Peter Praschag

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Peter Praschag
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BornApril 24, 1974
EducationKarl-Franzens-University Graz
Occupationzoologist, biologist, conservationist
Known forturtle conservation

Peter Praschag (born April 24, 1974) is an Austrian zoologist, biologist, and conservationist specializing in turtle and tortoise conservation. He is the founder of Turtle Island, a conservation and research institution dedicated to the protection of endangered chelonian species. Praschag serves as the CEO and President of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Center of Nepal (ARCO-Nepal) and is the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) studbook keeper for Batagur species and Cuora amboinensis.[1]Additionally, he is a court-certified expert in biology with a focus on zoo animal breeding and care.

Praschag serves as a scientific advisor for various ORF UNIVERSUM (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation) television productions and is actively involved in global conservation efforts. He is a member of both the Freshwater Turtle and Tortoise Specialist Group and the Conservation Planning Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).[2] Additionally, he holds the position of Vice President at Turtle Island Corporation, a U.S. based nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status.

Early Life and Education

Born in Graz, Austria, Praschag developed an early interest in turtle conservation, which he shared with his father, Reiner Praschag. Together, they established Turtle Island, which houses one of the world's largest collections of turtles. Praschag completed both his undergraduate and doctoral degrees at Karl-Franzens-University Graz, where his research focused on zoology and conservation biology. His dissertation was on the identity of the Black Soft-Shell turtle (Nilssonia nigricans) as well as other related species.[3]

Conservation Work and Media Contributions

Dr. Praschag has been recognized for his efforts in breeding and conserving critically endangered turtle species. His work has been featured in numerous scientific publications as well as national and international news outlets. These articles often highlight the successes of Turtle Island's.[4] breeding programs and conservation initiatives under his leadership. Turtle Island was also featured on TikTok by @thatgoodnewsgirl.[5]

In 2021, Praschag was featured on ORF Steiermark Heute (ORF Styria Today)[6] for achieving the world's first recorded breeding success of the Aubry's flapshell turtle (Cycloderma aubryi). In 2024, he was interviewed and featured on Austrian news outlet ORF ST Heute (South Tyrol Today ORF)[7] for his scientific work with the rare Cochin Forest Cane turtle (Vijayachelys sylvatica). ORF Styria has also covered his breeding successes with rare species, including the Elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle (Chitra indica), and the Northern River terrapin (Batagur baska).[8][9][10]

In 2025, the television network Galileo visited Turtle Island, featuring Praschag and the conservation work conducted at the facility.[11] He has also been highlighted on the Turtle Survival Alliance's website for his efforts in the Philippines in collaboration with the Behler Chelonian Center to protect the Philippine Forest turtle.[12] The Schönbrunn Zoo recognized Praschag for donating four Critically Endangered Northern River terrapins (Batagur baska), including two pregnant females, to support their conservation efforts[13]

His work has been featured in Fazit Magazine[14] and Vet Magazine.[15] Additionally, Praschag played a key role in rediscovering the Black Softshell turtle (Nilssonia nigricans), which was once thought to be extinct in the wild. His discovery of individuals in India and the Brahmaputra River was reported by Mongabay News[16] and Ratopati.[17]

Praschag's nonprofit, Turtle Island, has also partnered with NiceShops, an international e-commerce company specializing in pet supplies, which featured the collaboration on their website.[18]

Documentary

Praschag's conservation work was the focus of the documentary Turtle Hero, directed by Jeremy Hogarth as part of the "Universum" series. The film chronicles his research expeditions and efforts to locate and protect endangered turtles worldwide.[19]

Additionally, he was featured in the documentary Turtle Talk: Unraveling the Mystery, created by Robert Pfannhauser and aired on the Austrian private broadcaster Servus TV.[20] He was also involved in another Servus TV documentary titled How Do Turtles Communicate?.[21]

Honors

In 2025, Peter Praschag received the Snakeman of the Year Award at the Pilsen Zoo during the 34th Herpetological and Vivarium Conference in the Czech Republic.[22] This award recognizes outstanding contributions to herpetology and reptile conservation. Notable past recipients include renowned herpetologist Mark O'Shea.

References

  1. ↑ "EAZA Annual Reports Archive". www.eaza.net. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  2. ↑ "Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group". Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  3. ↑ "First record of the critically endangered Black softshell turtle, Nilssonia nigricans (ANDERSON, 1875) for Nepal".
  4. ↑ TURTLE ISLAND (2024-05-09). Turtle Hero International. Retrieved 2025-03-01 – via YouTube.
  5. ↑ "TikTok - Make Your Day". www.tiktok.com.
  6. ↑ Werner Legat (2021-03-27). Bei Tier daheim: Schildkrötenzucht Turtle Island. Retrieved 2025-03-01 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ TURTLE ISLAND (2024-03-18). Vijayachelys silvatica - Austrian TV visits Turtle Island Feb 2024. Retrieved 2025-03-01 – via YouTube.
  8. ↑ steiermark.ORF.at, red (2024-02-21). "Sensationelle Schildkrötennachzucht in Graz". steiermark.ORF.at (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  9. ↑ red, steiermark ORF at/Agenturen (2022-11-18). "Seltener Nachwuchs auf Turtle Island". steiermark.ORF.at (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  10. ↑ "Sie sind geschlüpft!". science.ORF.at (in Deutsch). 2016-05-12. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  11. ↑ Galileo (2025-01-02). 3000 gepanzerte Mitbewohner: Dieser Mann rettet tausende Schildkröten!. Retrieved 2025-03-01 – via YouTube.
  12. ↑ blueion (2022-09-12). "Team TSA in Asia- September 2009". Turtle Survival Alliance. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  13. ↑ "Batagur baska (Northern river terrapin) species protection project – Vienna Zoo". www.zoovienna.at. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  14. ↑ "Retter der Schildkröten | FazitOnline. Wirtschaft und mehr. Aus dem Süden". Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  15. ↑ "Welterstnachzucht der Rotrückigen Klappen‐Weichschildkröte". VET-MAGAZIN (in Deutsch). 2021-03-25. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  16. ↑ Joshi, Abhaya Raj (2022-11-21). "In Nepal, a turtle that rose from the dead makes another grand entrance". Mongabay Environmental News. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  17. ↑ "Ratopati | No.1 Nepali News Portal". english.ratopati.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2025-03-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  18. ↑ "Niceshops Logo". www.niceshops.com. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  19. ↑ Universum: Turtle Hero - Ein Leben für die Schildkröten (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2025-03-01 – via on.orf.at.
  20. ↑ TURTLE ISLAND (2024-08-16). Die Sprache der Schildkröten Servus TV Juni 2024 (Turtle Talk Unraveling the Mystery Servus TV). Retrieved 2025-03-01 – via YouTube.
  21. ↑ Wie kommunizieren Schildkröten? (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2025-03-01 – via www.servustv.com.
  22. ↑ "Strategische Meerjarenplanning 2025-2029, Ondernemingsplan 2025". Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek. 2025. doi:10.21436/inbom.121777080.

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