Imperial Valley News

San Diego, California - San Diego Zoo Conservation Ambassador Joan Embery revealed Saturday the Zoo's new role in helping to save the threatened desert tortoise. Embery spoke to a group of about 100 people at the Zoo's annual conference, which explores a different conservation topic each year.

The focus of this year's State of Endangered Species conference was California biodiversity. It included speakers Michael Fay, Ph.D., a conservationist and National Geographic explorer-in-residence, and Ron Swaisgood, Ph.D., a San Diego Zoo Conservation Research scientist.

Embery opened the conference with the announcement that the San Diego Zoo will apply expertise by joining the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in operating the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's Desert Tortoise Conservation Center in Nevada.

"This is one of the most pressing conservation needs and it is in our own backyard," said Alan Lieberman, San Diego Zoo Conservation Research program manager. "The health of the desert can be measured by the health of the tortoise. The desert tortoise is truly the flagship species of the American southwest."

The 250-acre tortoise conservation center near Las Vegas is home to an estimated 1,000 desert tortoises. The center is supported by the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Department of Wildlife and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Centers for Species Survival. San Diego Zoo biologists will monitor newly released tortoises to measure the success of the releases, while also managing the animals' veterinary care, health screening and releases.

"Our partnership with San Diego Zoo is a great step forward in conservation efforts for the desert tortoise," said Bob Williams, U. S. Fish and Wildlife's Nevada Office field supervisor. "The animal husbandry expertise and reputable science that they bring to the partnership will help us transform the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center into an asset that will aid us in furthering tortoise recovery."

At Saturday's conference, Swaisgood discussed how release programs help in the recovery of threatened and endangered species such as the desert tortoise and California natives including the Pacific pocket mouse and the California condor.

"A number of species have become endangered and management actions are needed to recover the species and safeguard them against extinction," said Swaisgood, who will supervise the desert tortoise research program. "In some cases the species' range has become so restricted that it is necessary to re-establish animals in portions of their range by actively relocating animals to protected or restored habitat."

Protecting habitat was a key component of the conference's keynote speech by Fay, who on Thursday (Feb. 5) received a 2009 San Diego Zoo Conservation Medal.

Today, only about three percent of the old redwood growth remains, Fay said. In this 21st century is it possible to satisfy the needs of commerce and reverse the worldwide trend of forest liquidation? Yes. The state has taken the lead in protecting the environment from green house gases and it can take the lead in protecting redwoods as well.

Fay and Swaisgood were among eight conservationists who spoke at the conference, highlighting California's rich habitats and wildlife. Speakers compared San Diego's river system to rain forests, looked at biodiversity of the San Jacinto Mountain range, drew attention to challenges of bighorn sheep conservation, discussed linking biodiversity conservation with the goals of urban renewal and environmental justice and pointed out the need to document San Diego County's diverse plant life.

The 100-acre San Diego Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats. The organization focuses on conservation and research work around the globe, educates millions of individuals a year about wildlife and maintains accredited horticultural, animal, library and photo collections. The Zoo also manages the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, which includes a 900-acre native species reserve, and the San Diego Zoo's Beckman Center for Conservation Research. The important conservation and science work of these entities is supported in part by The Foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego.