2009

• The Turtle Conservancy is established for all in-situ conservation efforts and projects.
• New hatchlings at the BCC - the first captive-bred Pangshura, Manouria emys
• BCC hosted the Steering Committee meeting for the TSA, and the TCF meeting in New York City at The Maritime Hotel.

2008

• At the Center, two new species were successfully hatched, Forest Hingeback and Forsten’s Tortoises, along with Radiated, Flat-tailed and Spider Tortoises.
• BCC hosted the Steering Committee meeting for the TSA, and the TCF meeting in New York City at The Maritime Hotel.
• At the Center, a new greenhouse was erected specifically for the Flat-tailed Tortoise.
• The Center began a habitat restoration project for the Pacific Pond Turtle in Northern California.
• BCC again traveled to Madagascar and participated in the IUCN Red Listing meeting to reevaluate the status of the country’s four endemic turtle and tortoise species. As a result of the meeting, three species were upgraded to critically endangered status, and action plans were drafted for each species. The BCC additionally committed a minimum of $70,000 for the Ploughshare Tortoise action plan to be implemented.

2007

• Eric Goode was invited to become a Board Member of the Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF).
• BCC commenced field conservation efforts in species’ wild habitat, including initiating the purchase of critical Bolson Tortoise habitat in Mexico, in coordination with the Desert Tortoise Council, Myles Traphagen, Jim Juvik and Ross Kiester.
• BCC presented its second film at the Annual TSA meeting in Atlanta which covered the research expeditions and captive management site visits.
• BCC led research expeditions to the Galapagos (tortoise reintroductions), Mexico (Bolson Tortoise conservation), Mauritius, Rodrigues (introductions of Aldabra and Radiated Tortoises as surrogates for two extinct species) and Madagascar (research on the ecology of the species managed at the BCC), and visited several captive management facilities including the Jersey Zoo in England, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Darwin Station on Galapagos, Bernard Devaux’s Tortoise Village in Madagascar, and Owen Griffith’s La Vanille Crocodile Park in Mauritius.

2006

• BCC led research and filming expeditions to Alexander and Wakulla Springs in Florida to test underwater filming equipment and techniques, Pennsylvania for bog turtle surveys, and the Mojave Desert in California to study Desert Tortoises.
• BCC presented its first film at the Annual TSA meeting in St. Louis. This film documented the transport of the animals from St. Catherine’s Island to California, the construction of the Center, and BCC’s initial breeding successes and husbandry techniques.
• The Center was accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
• The Center was dedicated in memoriam to John L. Behler upon his passing, and the name was changed to the Behler Chelonian Center (BCC) in his honor. His vision and insight were key elements in the inception and creation of the BCC.

2005

• Shortly after the arrival of the 200 plus animals at the Center in California, successful reproduction followed with several species, including Burmese Star, Radiated, Spider, Flat-tailed, Namaqualand Speckled, and Bowsprit Tortoises, and Indian Spotted Turtles.
• The assurance colonies of animals were transported across the country from St. Catherine’s Island to the new facility in California.
• The organization became a member of the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), and joined the International Species Information System.
• The new turtle and tortoise center was established as a not-for-profit organization, The Chelonian Conservation Center.

2004

• John and William Holmstrom, the collection manager in the Department of Herpetology at the Bronx Zoo, flew out to Southern California to approve of a new site for the future turtle and tortoise center to be constructed. The selected site was chosen for its ideal Mediterranean climate for raising tortoises. Upon John and Bill's approval, construction was started on four new buildings, including a state of the art greenhouse, nursery, two tortoise buildings, and a full commercial kitchen, along with numerous outdoor enclosures and ponds.

2003

• John L. Behler, the Curator of the Department of Herpetology at WCS, approached Eric Goode and Maurice Rodrigues with the prospect of continuing WCS’ important conservation work with turtles and tortoises. He knew that they had extensive experience with captive management, and the means to properly care for the animals. John wanted to ensure that the assurance colonies would remain intact, and that, after almost 30 years of work, the important breeding program would continue under appropriate stewardship.
• NYZS/Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) decided to discontinue their program on St. Catherine’s Island, and started relocating the animals to other institutions.

1979

• NYZS established a herd of Radiated Tortoises on St. Catherine’s Island. This founder population was imported to the U.S. in the late 1960’s by Robert Baudy. These animals were probably wild caught and many are likely over 100 years old.

1974

• The New York Zoological Society’s (NYZS) Wildlife Survival Center was created on St. Catherine’s Island off the coast of Georgia for the conservation and research of threatened and endangered species, including Arabian Oryx, Sable Antelope and Ring-tailed Lemur.