Turtles are built like tiny tanksâancient, armored, and famously tough. But in the modern world, that toughness may be their greatest vulnerability. In part two of our turtle two-parter, we dive into the shadowy world of turtle trafficking, where backyard collectors, international smugglers, and unsuspecting pet owners all play a role. From sting operations to turtle triage, we meet the unlikely defenders working to stop the tradeâand care for the reptiles caught in the middle. Because once a turtle is taken from the wild, getting it home again is a lot harder than youâd think.
Guests
Thomas Akre, head of the Turtle Conservation Ecology Lab at the Smithsonianâs National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
John (JD) Kleopfer, State Herpetologist for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
First Sergeant Tim Dooley, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Special Operations for the Virginia Conservation Police, Department of Wildlife Resources
Connor Gillespie, Director of Outreach at the Wildlife Center of Virginia
Dr. Karra Pierce, Director of Veterinary Services at the Wildlife Center of Virginia
