ZIMS press release

For Immediate Release

Conservation Research: Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary Contributes to Turtle and Tortoise Study Challenging Evolutionary Theories of Aging

Even though humans live longer lives compared to their historical counterparts, we cannot escape the inevitability of aging. However, testudines – the order to which tortoises and turtles belong – may buck this trend by following a different pattern of aging compared to humans and other species. 

In a new study published in the journal Science, researchers used data contributed by Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary in collaboration with other zoos and aquariums to examine 52 species of turtles and tortoises. The data recorded by Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary in the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) enabled researchers to discover that, unlike humans and other species, turtles and tortoises defy common evolutionary theories and may reduce the rate of aging in response to improvements in environmental conditions. 

Evolutionary theories of aging predict that all living organisms weaken and deteriorate with age (a process known as senescence) – and eventually die. Now, using data captured by Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary and others, researchers from the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance and the University of Southern Denmark show that certain animal species, such as turtles and tortoises, may exhibit slower or even absent senescence when their living conditions improve. 

Out of 52 turtle and tortoise species, 75% show extremely slow senescence, while 80% have slower senescence than modern humans.

“We find that some of these species can reduce their rate of aging in response to the improved living conditions found in zoos and aquariums, compared to the wild,” said study co-author, Prof. Dalia Conde, Species360 Director of Science, Head of the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance. “In addition, modern zoological organizations play an important role in conservation, education and research, and this study shows the immense value of zoos and aquariums keeping records for the advancement of science.”  

As  a commitment to conservation and animal welfare, Chase Sanctuary and Wildlife conservancy records data on the animals in our collection to contribute to species population management and conservation. This also helps ensure that our animals are well cared for. We are proud that the data we have collected and curated on the turtles/tortoises in our collection has contributed to this study, and helped researchers better understand aging in these species.

Chase Animal Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservancy  is a member of Species360, a non-profit organization which maintains the Zoological Information Management Systems (ZIMS) – the largest database on wildlife in human care. As part of Chase’s  commitment to conservation and providing high standards of animal welfare, it uses ZIMS to keep detailed records of its animal collections. And as a holder of turtles and/or tortoises, Chase has actively collected and shared data in ZIMS on this species which has directly contributed to this study. 

Turtles keep growing after sexual maturity

Some evolutionary theories predict that senescence appears after sexual maturity as a trade-off between the energy an individual invests in repairing damages in its cells and tissues and the energy it invests in reproduction, so its genes are passed to the next generations. 

This trade-off implies, among other things, that, after reaching sexual maturity, individuals stop growing and start experiencing senescence, a gradual deterioration of bodily functions with age. 

Theories predict that such trade-offs are unavoidable, and thus senescence is inevitable. In fact, this prediction has been confirmed for several species, particularly mammals and birds. 

However, organisms that keep growing after sexual maturity, such as turtles and tortoises, are believed to have the potential to keep investing in repairing cellular damages and are thus thought to be ideal candidates for reducing and even avoiding the harmful effects of aging. 

“It is worth noting that the fact that some species of turtle and tortoise show negligible senescence does not mean they are immortal; it only means that their risk of death does not increase with age, but it is still larger than zero. In short, all of them will eventually die due to unavoidable causes of mortality such as illness,” said another of the researchers behind the study, Dr. Fernando Colchero, Principal Statistical Analyst, Species360 Conservation Science Alliance, and Associate Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark. 

The article is available here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abl7811 

For more information about the study and other projects using ZIMS data, please visit: https://conservation.species360.org/in-the-news/  

 

About Chase Animal Rescue Sanctuary:

Mission:

To help preserve critically endangered species through sharing of data, animals and resources with other zoological facilities, thereby helping to reduce the threat of extinction.

 To bring the community and the primate/exotic rescue and preservation mission together in a way that enhances lives. Our volunteers are passionate, involved advocates of all ages and from all walks of life. This includes students seeking bright futures scholarships, interns, the elderly community in the nearby villages.

 

About Species360: 

  • Species360 is a global non-profit that facilitates international collaboration in collecting, sharing, and analyzing knowledge on wildlife.
  • Species360 maintains the Zoological Information Management Systems (ZIMS), which is trusted and used by more than 1,200 aquariums, zoos, wildlife centers, sanctuaries, universities, and governmental organizations in 101 countries around the world.
  • ZIMS is the world’s most comprehensive database of knowledge on more than 22,000 species, increasing vital information about the animal kingdom. 
  • ZIMS is used to establish best practices in aquatics, husbandry, enrichment, medical care, animal welfare, reproduction, population management, and conservation, and to provide Global Medical Resources to wildlife professionals worldwide.
  • The Species360 Conservation Science Alliance is a global alliance of 240 research partners, led by Species360’s Director of Science, Prof. Dalia Conde. It includes a team based at the University of Southern Denmark. 
  • The Conservation Science Alliance harnesses the power of aggregated data in ZIMS and transforms it into scientific information to inform animal welfare and conservation decisions.
  • For more information: www.species360.org
  • Species360 Communications contact: Gavrielle Kirk-Cohen gavrielle@species360.org  

 

The Makowski FamilyThe Makowski Family
04:53 12 Mar 23
Incredible day at the sanctuary! Words can’t describe how amazing this place is! My husband booked this tour for me today as a birthday present and I’m still smiling and amazed with every animal we encountered (as well as the amazing staff/volunteers) we had the opportunity to see, and the story behind how the animals got there. These animals are clearly so loved and well cared for, it’s beautiful to see! Their habitats are just as fantastic as they are…amazing!!! And our guide (Michelle I believe her name was) was absolutely outstanding and so informative and amazing and passionate! We’ve visited a lot of animal sanctuaries, as I’m a huge animal lover, and this one left me feeling so at peace, words can’t really describe it. Wear closed toed shoes, listen to the guides, bring some yummies (they list what they need) and enjoy and listen to every moment! I was in heaven today☺️ Love the lemurs, the deer (what a sweetheart, I’m in love), and Sully and the bunny Alice❤️ Got so many kisses, what an incredible group of animals, unforgettable! Thank you for an amazing, informative experience, one that I’ll never forget!!! Thank you for all that you do! I’ve already shared with friends and family!
Kayla NicholsKayla Nichols
20:59 03 Feb 23
Me and my bf went on a lemur tour and honestly this was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had with animal encounters, they really took their time with us and the animals and didn’t rush us at all. They let us take our time with each animal encounter and let us really experience them! All the enclosures are clean and a big for the animals ! What a wonderful place ❤️
Ashley BAshley B
23:08 31 Dec 22
We did lemur yoga and it was SUCH a great experience! Even if you’re not great at yoga, it’s okay and not a super intense class and beginner friendly- the instructor is super sweet. They prioritize your experience with the animals, which to us was great. Besides the lemurs, we got to be around a deer, capibaras, a tortoise and we met the Casper the bird.I would absolutely recommend this. After yoga we got to feed the animals a bit more, it was a blast!!My tip: Bring a towel for under your mat to help keep it clean since yoga is outdoors in the grass.
Rachel KingRachel King
22:40 10 Nov 22
Painting with Lemurs is an absolutely amazing experience! The animals are adorable and clearly happy and well cared for. There is no exploitation here, the animals are primarily rescues from private owners and were raised as pets. Chase now ensures they are properly cared for. The animals seems to l9ve interacting with visitors and getting treats and pets. Can't wait to go back for yoga!
Matthew BlackburnMatthew Blackburn
01:41 20 Mar 22
We brought the kids here on Spring Break to do something different. We were able to feed the lemurs, the deer, and various other animals.The staff were friendly and informative.I highly recommend coming here and doing the tour.
Zahida CeskoZahida Cesko
22:10 30 Oct 21
We had an amazing time today at yoga. It was one of the most fun and relaxing experiences. The staff was incredibly nice. I loved that the animals weren’t forced to interact. Some of the lemurs wouldn’t come out so they let out a different type of monkey. Everything was voluntary on the animals part which made it that much more enjoyable. The deer and Patagonia Mara were also a pleasant addition. Looking forward to going back again.
Adisa BecirevicAdisa Becirevic
19:38 30 Oct 21
We had an amazing time during lemur yoga! It was such a fun experience being able to interact with the animals and having them running around during yoga. We also liked how well cared for the animals are, it never felt like they were being exploited for our entertainment. This was such a wholesome and fantastic opportunity and we would definitely go back again!
L MachiavelliL Machiavelli
00:28 20 Sep 21
My friend and I attended lemur yoga. It was such an interesting experience. I didn’t know what it would be like but we were completely surprised in a good way. The lemurs were friendly, gentle, didn’t smell funky (yay to that!) and were soft like a chinchilla. The other attendees were also nice people. There were extra animals out during yoga. All was wonderful. I suggest bringing a towel with you to clean your hands off after feeding bits of fruit during yoga.
Angel RomanAngel Roman
21:58 19 Aug 21
Such a GREAT place to spend TIME; with friend's or family. On a date or with a LOVE one. The staff and owner's are awesome people. The love and time they all put into this place. Wow!!! I'm definitely GOING back. Not knowing much about Chase animal rescue. I will next time bring things they ask for on their website. See Ya soon!!!
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