Turtle Island
← Back to Organizations

Turtle Island

Global Rescue & Rehabilitation Species Survival
Visit Official Website ↗
Headquarters
Graz, Austria and Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Founded
501(c)(3) nonprofit
Species Focus
Freshwater & terrestrial turtles and tortoises worldwide, including many of the planet's rarest species
Where They Work
Worldwide

Turtle Island is our featured partner organization — a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the world’s most endangered and overlooked turtle and tortoise species through a three-pillar model: rescue, research, and rewilding.

What they do

Turtle Island operates as both an animal shelter and a conservation research center, rescuing turtles and tortoises confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade and giving them a place to thrive. The organization says it houses “the largest and most diverse turtle collection on earth,” spanning facilities in Austria, Nepal, Mexico and Bangladesh.

  • Rescue: Taking in unwanted and confiscated animals from illegal trade and providing long-term care
  • Research: Conducting taxonomy and genetic studies, and maintaining conservation breeding programs to build “assurance colonies” that guard against extinction
  • Rewild: Reintroducing captive-bred turtles back into their native habitats
Turtle Island team at their facility in Graz, Austria
Turtle Island’s team at their facility in Graz, Austria.

Current priority projects

  • Indian Peacock Softshell Turtle conservation in Nepal
  • Eastern Hermann’s Tortoise protection in Greece
  • Anti-trafficking initiatives across South Asia
  • Flattened Musk Turtle, USA
  • Eiselt’s Pond Turtle, Turkey
  • Vallarta Mud Turtle, Mexico
Turtle Island staff releasing Eastern Hermann's Tortoises in the Peloponnese, Greece
Eastern Hermann’s Tortoise rewilding, Peloponnese, Greece.
Eiselt's Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis eiselti)
Eiselt’s Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis eiselti), Turkey.
Vallarta Mud Turtle (Kinosternon vogti)
Vallarta Mud Turtle (Kinosternon vogti), Mexico.

Species in Their Care

Turtle Island staff caring for turtles at their facility
Daily care at the Turtle Island facility.
Northern River Terrapin (Batagur baska)
Northern River Terrapin (Batagur baska).
Aubry's Flapshell Turtle (Cycloderma aubryi)
Aubry’s Flapshell Turtle (Cycloderma aubryi).
Escambia Map Turtle hatchling (Graptemys ernsti)
Escambia Map Turtle hatchling (Graptemys ernsti).
Vallarta Mud Turtle hatchling (Kinosternon vogti)
Vallarta Mud Turtle hatchling (Kinosternon vogti).
Red-necked Pond Turtle (Mauremys nigricans)
Red-necked Pond Turtle (Mauremys nigricans).
Turtle Island founder Peter Praschag with a giant softshell turtle
Founder Peter Praschag with a giant softshell turtle.
Eastern Hermann's Tortoise rewilding project
Eastern Hermann’s Tortoise rewilding project, Greece.

Recognition

Turtle Island is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, holds a 4-star rating on Charity Navigator, and achieved the Platinum Seal of Transparency on Candid GuideStar in 2026. Turtle Island was also named a top 10 winner in EnvironmentalXperience.org’s “100 in 100” program, recognized as the top environmental project in Austria — as noted by Steve Bender, founder of the 100 in 100 program, President of the Rotary Club of Newport Beach, and Chairman of the United States Green Chamber of Commerce.

All photos on this page are official Turtle Island photography, provided by and used with permission from the organization. Visit turtle-island.org to see more.