Carl J. Franklin, Biological Curator at The University of Texas at Arlington, gave presentations to the AP Environmental Science Students at Paschal High School on Tuesday. The subject was "Turtles of Texas" with a focus on the conservation issues facing these unique reptiles. Until recently thousand of pounds of Texas turtle flesh was being shipped out of DFW airport weekly to Asian food markets. New legislation has slowed the harvest of our native turtles, but Texas turtle populations are still shrinking throughout the State. The turtle crisis is not restricted to Texas - it is a global issue. 

DFW is considered a juggernaut in the battle to keep these armored vertebrates from extinction. Along with UTA biologists, DFW is home to the Turtle Survival Alliance (headquartered at the Fort Worth Zoo).

visit  http://www.texasturtles.org/  for more information on our native turtles.