Tough Little Turtle - Dr Zach Bell
05/22/25 • 65 min
In this episode I talk to Dr Zach Bell about his foundation, and mission, to protect and save a curious little Turtle. Meet the Ryukyu Black-breasted Leaf Turtle - a turtle no bigger than a phone, navigating misty mountain peaks, perching on trees like a stealthy spy, and flashing a vibrant red tail longer than its legs. This endangered marvel is found only on three subtropical islands in the waters around Japan. With behaviours unlike any other turtle species, these little adventurers are as mysterious as they are mesmerising. But their future is uncertain. Threatened by habitat loss, illegal wildlife trafficking, and environmental changes, their survival depends on dedicated conservation efforts. Join us as we dive into the extraordinary world of these turtles, exploring their unique lives and the critical work of the Okinawa Kame Centre—a nonprofit organization fighting to protect and conserve them in the wild. For more information follow the links below:
Instagram:@okinawakamecentre
Twitter: @okinawa_kame
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okinawakamecentre
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OkinawaKameCentre
Website: https://okinawa-kame.org/
In this episode I talk to Dr Zach Bell about his foundation, and mission, to protect and save a curious little Turtle. Meet the Ryukyu Black-breasted Leaf Turtle - a turtle no bigger than a phone, navigating misty mountain peaks, perching on trees like a stealthy spy, and flashing a vibrant red tail longer than its legs. This endangered marvel is found only on three subtropical islands in the waters around Japan. With behaviours unlike any other turtle species, these little adventurers are as mysterious as they are mesmerising. But their future is uncertain. Threatened by habitat loss, illegal wildlife trafficking, and environmental changes, their survival depends on dedicated conservation efforts. Join us as we dive into the extraordinary world of these turtles, exploring their unique lives and the critical work of the Okinawa Kame Centre—a nonprofit organization fighting to protect and conserve them in the wild. For more information follow the links below:
Instagram:@okinawakamecentre
Twitter: @okinawa_kame
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okinawakamecentre
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OkinawaKameCentre
Website: https://okinawa-kame.org/
Previous Episode
Penguin Protector - Fernando Tarapow
In this special episode I talk, in person, to Fernando Tarapow - while we are crossing the Drake Passage, back from Antarctica. Fernando has a long and passionate connection to Antarctica. He will tell you his two biggest loves are: Antarctica and Antarctica. He was an officer in the Argentine navy when he first saw the great white continent and fell in love. Following his navy career he became a lawyer, then a professor of Public International Law and Antartis Law. And now as an expedition guide he is an Ambassador of the International Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO). On his many trips to Antartica he was able to observe the penguins and watching them changed his life. He felt the call the protect them. He is an advocator to stop global warming, a book writer, and an incredibly human being. His book "The Penguin Protector" is available to buy now and is a great read on the beauty of the white land and its inhabitants, and also a look into the threats and ways to protect Antarctica and her wildlife. His second book "the Whale Protector" is in writing and tells all about the impacts of overfishing krill. So as Fernando would say...COME ON!! and enjoy the episode. Links below for more information:
Website: www.fernandotarapow.com
Antarctic Treaty: https://www.ats.aq/index_e.html
Instagram: @fernando_tarapow @help_me_to_preserve_antarctica
Book on Amazon: The Penguin Protector: Experiences as an Antarctic Expedition Guide
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