TCF Grants
As one of its main functions, TCF administers a turtle conservation and research grants program.
Awards are granted to organizations or individuals for specific conservation or research projects dealing with
highly endangered tortoises or freshwater turtles, but not marine turtles,
with either partial or full support as funding allows.
From 2003 through 2023
the TCF has awarded a total of US $1.5 million to 350 worthy turtle conservation projects.
For a listing of grants supported since 2003, please click here.
TCF Grant Program
Priority for funding is given to projects that focus on tortoises or freshwater turtles that are already highly threatened according to the IUCN Red List or the TFTSG Provisional Red List, as either Critically Endangered or Endangered, or which may be highly threatened but not yet officially classified as such on the Red List. We do not support work on marine turtles. TCF Awards are approximately in the $1000 to $5000 range per project (with full or partial funding depending on full project costs), and smaller seed grant projects are also encouraged (up to $1000 each) to support pilot conservation initiatives for tortoise and freshwater turtle species that are currently either IUCN Red Listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered (or on the TCF Priority Species list–see below), or species that may become priority species with an increase in the state of knowledge about the status of their populations or the threats they currently face (principally species currently classified on the Red List Data Deficient or not yet assessed [Not Evaluated]).
Award recipients enter into contractual agreement with either Re:wild (formerly Global Wildlife Conservation) or Chelonian Research Foundation to produce the proposed work (these non-profit organizations serve as TCF’s financial umbrella organizations). Award recipients are also encouraged to publish at least partial results of the supported research in the international scientific turtle journal, Chelonian Conservation and Biology, published by Chelonian Research Foundation (www.chelonian.org).
There are two funding cycles annually. Total disbursement has averaged between $20,000 to $50,000 per funding cycle, or $40,000 to $100,000 per year to date.
Since our first funding cycle in 2003 through June 2022 we have awarded about US $1.5 million to 350 deserving turtle conservation projects.
Grant Application Deadlines: June 1 and December 1.
For detailed information and instructions on the Grant Application process, please click here.
For a listing of grants supported since 2003, please click here.
TCF Priority Species
The following species of tortoises and freshwater turtles have been prioritized by TCF to be considered for funding support.
Most Priority Species and subspecies listed here have been assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) by either the IUCN Red List or provisionally CR by the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. A few Priority Species listed here are assessed as Endangered (EN) by either the IUCN Red List or provisionally EN by the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.
Additionally, several species are considered Data Deficient (DD) by either the IUCN Red List or the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group provisional list, or are not yet assessed [Not Evaluated; NE] by the IUCN, indicating their population status is unknown due to a lack of information (see list in the Appendix at the end). In order to gain a better understanding of their status, proposals regarding these are also solicited.
Further, other species not currently on either priority list can be considered, as long as a convincing rationale for support is provided.
Dermatemydidae
Dermatemys mawii (Central American River Turtle) – Belize, Guatemala, Mexico
Kinosternidae
Kinosternon angustipons (Narrrow-bridged Mud Turtle) – Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama
Kinosternon cora (Cora Mud Turtle) – Mexico
Kinosternon hirtipes chapalaense (Lake Chapala Mud Turtle) – Mexico
Kinosternon hirtipes hirtipes (Valley of Mexico Mud Turtle) – Mexico
Kinosternon hirtipes magdalense (San Juanico Mud Turtle) – Mexico
Kinosternon sonoriense longifemorale (Sonoyta Mud Turtle) – Mexico, USA
Kinosternon vogti (Vallarta Mud Turtle) – Mexico
Sternotherus depressus (Flattened Musk Turtle) – USA
Emydidae
Glyptemys muhlenbergii (Bog Turtle) – USA
Terrapene coahuila (Coahuilan Box Turtle) – Mexico
Terrapene (carolina) yucatana (Yucatan Box Turtle) – Mexico
Geoemydidae
Batagur affinis (Southern River Terrapin) – Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand
Batagur baska (Northern River Terrapin) – Bangladesh, India, Myanmar
Batagur borneoensis (Painted Terrapin) – Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand
Batagur dhongoka (Three-striped Roofed Turtle) – Bangladesh, India, Nepal
Batagur kachuga (Red-crowned Roofed Turtle) – Bangladesh, India, Nepal
Batagur trivittata (Burmese Roofed Turtle) – Myanmar
Cuora aurocapitata (Yellow-headed Box Turtle) – China
Cuora bourreti (Bourret’s Box Turtle) – Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam
Cuora cyclornata (Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle) – Laos, Vietnam
Cuora flavomarginata (Yellow-margined Box Turtle) – China, Japan, Taiwan
Cuora galbinifrons (Indochinese Box Turtle) – China, Laos, Vietnam
Cuora mccordi (McCord’s Box Turtle) – China
Cuora mouhotii (Keeled Box Turtle) – China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam
Cuora pani (Pan’s Box Turtle) – China
Cuora picturata (Southern Vietnam Box Turtle) – Vietnam
Cuora trifasciata (Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle, Golden Coin Turtle) – China, Hong Kong, Laos, Vietnam
Cuora yunnanensis (Yunnan Box Turtle) – China
Cuora zhoui (Zhou’s Box Turtle) – China, Vietnam
Hardella thurjii (Crowned River Turtle) – Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan
Heosemys annandalii (Yellow-headed Temple Turtle) – Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
Heosemys depressa (Arakan Forest Turtle) – Myanmar
Leucocephalon yuwonoi (Sulawesi Forest Turtle) – Indonesia
Mauremys annamensis (Annam Pond Turtle) – Vietnam
Mauremys mutica (Yellow Pond Turtle) – China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam
Mauremys nigricans (Red-necked Pond Turtle) – China, Vietnam
Melanochelys tricarinata (Tricarinate Hill Turtle) – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal
Orlitia borneensis (Malaysian Giant Turtle) – Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia
Sacalia bealei (Beal’s Eyed Turtle) – China, Hong Kong
Siebenrockiella leytensis (Philippine Forest Turtle) – Philippines
Platysternidae
Platysternon megacephalum (Big-headed Turtle) – Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
Testudinidae
Astrochelys radiata (Radiated Tortoise) – Madagascar
Astrochelys yniphora (Ploughshare Tortoise, Angonoka) – Madagascar
Centrochelys sulcata (African Spurred Tortoise) – Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Eritera, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan
Chelonoidis darwini (Santiago Giant Tortoise) – Ecuador (Galapagos)
Chelonoidis donfaustoi (Eastern Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise) – Ecuador (Galápagos)
Chelonoidis guntheri (Sierra Negra Giant Tortoise) – Ecuador (Galápagos)
Chelonoidis hoodensis (Española Giant Tortoise) – Ecuador (Galápagos)
Chelonoidis porteri (Western Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise) – Ecuador (Galápagos)
Geochelone platynota (Burmese Star Tortoise) – Myanmar
Gopherus flavomarginatus (Bolson Tortoise) – Mexico
Indotestudo elongata (Elongated Tortoise) – Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China (?), India, Laos, Malaysia (Peninsular), Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam
Indotestudo forstenii (Sulawesi Tortoise) – Indonesia (Sulawesi)
Kinixys homeana (Home’s Hinge-back Tortoise) – Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Togo
Malacochersus tornieri (Pancake Tortoise) – Kenya, Tanzania
Manouria emys (Asian Giant Tortoise) – Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand
Psammobates geometricus (Geometric Tortoise) – South Africa
Pyxis arachnoides (Spider Tortoise) – Madagascar
Pyxis planicauda (Flat-tailed Tortoise) – Madagascar
Testudo kleinmanni (Egyptian Tortoise) – Egypt, Israel, Libya
Trionychidae
Apalone spinifera atra (Cuatro Cienegas Softshell Turtle) – Mexico
Chitra chitra (Asian Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle) – Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand
Chitra indica (Indian Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle) – Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan
Chitra vandijki (Burmese Narrow-headed Softshell Turtle) – Myanmar, Thailand
Cyclanorbis elegans (Nubian Flapshell Turtle) – Chad, Ghana, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo
Nilssonia formosa (Burmese Peacock Softshell Turtle) – China, Myanmar
Nilssonia leithii (Leith’s Softshell Turtle) – India
Nilssonia nigricans (Black Softshell Turtle, Bostami Softshell) – Bangladesh, India
Pelochelys cantori (Asian Giant Softshell Turtle, Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle) – Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
Pelodiscus variegatus (Vietnamese Softshell Turtle) – China, Vietnam
Rafetus swinhoei (Red River Giant Softshell Turtle, Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle) – China, Vietnam
Chelidae
Acanthochelys pallidipectoris (Chaco Side-necked Turtle) – Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay
Chelodina kuchlingi (Kuchling’s Snake-necked Turtle) – Australia
Chelodina mccordi mccordi (Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle) – Indonesia
Chelodina mccordi timorensis (Timor Snake-necked Turtle) – Timor-Leste
Elusor macrurus (Mary River Turtle) – Australia
Mesoclemmys dahli (Dahl’s Toad-headed Turtle) – Colombia
Mesoclemmys hogei (Hoge’s Side-necked Turtle) – Brazil
Myuchelys georgesi (Bellinger River Sawshelled Turtle) – Australia
Pseudemydura umbrina (Western Swamp Turtle) – Australia
Pelomedusidae
Pelomedusa barbata (Arabian Helmeted Turtle) – Saudi Arabia, Yemen
Pelusios castanoides intergularis (Seychelles Yellow-bellied Mud Turtle) – Seychelles
Pelusios subniger parietalis (Seychelles Black Mud Turtle) – Seychelles
Podocnemididae
Erymnochelys madagascariensis (Madagascan Big-headed Turtle) – Madagascar
Podocnemis expansa (Giant South American River Turtle, Giant Amazon River Turtle) – Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela
Podocnemis lewyana (Magdalena River Turtle) – Colombia
The TCF notes that Gopherus agassizii (Mojave Desert Tortoise – USA) is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered; however, the TCF is unlikely to fund applications for this species, and instead recommends that prospective applicants for projects concerning this species investigate potential grants available from the Desert Tortoise Council (http://deserttortoise.org) and other sources.
Appendix
Species assessed as Data Deficient (DD) by the IUCN Red List
or provisionally DD by the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group
Kinosternidae
Kinosternon abaxillare (Central Chiapas Mud Turtle) – Mexico
Emydidae
Emys trinacris (Sicilian Pond Turtle) – Italy
Terrapene nelsoni (Spotted Box Turtle) – Mexico
Trachemys grayi (Western Meso-American Slider) – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
Trachemys nebulosa (Baja California Slider) – Mexico
Trachemys venusta (Eastern Meso-American Slider) – Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
Geoemydidae
Cyclemys enigmatica (Enigmatic Leaf Turtle) – Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand
Rhinoclemmys annulata (Brown Wood Turtle) – Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama
Trionychidae
Pelodiscus axenaria (Hunan Softshell Turtle) – China
Pelodiscus parviformis (Lesser Chinese Softshell Turtle) – China
Pelodiscus maackii (Northern Chinese Softshell Turtle) – China, North Korea, Russia, Japan, South Korea
Chelidae
Chelodina gunaleni (Gunalen’s Snake-necked Turtle) – Indonesia
Chelodina reimanni (Reimann’s Snake-necked Turtle) – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Elseya lavarackorum (Riversleigh Snapping Turtle) – Australia
Mesoclemmys heliostemma (Yellow-crowned Toad-headed Turtle) – Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Mesoclemmys nasuta (Guyanan Toad-headed Turtle) – Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname
Pelomedusidae
Pelomedusa gehafie (Eritrean Helmeted Turtle) – Eritrea, Sudan
Pelomedusa kobe (Tanzanian Helmeted Turtle) –Tanzania
Pelomedusa neumanni (Neumann’s Helmeted Turtle) – Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania
Pelomedusa olivacea (Sahelian Helmeted Turtle) – Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,Guuinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
Pelomedusa schweinfurthi (Schweinfurth’s Helmeted Turtle) – Central African Republic, Congo (DRC), South Sudan
Pelomedusa somalica (Somalian Helmeted Turtle) – Ethiopia, Somalia
Pelomedusa subrufa (Helmeted Turtle) – Angola, Botswana, Congo (DRC), Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Pelomedusa variabilis (West African Helmeted Turtle) – Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast
Pelusios marani (Gabon Mud Turtle) – Congo (ROC), Gabon
Pelusios nanus (African Dwarf Mud Turtle) – Angola, Congo (DRC), Zambia
Pelusios upembae (Upemba Mud Turtle) – Congo (DRC)
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(Revised August 2022)