McCord’s Box Turtles - Social, Comical and Extinct in the Wild

<p>In this episode of <strong>Turtle Tea with TTPG</strong>, Wendy sits down with <strong>Anthony Pierlioni</strong> of <em>Just Turtles</em> and <em>The Turtle Room</em> to discuss one of the most enigmatic and charismatic species in the hobby: <strong>McCord’s Box Turtle (</strong><em><strong>Cuora mccordi</strong></em><strong>)</strong>.</p><p>Once so common in their native range that they were reportedly &quot;more numerous than rocks,&quot; these stunning yellow-headed turtles haven&#39;t been seen in the wild for over 15 years. Anthony shares the sobering reality of their extinction in the wild while offering a message of hope through the thriving populations now found in <strong>human care</strong>.</p><p><strong>In this episode, we dive into:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>The &quot;Human Care&quot; Shift:</strong> Why Anthony is moving away from the word &quot;captivity.&quot;</p></li><li><p><strong>The McCord Mystery:</strong> The history of the species, its naming after Bill McCord, and its tragic disappearance from the wild.</p></li><li><p><strong>Unusual Behavior:</strong> The fascinating social lives of McCordi, including their unique head-bobbing &quot;conversations&quot; and comical personalities.</p></li><li><p><strong>Husbandry Essentials:</strong> Anthony’s &quot;easy&quot; approach to keeping them, including his DIY &quot;turtle mash&quot; diet and thoughts on UVB for neonates.</p></li><li><p><strong>Availability:</strong> How the market has changed now that fewer turtles are being exported to China, making them more accessible to US keepers than ever before.</p></li></ul><p>Whether you are a seasoned <em>Cuora</em> enthusiast or just curious about a turtle that communicates by yawning in its mate&#39;s face, this episode is packed with practical advice and heart-felt conservation insights.</p><p><strong>Resources:</strong>For more information on turtle conservation and husbandry, visit <a href="https://turtletea.org/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>Turtletea.org</strong></a> or join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/TTPGGroup" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group (TTPG)</strong> </a>community. You can find Anthony Pierlioni on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@jusTURTLES" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">JusTURTLES</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pondcast.theturtleroom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Facebook</a>. For more in-depth info on McCords Box Turtles or any of the Cuora genus please visit <a href="https://www.cuora.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Cuora.org</a></p><p>Not a TTPG member yet? <a href="https://ttpg.org/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠Join us⁠⁠</a>! The <a href="https://ttpg.org/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group⁠⁠</a> is full of the kindest, most knowledgable and FUN turtle people on the planet!</p>