It is no surprise to anyone reading this blog that I am fond of any species under the umbrella of herpetology. With this in mind, the European Turtle Alliance (ETA) Conference held at ARU Writtle in Essex on 11–12 October 2025 provided a valuable meeting point for people working with, researching, conserving and keeping turtles and tortoises. Bringing together conservationists, veterinarians, zoo professionals, researchers, private keepers and students, the two-day event demonstrated the remarkable breadth of contemporary chelonian work. The conference was organised by the European Turtle Alliance in association with Tortoise Welfare UK and the European Studbook Foundation, and formed part of the ETA’s wider objective of promoting chelonian conservation and welfare through collaboration across Europe. The 2025 meeting was particularly notable for its international scope, with more than 130 delegates from six countries, providing an indication of the scale that the meeting achieves each year. Although the conference has a strong European identity, its programme extended well beyond Europe, reflecting the inherently international nature of turtle and tortoise conservation. Speakers included specialists from the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Spain, the United States and the United Kingdom, with subjects ranging from the conservation of wild populations to veterinary medicine, captive husbandry, the pet trade and the practicalities of maintaining threatened species. I am fortunate enough to say that this was my third ETA conference I had attended, so I am starting to become part of the furniture.
One of the most interesting characteristics of the ETA Conference is that it does not fit neatly into the traditional model of a scientific conference. Rather than concentrating exclusively on peer-reviewed research, it occupies an important space between academic science, professional practice, conservation, veterinary medicine, zoological management and responsible private keeping. This broad approach is appropriate for chelonians, for which effective conservation frequently depends upon cooperation between people operating in very different professional and institutional environments. The European Turtle Alliance itself describes its role as that of an umbrella organisation seeking to encourage collaboration within the chelonian community, with particular emphasis on European conservation and welfare issues. The organisation developed from a European team established in 2006 and has subsequently expanded its network and activities. The conference therefore represents more than simply an annual series of lectures: it is an opportunity for this wider network to meet face-to-face, exchange experience and develop relationships. The venue, ARU Writtle has a longstanding connection with animal science, husbandry and conservation education, making it a particularly appropriate setting for a conference that deliberately crosses the boundaries between academic study and practical animal management.
Conservation formed one of the principal themes of the 2025 programme. This was reflected particularly clearly in presentations dealing with threatened species and wild populations. Victor Loehr’s (Dwarf Tortoise Conservation) contribution focused on the Karoo dwarf tortoise (Chersobius boulengeri), while Peter Praschag (Turtle Island) addressed a Nepal conservation programme alongside work involving the Mexican tortoise. Francesco Luigi Leonetti (Università della Calabria) discussed efforts to protect wild populations of Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni) in Calabria. These presentations illustrate the geographical and biological diversity encompassed by chelonian conservation. Turtles and tortoises occupy habitats ranging from Mediterranean landscapes and African drylands to Asian forests and wetlands, and the threats they face are similarly diverse. Habitat loss, collection, trade, fragmentation, invasive predators, changing land use and unsustainable exploitation can interact to place populations under considerable pressure. Conservation responses consequently need to be species- and context-specific. The presentation on Testudo hermanni in Calabria is particularly representative of the importance of maintaining viable wild populations rather than viewing conservation solely through the lens of captive breeding. European tortoises occupy landscapes that have been heavily modified by human activity, and conserving them requires attention to habitat management and population-level processes as well as individual animal welfare. The emphasis on wild populations therefore provided an important counterbalance to the substantial attention given elsewhere in the programme to captive animals. Peter Praschag’s contribution similarly illustrated the international dimensions of chelonian conservation. The inclusion of a Nepal conservation programme alongside work on the Mexican tortoise demonstrated that conservation organisations increasingly operate through international networks. The importance of such networks is especially apparent for species whose populations are declining rapidly and for which expertise, funding, animals, facilities or technical knowledge may be distributed across several countries.
Another recurring theme was the role of zoos and other managed collections. Thomas Maunders (ZSL) presented the ZSL Whipsnade Zoo chelonian collection with an overview of the Mauremys EEP (EAZA Ex-situ Programmes), while Manuel Antonio De La Riva Fraga (Complutense University of Madrid) discussed conservation at Faunia and the care of confiscated species. These presentations highlighted an important reality of modern chelonian conservation: captive collections can perform several different functions. They may provide opportunities for conservation breeding, research, public education, professional training and the development of husbandry techniques. In some cases, they may also provide a secure home for animals that cannot appropriately be returned to the wild. The management of confiscated animals presents particularly difficult challenges. Animals arriving through enforcement actions may have uncertain origins, unknown health histories and potentially significant disease risks. Their genetic provenance may also be unclear. Consequently, simply placing confiscated turtles or tortoises into an existing collection is not necessarily straightforward. Decisions concerning quarantine, health screening, genetic management, housing and eventual disposition require considerable expertise. The conference’s inclusion of such subjects was therefore important because it demonstrated that conservation does not end with the protection of wild habitats. There is an increasingly sophisticated understanding that conservation collections need to be managed strategically if they are to make a meaningful contribution to species survival.
Veterinary medicine represented another substantial strand of the programme. Matt Rendle (Association of Zoo and Exotic Veterinary Nurses) addressed chelonian veterinary practice, while Kevin Eatwell (Fife Exotic Vets) focused on observations in chelonian medicine, with particular attention to parasites. Veterinary knowledge is especially important for turtles and tortoises because their biology, physiology and husbandry requirements can differ considerably from those of more familiar companion animals. Problems associated with nutrition, ultraviolet-B exposure, temperature, hydration, parasites, reproductive health and chronic husbandry deficiencies can present significant challenges to veterinarians. The inclusion of veterinary professionals alongside conservationists was one of the strengths of the conference. It reinforced the idea that animal health and conservation should not be considered entirely separate disciplines. Disease can be an important conservation concern in wild populations, while poor health in captivity can undermine breeding programmes and compromise animal welfare. The veterinary sessions also provided an opportunity for practical knowledge to move in the other direction, from clinical practice towards keepers and conservationists. The conference audience included veterinary nurses, zookeepers, students and private keepers, making such knowledge exchange particularly valuable. The organisers explicitly identified all of these groups among their intended audience.
Thomas Griffith’s (Tomaskas) presentation on the importance and development of UVB provision for chelonians addressed one of the most fundamental issues in captive reptile husbandry. UVB provision is not simply a matter of selecting a particular lamp and installing it above an enclosure. Effective husbandry requires consideration of the animal’s behaviour, enclosure dimensions, lamp characteristics, distance, environmental gradients and replacement schedules. The subject is therefore an excellent example of how apparently simple husbandry questions can have considerable technical depth. The inclusion of this subject alongside veterinary medicine and conservation was appropriate. Poor captive husbandry can have long-term consequences for health and welfare, while evidence-based husbandry can improve breeding success and contribute to the development of sustainable captive populations. Maizey Fox’s (ARU Writtle) presentation on chelonian distribution in the UK similarly brought the subject closer to the conference’s home context. The UK has a substantial community of private tortoise keepers, alongside zoological collections, veterinary practices, rescue organisations and specialist societies. Understanding where animals came from, how old they are and what species are kept is therefore relevant not only to animal welfare but also to disease prevention, responsible ownership and the wider conservation implications of the trade in chelonians. This is a project I hope we’re able to make some progress with soon as a vast amount of data was collected. Thanks to those that answered Maizey’s questionnaire and to the European Turtle Alliance for helping to support the project.
Perhaps one of the most important elements of the conference was its willingness to engage directly with the pet trade. Chris Leone’s (Garden State Tortoise) presentation considered the past and present of the US pet trade, while Dillon Prest (Swallow Aquatics) examined changes in the UK pet trade. Trade is an unavoidable subject when discussing turtle and tortoise conservation. The relationship is complex: legitimate captive breeding and responsible ownership can support education and conservation, while poorly regulated or illegal collection and trade can have devastating effects on wild populations. A historical perspective is particularly useful because the reptile trade has changed substantially over time. Species that were once routinely imported in large numbers may now be subject to substantially greater regulation, while captive breeding has changed the availability of some taxa. At the same time, online commerce and social media have created new opportunities for both responsible exchange and problematic trade. The inclusion of perspectives from both the United States and United Kingdom allowed the conference to explore these issues comparatively. Differences in legislation, culture, availability of captive-bred animals and consumer behaviour mean that there is no single model of chelonian trade. Nevertheless, there are shared challenges concerning provenance, traceability, welfare and the relationship between captive collections and wild populations. The subject also illustrates why collaboration between conservationists, traders, keepers, veterinarians and researchers is important. Sustainable solutions are unlikely to emerge if any one group is excluded from the discussion.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the conference was its recognition that conservation is ultimately a human activity. Tony Monahan’s presentation on a chelonian travel guide and artworks provided a more creative dimension to the programme. This might initially appear somewhat removed from conservation science, but communication and public engagement are essential components of conservation. Turtles and tortoises are charismatic animals with considerable public appeal, and art, photography, travel writing and natural history interpretation can help turn that interest into greater awareness. Tony also took this as an opportunity to launch his new book the Turtle Lovers Guide Book, which chronicles the chelonian collections in over 160 American zoos and institutions. I had to pick up a copy of it myself and hope to put it to use one day! Jane Williams’ presentation on her new book, Tortoise Husbandry and Welfare, similarly illustrated the importance of communicating specialist knowledge to wider audiences. Williams has extensive experience in tortoise welfare, behaviour, education and professional training, and is also a member of the ETA team. The inclusion of a book dealing with husbandry and welfare therefore represented a useful bridge between professional knowledge and the wider community of tortoise owners.
The conference also had considerable educational value. Students were explicitly included among the intended audience, with a substantially reduced student registration fee available for the two-day meeting. This is an important feature of the conference because opportunities for students to engage directly with established professionals can be particularly valuable in a specialist field such as chelonian conservation. For students at ARU Writtle, the event offered an opportunity to encounter career pathways extending far beyond conventional laboratory or field research. The programme demonstrated that working with turtles and tortoises can encompass veterinary practice, zoo management, conservation breeding, field conservation, research, animal welfare, education, the pet trade and science communication. The presence of students also benefits the wider chelonian community. Specialist fields require continual renewal, and conferences provide a means through which early-career researchers and future practitioners can develop professional networks. The subsequent attendance of ARU students and other early-career participants at the event is therefore an encouraging sign of the conference’s educational role.
The international composition of the programme was perhaps the clearest indication of the ETA Conference’s development. The confirmed 2025 speakers came from Europe and North America and represented universities, zoological institutions, veterinary practices, specialist organisations and private-sector enterprises. This diversity is important because chelonian conservation is inherently international. Species do not recognise national boundaries, while expertise and conservation resources are unevenly distributed. A researcher working on a European tortoise may benefit from knowledge developed through work on Asian species; a zoo breeding programme may learn from field conservation; and a veterinarian working with captive tortoises may encounter health problems that have wider implications. The ETA’s organisational structure reflects this philosophy. Its team includes people from the UK and continental Europe, with contributors and collaborators associated with organisations such as Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Chester Zoo, the Zoological Society of London and Turtle Island. The conference consequently functions as a physical expression of an existing international network. The formal presentations were only one part of the event. The organisers deliberately incorporated opportunities to browse displays, socialise and meet other attendees, as well as an evening meal on Saturday. If you attend next year, the meal is always worth it. Such activities can sometimes be overlooked when assessing the value of conferences, but they are particularly important in specialist communities. Conversations over lunch, during breaks or at an evening event can lead to collaborations that would never emerge from a formal presentation alone. For people working in relatively small specialist fields, these networks can be particularly significant.
As with any specialist conference, the ETA conference should be evaluated both for its strengths and for areas in which it might develop further. Its principal strength is its breadth. Few events bring together such a side range of people working within chelonia conservation, while also integrating students within the same programme. That breadth does, however, mean that the meeting is not a conventional scientific conference. Some presentations are likely to be based on professional experience, practical observation or applied husbandry rather than formal experimental research. This should not necessarily be viewed as a weakness, because practical knowledge can be highly valuable, but it does mean that attendees should distinguish between peer-reviewed evidence, professional experience and personal observation. A further opportunity for future meetings would be to develop stronger links between presentations and published research. Providing abstracts, references or recommended reading alongside presentations could help students and researchers pursue subjects in greater depth. This is something I am hoping to help the organisers work on, watch this space. Similarly, encouraging presenters to identify evidence gaps could help translate conference discussions into research priorities. Nevertheless, the conference’s intentionally broad remit is arguably one of its defining strengths. The 2025 programme successfully demonstrated that conservation, welfare, veterinary medicine, husbandry and trade are interconnected rather than isolated subjects. Hopefully, I’ll see you in 2026 at the next one!
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