Saving the Egyptian Tortoise with Ralph Till and KAP: For the Love of Turtles
About this episode
This episode features Ralph Till discussing the conservation of the critically endangered Egyptian tortoise and the role of private keepers in its preservation.
Welcome back to Turtle Tea with TTPG! Today's episode kicks off a special installment in our series, For the Love of Turtles, celebrating the dedication, accomplishments, and real-world impact of our members in turtle and tortoise preservation. Host Wendy Montroy sits down with lifetime TTPG member Ralph Till, one of the founders of the Kleinmanni Assurance Project (KAP). Testudo kleinmanni, the Egyptian tortoise, is one of the smallest and most critically endangered tortoise species in the world. Facing severe habitat loss, poaching, and extinction in its native range, the species relies heavily on dedicated private keepers to maintain genetically viable populations for the future. Ralph walks us through how KAP was formed, why cooperative non-commercial breeding networks are vital when commercial markets and legal protections change, and how private keepers are successfully managing studbooks and sharing animals across the country. Key Topics Covered In This Episode The current reality of wild Egyptian tortoise populations in North Africa How the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing changed the landscape for private keepers The difference between commercial breeding and an…
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