SPECIES:                                                       Common slider

                                                                        Trachemys scripta

ORDER:                                                         Testudines                                          

RANGE:                                                         Belize; Colombia; Costa Rica; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; United States; Venezuela

STATUS IN THE WILD:                              IUCN: Lower Risk/Near Threatened 

                                                                        USFWS: Not Listed

                                                                        CITES: Not Listed

STATUS IN ZOOS:                                       81 in 25 U.S. and Canadian facilities (14 of

                                                                         these are listed as hybrids with 6 of those at

                                                                         Safari West)

                                                                        1006 in 60 international facilities

COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS:                   N/A    

RATIONALE:                                                This species has high public appeal amongst young children, and provides guides at Safari West with an opportunity to educate the public about responsible pet ownership.