Siebenrockiella leytensis 18" x 24" Canvas Giclee

A Mind For Conservation: The original painting of Siebenrockiella leytensis was donated to the Turtle Survival Alliance to help fund global conservation efforts.

The Story: This print is of the critically endangered Palawan Forest Turtle. In August of 2015 I was attending the Turtle Survival Alliance's Annual Symposium. It was during this banquet that I first heard, and hurriedly scribbled onto a napkin, the name leytensis. This story inspired this painting:

Prior to a single animal being found 1988, this species was known only by two individuals discovered in 1920. Rediscovered in 2004, S. leytensis was declared critically endangered with greater fears that it may already be facing extinction.

Then, on June 17th of 2015, an urgent email went out to the chelonian community. Sabine Schoppe of The Katala Foundation reported a confiscation of over 3,800 live S. leytensis turtles, far greater than the estimated existing population and the greatest confiscation of any fresh water turtle. Although they were alive, based on the condition, an unknown number would invariably die. The herpetological community immediately mobilized. Conservationists around the world were boarding flights to help rehabilitate these sick and dying turtles. 

Of the 3,831 Palawan Forest Turtles confiscated, an astonishing 3,385 turtles were released into remote and isolated locations which continue to be monitored.

This giclee is printed on Satin Canvas and each print is inspected, signed, numbered and packed by the artist. This painting's edition is only 200 Limited Edition Prints and 15 Canvas Giclees.

Action Campaign for Endangered Species, Csaba Geczy DVM, NEZS Chester Zoo, Columbus Zoo (Matt O’Connor DVM), Dutch/Belgium Turtle & Tortoise Society, Friends of Wuppertal, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (Alex Grioni DVM, Sandra Schneider DVM), Karthi Martelli DVM, Lafeber, Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden, Monterey Bay Aquarium, New England Aquarium (Charles Innis DVM), Ocean Park Hong Kong (Paolo Martelli DVM), Oxbow Animal Health, Olivia Vandersanden, San Diego Zoo (Tommy Owens, Benjamin Nevitt DVM, Jill Kunz), Q-Mark (Lendl Lin), Turtle Conservancy (Paul Gibbons DVM, James Liu), TFTSG/TCF/CRF, Turtle Survival Alliance (Cris Hagen, Sheena Koeth, Allyson Lee), Stichting Turtle Survival/TSA-Europe, Sponsor of Mariah Lancaster, Wildlife Conservation Society – WCS (John Sykes DVM, Kenneth Conley DVM, Nga Nguyen DVM, Lisa Eidlin, Ihsaan Sebro), Western Philippines University – WPU and alumni, Wroclow Zoo (Karolina Mol, Maciej Wozniak), Wildlife Reserves Singapore – WRS (Sonja Luz DVM), Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations – ZGAP, Zoo Halle, Zoo Landan, Zoo Leipzig, Zoo Med Supplies (Shane Bagnall), Zoo Parc Beauval, and Zoo Schönbrunn Vienna.

• All information comes directly from the Turtle Survival Alliance and "Palawan Crisis" A Movie by The Turtle Conservancy.