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> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --Boundary_(ID_DSfAJB2i+3+VQpIcUHos9w) Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable Subject: Herald - Endangered turtle turns up in Tobeatic Chronicle Herald - Friday, December 14th, 2007 =20 Endangered turtle turns up in Tobeatic By DAVENE JEFFREY Staff Reporter Fri. Dec 14 - 5:31 AM PHOTO: Harold and Diane Clapp in the Tobeatic Wilderness Area where they discovered what may be an endangered Blanding=B9s turtle. (BRENNAN CAVERHILL) =20 What may be a new population of a small endangered turtle turned up in the Tobeatic Wilderness Area this summer. It may be a genetically distinct group or a handful of Blanding=B9s turtles that just took a walk, said Duncan Smith, a biologist with Kejimkujik National Park.=20 What is known is that according to a population study, the little turtles are at risk, Mr. Smith said "If we don=B9t take more action to strive toward recovering this population, it will disappear," he said. The Blanding=B9s turtle can be identified by colour. Its chin, throat and the underside of its long neck are bright yellow, an Environment Department release says.=20 Previously, the turtles were known to live in Atlantic Canada in only three places, all in Nova Scotia =8B Kejimkujik, McGowan Lake and Pleasant River. The three populations are genetically distinct, Mr. Smith said. But the Tobeatic Wilderness Area is more than 10 kilometres from the Kejimkujik turtle population, yet four Blanding=B9s turtles =8B two males, a female and a juvenile =8B were found in the Tobeatic while the summer study was being conducted. "Single males can go over 10 kilometres in a year," Mr. Smith said. So whether these turtles are part of a separate group or wanderers from one of the known populations, it=B9s too early to tell. The turtle discovery was made by a Digby couple, Harold and Diane Clapp. Th= e husband-and-wife team are part of a group of volunteers working with researchers and biologists to help bolster species at risk in the province. They were among about 85 volunteers with the Blanding=B9s turtle nest-protection program which searched Kejimkujik and 25 sites outside the national park.=20 Mr. Smith works in Keji=B9s species-at-risk stewardship program helping train volunteers to survey for various species and, in the case of the Blanding=B9s turtle, track and trap turtles and protect their nests. "(Volunteers) get to do hands-on, meaningful science," Mr. Smith said. For the Clapps, their discovery came at the end of five days of wet and col= d paddling.=20 "We had caught a lot of painted turtles that week," Diane Clapp said in the government release. "It was our last day and it was the second-last trap. A= s I pulled it up, I was stunned to see this one was different. Our search was actually successful." Blanding=B9s turtles in Nova Scotia are the most isolated and latest-maturing populations in North America, Mr. Smith said. The turtles live up to 80 years and don=B9t reach maturity until about 20. Mr. Smith=B9s work involves co-operation with a number of organizations and researchers.=20 "Species don=B9t really know political boundaries, so why should we?" he said= . Researchers are currently working on a "head start" program for the Blanding=B9s turtles, in which eggs are incubated and turtles are raised for about two years before they are released into the wild, the biologist said. That project involved help from staff at Oaklawn Farm Zoo in Aylesford who have some expertise in the area, Mr. Smith said. Anyone interested in volunteering in species-at-risk programs can contact Mr. Smith at 902-682-7401 or duncan.smith@pc.gc.ca, or Brennan Caverhill at brennan.caverhill@gmail.com or 902-682-7154. More information can also be found at www.speciesatrisk.ca/stewardship. =20 --Boundary_(ID_DSfAJB2i+3+VQpIcUHos9w) Content-type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>FW: Herald - Endangered turtle turns up in Tobeatic</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <BR> <B>Subject: </B>Herald - Endangered turtle turns up in Tobeatic<BR> <BR> <FONT COLOR=3D"#666666"><FONT SIZE=3D"2"><B>Chronicle Herald - Friday, December= 14th, 2007</B></FONT></FONT><FONT SIZE=3D"2"><B><FONT COLOR=3D"#1E1E1E"> <BR> </FONT></B></FONT><BR> <FONT FACE=3D"Times New Roman"> <BR> </FONT><BR> <FONT FACE=3D"Trebuchet MS"><H2>Endangered turtle turns up in Tobeatic<BR> </H2></FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#1E1E1E"><FONT SIZE=3D"1"><BR> </FONT></FONT><FONT SIZE=3D"1"><FONT COLOR=3D"#666666">By DAVENE JEFFREY Staff = Reporter<BR> Fri. Dec 14 - 5:31 AM</FONT></FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT COLOR=3D"#666666"><H6><BR> </H6></FONT><BR> PHOTO: <FONT COLOR=3D"#666666"><FONT SIZE=3D"1">Harold and Diane Clapp in the T= obeatic Wilderness Area where they discovered what may be an endangered Blan= ding=B9s turtle. (BRENNAN CAVERHILL)</FONT></FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1"> <BR> </FONT><BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">What may be a new population of a small endangered turtle tu= rned up in the Tobeatic Wilderness Area this summer.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">It may be a genetically distinct group or a handful of Bland= ing=B9s turtles that just took a walk, said Duncan Smith, a biologist with Kej= imkujik National Park.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">What is known is that according to a population study, the l= ittle turtles are at risk, Mr. Smith said</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">"If we don=B9t take more action to strive toward recoveri= ng this population, it will disappear," he said.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">The Blanding=B9s turtle can be identified by colour. Its chin,= throat and the underside of its long neck are bright yellow, an Environment= Department release says.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">Previously, the turtles were known to live in Atlantic Canad= a in only three places, all in Nova Scotia =8B Kejimkujik, McGowan Lake and Pl= easant River. The three populations are genetically distinct, Mr. Smith said= .</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">But the Tobeatic Wilderness Area is more than 10 kilometres = from the Kejimkujik turtle population, yet four Blanding=B9s turtles =8B two mal= es, a female and a juvenile =8B were found in the Tobeatic while the summer st= udy was being conducted.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">"Single males can go over 10 kilometres in a year,"= ; Mr. Smith said. So whether these turtles are part of a separate group or w= anderers from one of the known populations, it=B9s too early to tell.</FONT> <= BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">The turtle discovery was made by a Digby couple, Harold and = Diane Clapp. The husband-and-wife team are part of a group of volunteers wor= king with researchers and biologists to help bolster species at risk in the = province.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">They were among about 85 volunteers with the Blanding=B9s turt= le nest-protection program which searched Kejimkujik and 25 sites outside th= e national park.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">Mr. Smith works in Keji=B9s species-at-risk stewardship progra= m helping train volunteers to survey for various species and, in the case of= the Blanding=B9s turtle, track and trap turtles and protect their nests.</FON= T> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">"(Volunteers) get to do hands-on, meaningful science,&q= uot; Mr. Smith said.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">For the Clapps, their discovery came at the end of five days= of wet and cold paddling. <BR> </FONT><BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">"We had caught a lot of painted turtles that week,"= ; Diane Clapp said in the government release. "It was our last day and = it was the second-last trap. As I pulled it up, I was stunned to see this on= e was different. Our search was actually successful."</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">Blanding=B9s turtles in Nova Scotia are the most isolated and = latest-maturing populations in North America, Mr. Smith said. The turtles li= ve up to 80 years and don=B9t reach maturity until about 20.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">Mr. Smith=B9s work involves co-operation with a number of orga= nizations and researchers.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">"Species don=B9t really know political boundaries, so why= should we?" he said.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">Researchers are currently working on a "head start"= ; program for the Blanding=B9s turtles, in which eggs are incubated and turtle= s are raised for about two years before they are released into the wild, the= biologist said.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">That project involved help from staff at Oaklawn Farm Zoo in= Aylesford who have some expertise in the area, Mr. Smith said.</FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE=3D"1">Anyone interested in volunteering in species-at-risk program= s can contact Mr. Smith at 902-682-7401 or <B>duncan.smith@pc.gc.ca</B>, or = Brennan Caverhill at <B>brennan.caverhill@gmail.com</B> or 902-682-7154. Mor= e information can also be found at <B>www.speciesatrisk.ca/stewardship</B>.<= /FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT FACE=3D"Times New Roman"> <BR> </FONT><BR> </BODY> </HTML> --Boundary_(ID_DSfAJB2i+3+VQpIcUHos9w)--
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