European Turtle Alliance

30/08/2026

🐢 Speaker Spotlight: Alessia Lavigne

UK & Seychelles | Zoologist & Chelonian Researcher

We are delighted to welcome Alessia Lavigne to the European Turtle Alliance Conference 2026. A Seychellois/Italian zoologist and PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield, Alessia specialises in understanding the causes of reproductive failure in threatened turtles and tortoises.

Alessia has led award-winning research developing innovative microscopy techniques to investigate the fertility of failed and undeveloped chelonian eggs, helping researchers better understand why reproduction fails in threatened species.

🌍 Alessia’s conservation journey includes:
🔹 Working with both wild and captive turtle and tortoise populations
🔹 Collaborating with more than 10 conservation organisations and teams internationally
🔹 Contributing to the conservation and management of chelonians across the world
🔹 Developing new approaches to investigate reproductive failure
🔹 Bringing scientific research to a wider audience through education and storytelling

🎥 Beyond her academic work, Alessia is also a passionate science communicator. As the Turtle Eggsplorer, she shares her work through social media, podcasts and educational programmes, and is the creator of TORTI: Eggsploring Solutions for the Turtle Extinction Crisis, a documentary exploring her research and the challenges facing threatened chelonians.

Through research, conservation and storytelling, Alessia is working to connect science with the wider world and help secure a future for these remarkable ancient reptiles.

📅 17th & 18th October 2026
📍 Writtle University College
🎓 CPD hours available

Come along and discover what a turtle egg can tell us about the future of an entire species. 🥚🐢🔬

25/08/2026

🌍 Why attend the European Turtle Alliance Conference?

Because nowhere else brings together so many different areas of chelonian expertise under one roof.

Over two days you'll hear from:
🐢 International conservationists
🩺 Exotic veterinary specialists
🦎 Zoo professionals
📚 Researchers
🌿 Husbandry experts
🎓 Educators
🌎 Field conservation projects

Whether you keep one tortoise at home or work professionally with endangered species, you'll leave with new ideas, new contacts and new inspiration.

Join us this October!
https://www.turtlesurvival.eu/european-turtle-alliance-conference-2026/

21/08/2026

🐢 Speaker Spotlight: Dr Hei Sung

UK & Hong Kong | Conservation Biologist & Wildlife Lecturer

We are delighted to welcome Dr Hei Sung to the European Turtle Alliance Conference 2026. A conservation biologist and lecturer at the University of Suffolk, Hei's work focuses on understanding the impacts of human activities on endangered wildlife and developing practical conservation solutions.

🎤 His talk:
“Turtle Forensics in Hong Kong: Applications, Case Studies, and the Way Forward”
Illegal turtle trade presents major challenges for conservation and law enforcement. How do we determine where a turtle came from? Was it wild-caught or captive-bred? And can science help us uncover the answers?
Hei will explore the emerging field of turtle forensics, focusing on his research using stable isotope analysis to distinguish between wild and captive freshwater turtles in Hong Kong.

🔬 In his research, Hei has:
• Compared wild and captive individuals across four native Hong Kong turtle species
• Investigated stable isotope signatures as a tool for determining the origin of traded turtles
• Contributed to the application of forensic techniques in wildlife law enforcement
• Worked to develop approaches that could be applied to more species and countries
• Collaborated across conservation, research and wildlife management
His research offers a fascinating glimpse into how modern science can help tackle illegal wildlife trade and strengthen the protection of threatened turtles.

🌍 Looking ahead, Hei hopes to expand turtle forensic techniques through collaboration with researchers, zoos, private breeders and wildlife enforcement agencies around the world.

Why not join us in October to discover how science can help uncover the hidden history of a turtle? 🐢🔬

📅 17th & 18th October 2026
📍 Writtle University College
🧪 CPD hours available
More speakers and presentation titles to follow!

https://www.turtlesurvival.eu/european-turtle-alliance-conference-2026/

14/08/2026

🐢 Speaker Spotlight: Chris & Casey Leone

USA | Founders of Garden State Tortoise

We are excited to welcome Chris and Casey Leone to the European Turtle Alliance Conference.

Together, Chris and Casey founded Garden State Tortoise (GST) in 2011, growing it into one of North America’s leading turtle and tortoise rescue, rehabilitation, sanctuary, and conservation education organisations. Based in New Jersey, GST provides lifelong care for reptiles while inspiring millions of people around the world to appreciate and protect chelonians through powerful digital storytelling.

Chris serves as Assistant Herpetologist for Herpetological Associates, Inc., while Casey, a former zookeeper, is the creative force behind Garden State Tortoise’s filmmaking, serving as videographer and editor for all GST content.
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🎤 Their Talk:
Conservation Through Storytelling

Conservation doesn’t begin in the field. It begins by inspiring people to care.

Chris and Casey will explore how visual storytelling and social media have transformed Garden State Tortoise into a global conservation platform. Through documenting real rescues, rehabilitation efforts, scientific fieldwork, and responsible captive management, they have introduced millions of people to species they otherwise would never encounter.
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🌍 Chris & Casey’s Journey in Conservation & Preservation
🔹 More than 30 years of hands on experience working with threatened turtles and tortoises.
🔹 Founders of Garden State Tortoise, combining rescue, rehabilitation, sanctuary work, conservation breeding, and public education.
🔹 Lead state conservation projects including the Terrapin Conservation Initiative, protecting northern diamondback terrapins.
🔹 Provide refuge for displaced and confiscated turtles in partnership with state and federal agencies, accredited zoos, and wildlife rescue organisations.
🔹 Collaborate with the Turtle Survival Alliance while maintaining important assurance colonies under naturalistic conditions.
🔹 Reach millions of people worldwide through educational films and social media, using storytelling to inspire conservation action for some of the world’s most threatened turtle and tortoise species.
Their presentation will explore how authentic storytelling can change perceptions, encourage responsible ownership, inspire future conservationists and create real conservation outcomes.

📅 17th & 18th October 2026
📍 Writtle University College
🎓 CPD hours available
Come along and discover how a camera, a turtle and a good story can become powerful conservation tools. 🐢🎥

https://www.turtlesurvival.eu/european-turtle-alliance-conference-2026/

07/08/2026

🐢 Speaker Spotlight: Dr. Stefan Merz
🇩🇪 Germany | Aldabra Giant Tortoise Specialist

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Stefan Merz to the European Turtle Alliance Conference 2026, where he will be sharing his extensive experience of keeping and successfully breeding Aldabra Giant Tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) in the European climate.

📢 His talk:
“Husbandry and Propagation of the Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)”

Keeping this species in our climatic zone presents considerable challenges, requiring a combination of specialist knowledge, technology, energy and labour. Drawing on insights gained during two expeditions to Aldabra Atoll, Stefan will explore how an understanding of the species in its natural environment can be translated into successful captive husbandry.

🌍 Stefan will share his many years of experience keeping Aldabran giant tortoises in Europe to cover:
🔹 Housing and species-appropriate feeding
🔹 Seasonal patterns and husbandry requirements
🔹 The species' significant UV requirements
🔹 Temperature management, including comparisons between captive data and field data from Aldabra
🔹 Long-term captive breeding success, which remains exceptional in Europe
🔹 Egg fertilisation rates and interesting data from his breeding group

✨ With a strong emphasis on applying field knowledge to captive care, Stefan's presentation promises a fascinating insight into what it takes to successfully maintain and propagate one of the world's largest tortoise species outside its natural environment.

📍 17–18 October 2026 | Writtle University College
🧪 CPD hours available | Full speaker list & tickets:
https://www.turtlesurvival.eu/european-turtle-alliance-conference-2026/

03/08/2026