 "Photo: Erin Drew")
In celebration of Darwin’s 200th birthday, the UCF Library and UCF adjunct professor Peter Pritchard are presenting Reptiles of the Galapagos, a special exhibit on turtles and Pritchard’s research in the Galapagos Islands.
“The exhibit is strictly about the Galapagos, to honor the birthday of Darwin — he wanted to do something related to that,” Sibille Pritchard, Peter Pritchard’s wife, said. Sibille Pritchard helps with the Chelonian Research Institute and is the senior vice president of Brooksville Development Corporation.
Peter Pritchard, a local professor and internationally acclaimed turtle expert, showcases specimens from his collection of turtles in the exhibit. More than 50 photos, fossils, works of art and artifacts from Pritchard’s museum collection at his Chelonian Research Institute in Oviedo are on display. The exhibit explores Pritchard’s extensive turtle research, particularly his research in the Galapagos Islands, which are located off the coast of Ecuador.
This exhibit is free and open to the public and will be on display at the UCF Library until June 30. Library hours can be found at www.library.ucf.edu/administration/hours.
Pritchard is one of the world’s leading authorities on turtles and tortoise conservation and is regarded worldwide for his research. The Chelonian Research Institute was established by Pritchard in 1997 and is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the research and conservation of turtles and tortoises throughout the world. It houses 13,000 catalogued specimens representing 270 of the 300 recognized species of turtles, according to the Web site.
“The Chelonian Research Institute is dedicated to the scientific research and preservation of turtles worldwide,” Sibille Pritchard said. “It is the largest private collection of turtle specimens in the world, and it is the third largest in the world, the other two being the Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Museum.
“This one has the most diversity of all.”
But despite being only the third largest collection, the Chelonian Research Institute does get unique specimens.
“We are the one of the only institutions that every specimen we get is not killed,” Sibille Pritchard said. “We don’t kill turtles here at all; these are specimens that were collected that were dead. People have salvaged them from museums and zoos that have died.
“A lot of specimens were found by him from different parts around the world.”
In fact, three species of turtles that Pritchard discovered have been named by him – a snakeneck turtle, a pond turtle and a giant fossil sideneck turtle.
Pritchard is an adjunct professor of biology at UCF, as well as Florida Atlantic University. He has authored eight books and several manuals and articles on turtles, including his Encyclopedia of Turtles.
“I find him a fascinating character,” said Carole Hinshaw, department head of reference at UCF Library. “I didn’t know a lot about turtles until I met him; And he is just so outgoing and loves to share his knowledge about turtles. Turtles are his life.”
“Conservation without confrontation” characterizes Pritchard’s practices in wildlife conservation. Several national governments have invited him to develop socially sensitive programs for wildlife conservation. One conservation project Pritchard established – saving sea turtles in Guyana – has been extremely successful.
“He has been working with the Arawak Indians since the early ’70s,” Sibille Pritchard said. “The Arawak Indians used to be turtle hunters and were diminishing the population of sea turtles. Over the last 20 years, he’s taught them how to not kill the nesting turtles, has arranged with them a small take, and has brought children out to the beaches to see the turtles nest.”
The Arawak Indians now look after the turtles, she said.
“He’s known for his approach of non-confrontation. He’s always carrying on the mission,” Sibille Pritchard said of her husband's conservation efforts. “It’s getting to understand the cultures and working on their level, where they feel comfortable.
“Their way can be your way, but they have to discover it’s the right way.”
Some of the artifacts on display include some wooden turtle carvings. Hinshaw pointed out one specific carving.
“This particular turtle carving was given to Peter as a birthday gift,” Hinshaw said. “It has birthday messages written to him by people he was working with in the Galapagos.”
The exhibit caught the attention of one UCF senior, Joel Holzapfel. Holzapfel, who is majoring in micro and molecular biology, said he’d viewed the exhibit several times.
“It’s eye-catching with the large turtle shell and pictures,” Holzapfel said.
Holzapfel said he thought the information that went with the pictures was interesting, particularly that turtles develop individual facial expressions like dogs and people.
He said the pictures were really nice and “the fact that there is a turtle shell that you can look at and touch is neat.”
Pritchard is currently working with students from Chapman University on a project in the Galapagos Islands. He will be returning July 10.
For more information on the exhibit, call the UCF Library at 407-823-5880. To learn about Pritchard and the Chelonian Research Institute, call 407-366-4020 or visit www.chelonianresearch.wordpress.com.
Be the first to comment on this article!