American Tortoise Rescue The Clock Is Ticking

American Tortoise Rescue

16 Years 4,500,000 Turtles

30,000,000 BullfrogsThe clock is ticking…

The clock is ticking…

1972 – India bans turtles as pets.


1974 – U.S. bans the sale of turtles under four inches throughout the country.


1990 – the European Union banned the red eared slider in all of its countries.


1990s – Australia and New Zealand banned the red eared slider.

The clock is ticking…1998 – California Fish & Game Commission received more than 2,000 letters in support of a ban on importation of red eared sliders, including letters from the former Secretary of Resources, California Fish & Game Wardens Association, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations and others.


1998 - State Panel Refuses to Ban Importation of Frogs, Turtles After hearing five hours of testimony, the State Fish and Game Commission on Wednesday voted 4 to 0 not to ban the importation of live bullfrogs and turtles used in some Asian cultures for food and medicinal purposes. Instead, the commission proposed that signs be posted at all food markets that sell the amphibians noting that it is illegal to sell the animals live to customers. They must be slaughtered on the premises before being sold. April 02, 1998 Los Angeles Times


2001 - Korea bans the red eared slider.


2006 – Red eared slider found in a pond near the University of Hawaii, the first record of the species in Hawaii in 10 years.


2007 – Oregon bans the red eared slider.


2007 – Study initiated in Singapore of non-native species, one of which is the red eared slider which competes with native species for food and basking spots, as well as displacing the native species.


2007 – Florida bans the red eared slider.


2009 – The Center for Biological Diversity and two dozen other conservation and health groups asked State wildlife and health agencies in Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee for a ban on commercial harvest of freshwater turtles in all public and private waters.

Freshwater turtles collected in these states and sold domestically as food or exported to international food markets are often contaminated with mercury, PCBs, and pesticides.


2009 – Bahrain investigates large numbers of red eared sliders being released into the wild.


2009 – Viet Nam was alarmed to discover red eared sliders in Hoan Kiem Lake.


2010 – Maine bans the red eared slider.


2010 – Pennsylvania believes that native turtle species in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania are now coming under pressure from red eared sliders released from captivity, mainly as a result of the pet trade. Considering a ban.


2010 – An Indiana Senator introduces a measure that seeks to regulate the state’s exotic reptile trade. The proposed measure provides penalties for releasing exotic animals into the wild. An “exotic reptile” is defined as a reptile that is not native to Indiana.


2010 – Fish & Game Commission receives 456 emails and 45 letters insupport of our proposed ban on the importation of turtles and frogs with only ONE in opposition.


American Tortoise rescue in Malibu has seen only three

Western Pond Turtles since we opened our doors 20 years ago.






Respectfully, Mr. Sonke and Commissioners, enough is enough. Ban the importation of turtles and frogs now!

American Tortoise Rescue

15 Years 4,500,000 Turtles

30,000,000 BullfrogsThe clock is ticking…

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American Tortoise Rescue The Clock Is Ticking