecosystem and to stop the illegal hunting of Radiated Tortoises for bushmeat.

Top: Radiated Tortoise Shell. Above: Gopher Tortoise.

Other species The Orianne Society intends to conserve through the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Initiative include Spider Tortoise in Madagascar, Gopher Tortoise in Southern Georgia (particularly on the Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve), Bog Turtles in the Southern Appalachians (including a project involving mountain bog restoration), and Wood Turtles in the Northeast United States.

Staff Christopher Jenkins, Ph.D is Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of The Orianne Society. Chris has also worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, University of Massachusetts, and National Geographic. He has worked on the conservation of reptiles and amphibians throughout North America and is currently expanding his work internationally. Chris’ primary interests are in the ecology and conservation of snakes and managing nonprofit conservation organizations. Chris founded and chairs the IUCN Viper Specialist Group and serves as co-chair on the Steering Committee for the Southeast Region of PARC. Chris is currently writing a book titled, The Indigo Snake: A Complete Guide to their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation.

Gary Baldaeus serves as The Orianne Society’s Chief Financial Officer. After completing eight years of military service during the 1960’s, he obtained his BBA in accounting from City University of New York-Baruch College. Upon graduation he joined Ernst & Young and retired after thirty years with the Firm. While with Ernst & Young, he served in numerous capacitates as an audit and consulting partner as a specialist in the healthcare and non profit industry, among other things. He is a practicing CPA, and a member of the AICPA, NYSSCPAs, and other professional organizations.

He has presented to a broad array of professional organizations on all aspects of accounting and operating matters and has served as an adjunct professor at New York Medical College. He is also a member of the board of directors and serves as Audit Committee Chairman of Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in New York City.

Fred Antonio is the Director of The Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation. Fred graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Fish and Wildlife Management. His career in the zoo field began as an Elephant Keeper at the Central Florida Zoo. Afterwards Fred’s career continued as a Reptile Keeper at the Dallas Zoo, and as a Research Assistant at the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission’s Wildlife Research Lab. Fred has also served the Association of Zoos and Aquariums as Population Manager for the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Vice Chair for Studbooks and Population Management Plan for the Wildlife Conservation Management Committee and is currently a member of the Steering Committee for the AZA Snake Advisory Group.

Teri Aurora is the Director of Communication for The Orianne Society. Teri was born and raised in Southwest Florida where she worked in the financial services arena most of her career. After raising her family, Teri went back to school to continue her education. She transferred to Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia, where she received her B.A. in Business with Accounting. Teri is thrilled to fulfill her dream to work for a non-profit organization such as The Orianne Society.

Staff

Staff Javan Bauder is a Research Ecologist with The Orianne Society. He received his B.S. in wildlife resources from the University of Idaho, and his M.S. in biology from Idaho State University. Javan is currently studying the thermal ecology of Eastern Indigo Snakes to better understand factors that have and are contributing to their decline. This includes the thermal ecology of Eastern Indigo Snakes in southern Georgia to understand how alterations to their thermal environment may have contributed towards their declines and the spatial and habitat ecology of Eastern Indigo Snakes in south Florida to determine how they respond to habitat fragmentation. Javan is also assisting in the development of an occupancy monitoring program for Indigos in the Altamaha River drainage.

Kiley Briggs is a Research Technician for The Orianne Society. Kiley grew up in Vermont where he earned a B.S. in wildlife biology in 2008. Since then he has worked as a field and office assistant for the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Project and as a technician on a project aimed at developing an adequate sampling method for Mudpuppies in the Northeast. In addition, Kiley served as a technician in a field study looking at the nesting success of grassland birds in agricultural environments and spent a summer working in the field with a graduate student studying the population dynamics of Rainbow Smelt after the introduction of Alewife into Lake Champlain. His primary interests lie in the conservation and restoration of Rattlesnake populations in New England.

Christina Castellano, Ph.D is the Director of Turtle Conservation for The Orianne Society. She previously worked in the Herpetology Department at the Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo and as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Canberra (Australia). Most recently, Christina was the Curator of the Threatened Species Unit at Healesville Sanctuary/Zoos Victoria where she managed captive breeding for release programs for Australian native species. Christina is currently investigating the ecology and conservation of the critically endangered Spider and Radiated Tortoises in southern Madagascar and on the conservation of Gopher Tortoise populations in the Southeast. She is also a member of the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.

Amy Clifton is a Land Management Specialist for The Orianne Society. Amy received her B.S. & M.S. in biology from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she performed research on Greater Prairie-Chickens with the Arkansas Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit. Her 15 years of field biology experience has ranged from collecting plants in bottomland hardwood forests, searching for Swainson's Warblers along floodplains in the southeast, to radio-tracking Western Cottonmouths in creek beds and installing Red-cockaded Woodpecker artificial cavities in central Florida. While working for Archbold Biological Station, Florida Park Service and The Orianne Society, she has participated in over 100 controlled burns in scrub, sandhill, flatwoods and prairie habitats of Florida and Georgia.

Staff

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

Staff Heidi Hall (Holm) is the Program Manager for The Orianne Society. Heidi studied Fisheries and Wildlife Management at Hocking College in Ohio where she earned a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management. After a little globe-trekking, she continued her education at the University of Idaho, studying Wildlife Biology, earning a B.S. in Biology in 2003. Upon graduating, Heidi began her career as a consultant, working primarily with the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act; working with various species ranging from sage grouse to salmon. Heidi has conducted and written numerous Biological Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, and Habitat Assessments, and is also proficient in grant and proposal writing. Her area of interest lies in education outreach and citizen science.

Lynn Hanna is the Director of Development for The Orianne Society. Her involvement in conservation causes began during her college years, when she took it upon herself to save the whales, rescue the harp seals, protect the dolphins, and earn Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in English from Georgia State University. Lynn began her career as an English teacher in Atlanta-area public schools.

She quickly realized that a common element of need among all her clients was the need for adequate funding. During the course of her career, Lynn has raised funds for numerous causes and organizations. Joining the staff of the Orianne Society is providing her with an exciting opportunity to support her lifelong interest in conservation.

Brannon Knight is the Field Operations Coordinator for the Land Management Team.

Brannon received an A.A.S. in Wildlife Technology from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in 2010. Throughout his college career, Brannon worked as a Timber Buyer with Ocmulgee Timber Company. Following graduation, he received a Bat Conservation Internship with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources where he worked establishing acoustic monitoring transects for bats throughout the state. He has received extensive fire training and has participated in multiple prescribed fires.

Attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Brannon is currently working towards his B.A.S. in Natural Resource Management with a focus on wildlife.

Karen McLain serves as Orianne’s Accountant. She spent her early years in northern New Mexico camping, hiking, and enjoying the wilderness including observing and tracking snakes in the mountains. Karen also lived in UT, NY, IL, and Okinawa. Her parents worked for the U.S. Department of the Army so she was able to travel all over the world. Karen received her degree in Natural Resource Conversation from SUNY (Finger Lakes, NY), but pursued an accounting career in non-profit agencies. Her past positions in non-profit companies include Executive Director for a builders’ association, the business administrator at a church, and an accounting analyst for a church denomination. She and her husband live with their dogs and horses in North Georgia.

Staff

Staff Dr. Stephen Spear is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist for The Orianne Society.

Stephen received his B.S in Biology at the University of Richmond in 2001, his M.S. in Biology at Idaho State University in 2004, and his Ph.D. in Zoology at Washington State University in 2009. Both his master’s and doctoral research focused on understanding how landscape configuration influenced the population genetic structure of amphibians. Currently, Stephen is working with researchers at Idaho State University, College of Southern Nevada, and University of Idaho to use demographic, genetic, and modeling approaches to predict how energy development might affect the persistence of Midget Faded Rattlesnake populations in southwest Wyoming.

Dirk Stevenson is the Director of Inventory and Monitoring for The Orianne Society.

Dirk attended Southern Illinois University where he studied zoology. He has nearly 20 years of professional experience working as a field zoologist in the southeastern Coastal Plain. Dirk has previously worked for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, The Nature Conservancy, and the Department of Defense (Fort Stewart).

He has published several dozen technical and popular articles, including recent Eastern Indigo Snake and Flatwoods Salamander papers that appeared in peer-reviewed journals. He authored or co-authored numerous species accounts and provided many photographs for a recently published book on the herpetofauna of Georgia.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

Kevin Stohlgren is a Research Assistant for The Orianne Society. Kevin grew up in Central Missouri and received his B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from the University of Missouri in 2007. He has worked with the Missouri Department of Conservation on a reptile and amphibian monitoring project in the Ozarks and has also worked at the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center in Southwest Georgia. Kevin is currently working on his Master’s degree at the University of Georgia. His Master's research focuses on the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the distribution and abundance of Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes on the coast of Georgia.

Wayne Taylor is the Director of Land Management for The Orianne Society. Wayne earned a B.S. in Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida.

Wayne then served in AmeriCorps on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, where he received initial wildland fire training. Since, he has led or participated in nearly 500 prescribed fires involving more than 200,000 acres while working for the St. Johns River Water Management District, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Air Force, private contractors, and private landowners. Wayne has been a host and mentor to the National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center for 10 years by instructing and providing prescribed fire opportunities for U.S. and international wildland fire professionals.

Staff

Headquarters: 579 Highway 441 South Clayton, GA 30525 706.212.0112 Fax 706.212.0113 www.oriannesociety.org

Become Involved Join us in our work to save the world’s rare reptiles…..

The Orianne Society’s mission to protect and conserve the world’s reptiles is unique and urgent. Reptiles are among the first animals on the planet to experience the negative effects of pollution, climate change, and human population influence, yet are among the last to receive the scientific and conservation support they need in order to survive. These species are essential to maintaining the ecological balance of every ecosystem they inhabit, but many populations across the globe are in a rapid state of decline.

Help insure the persistence of these unique and charismatic species. Please donate today and make an important contribution to the future of our planet.

Log on to www.oriannesociety.org, or contact Mrs. Lynn Hanna at 706.212.0112. General inquires can be sent via email to info@oriannesociety.org or contact us at 706.212.0112.

Photo Credit: Pete Oxford

The focus of The Orianne Society on reptile conservation is highly unique for a non-government organization. That intense focus gives us the opportunity to bring together extremely talented and knowledgeable people who specialize in herpetology, land management, education, and citizen science to address conservation issues that fall through the cracks in most other conservation organizations. You can be a part of this exciting endeavor. Your donations allow us to hire staff, manage and conserve key ecosystems, and conduct field research all aimed at one goal: to ensure the survival of the world’s reptiles.