Viviana Ricardez & Carl J. Franklin

Texas is home to almost half of the turtle diversity in the United States, with three species naturally occurring only here. Viviana Ricardez and Carl J. Franklin discuss the priceless value of turtles, their intriguing behaviors, and the challenges that threaten their existence. Carl and Viviana run Texas Turtles, a nonprofit organization devoted to the conservation of these amazing creatures through research, study in their native environment, and outreach education. Viviana has traveled across the state to conduct multiple long-term population monitoring studies and conservation endeavors, including organizing Texas Turtles research sites. For over 28 years, Carl has worked with the herpetology departments at the Fort Worth Zoo and Dallas Zoo and with the Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center at UT Arlington. He has conducted numerous collecting expeditions internationally and in the United States that have led to scientific breakthroughs and the discovery of hundreds of new species of amphibians and reptiles.