Draft:Peter Praschag

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365048963_First_record_of_the_critically_endangered_Black_softshell_turtle_Nilssonia_nigricans_ANDERSON_1875_for_Nepal|title=(PDF) First record of the critically endangered Black softshell turtle, Nilssonia nigricans (ANDERSON, 1875) for Nepal.}}

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.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnI5Ow7Tfp0 |title=Turtle Hero International |date=2024-05-09 |last=TURTLE ISLAND |access-date=2025-03-01 |via=YouTube}} breeding programs and conservation initiatives under his leadership. Turtle Island was also featured on TikTok by @thatgoodnewsgirl.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tiktok.com/@thatgoodnewsgirl/video/7231217460282690858|title=TikTok - Make Your Day|website=www.tiktok.com}}

In 2021, Praschag was featured on ORF Steiermark Heute (ORF Styria Today){{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiWQuXqPooI |title=Bei Tier daheim: Schildkrötenzucht Turtle Island |date=2021-03-27 |last=Werner Legat |access-date=2025-03-01 |via=YouTube}} 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){{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxEalyw-7i8 |title=Vijayachelys silvatica - Austrian TV visits Turtle Island Feb 2024 |date=2024-03-18 |last=TURTLE ISLAND |access-date=2025-03-01 |via=YouTube}} 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).{{Cite web |last=steiermark.ORF.at |first=red |date=2024-02-21 |title=Sensationelle Schildkrötennachzucht in Graz |url=https://steiermark.orf.at/stories/3245520/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=steiermark.ORF.at |language=de}}{{Cite web |last=red |first=steiermark ORF at/Agenturen |date=2022-11-18 |title=Seltener Nachwuchs auf Turtle Island |url=https://steiermark.orf.at/stories/3182809/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=steiermark.ORF.at |language=de}}{{Cite web |date=2016-05-12 |title=Sie sind geschlüpft! |url=https://science.orf.at/v2/stories/2773869/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=science.ORF.at |language=de}}

In 2025, the television network Galileo visited Turtle Island, featuring Praschag and the conservation work conducted at the facility.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtRDXK1_GV0 |title=3000 gepanzerte Mitbewohner: Dieser Mann rettet tausende Schildkröten! |date=2025-01-02 |last=Galileo |access-date=2025-03-01 |via=YouTube}} 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.{{Cite web |last=blueion |date=2022-09-12 |title=Team TSA in Asia- September 2009 |url=https://turtlesurvival.org/team-tsa-in-asia-september-2009/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Turtle Survival Alliance |language=en-US}} The Schönbrunn Zoo recognized Praschag for donating four Critically Endangered Northern River terrapins (Batagur baska), including two pregnant females, to support their conservation efforts{{Cite web |title=Batagur baska (Northern river terrapin) species protection project – Vienna Zoo |url=https://www.zoovienna.at/en/natur-und-artenschutz/batagur-river-terrapin-species-protection-project/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.zoovienna.at |language=en}}

His work has been featured in Fazit Magazine{{Cite web |title=Retter der Schildkröten {{!}} FazitOnline. Wirtschaft und mehr. Aus dem Süden. |url=https://www.fazitmagazin.at/2023/04/retter-der-schildkroeten/ |access-date=2025-03-01}} and Vet Magazine.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-25 |title=Welterstnachzucht der Rotrückigen Klappen‐Weichschildkröte |url=https://vet-magazin.at/wissenschaft/zootiermedizin/Welterstnachzucht-der-Rotrueckigen-Klappen-8208-Weichschildkroete.html |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=VET-MAGAZIN |language=de}} 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{{Cite web |last=Joshi |first=Abhaya Raj |date=2022-11-21 |title=In Nepal, a turtle that rose from the dead makes another grand entrance |url=https://news.mongabay.com/2022/11/in-nepal-a-turtle-that-rose-from-the-dead-makes-another-grand-entrance/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Mongabay Environmental News |language=en-US}} and Ratopati.{{Cite web |title=Ratopati {{!}} No.1 Nepali News Portal |url=https://english.ratopati.com/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=english.ratopati.com |language=Nepali}}

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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.niceshops.com/en/news/articles/futter-fuer-den-artenschutz |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=www.niceshops.com}}

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.{{Cite AV media |url=https://on.orf.at/video/14048427/universum-turtle-hero-ein-leben-fuer-die-schildkroeten |title=Universum: Turtle Hero - Ein Leben für die Schildkröten |language=de |access-date=2025-03-01 |via=on.orf.at}}

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.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cldrVT3Bpg8 |title=Die Sprache der Schildkröten Servus TV Juni 2024 (Turtle Talk Unraveling the Mystery Servus TV) |date=2024-08-16 |last=TURTLE ISLAND |access-date=2025-03-01 |via=YouTube}} He was also involved in another Servus TV documentary titled How Do Turtles Communicate?.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.servustv.com/wissen/v/aaca3lx5ttveht7j73dm/ |title=Wie kommunizieren Schildkröten? |language=de-DE |access-date=2025-03-01 |via=www.servustv.com}}

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.{{Cite report |url=https://doi.org/10.21436/inbom.121777080 |title=Strategische Meerjarenplanning 2025-2029, Ondernemingsplan 2025 |date=2025 |publisher=Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek|doi=10.21436/inbom.121777080 |doi-broken-date=15 April 2025 }} This award recognizes outstanding contributions to herpetology and reptile conservation. Notable past recipients include renowned herpetologist Mark O'Shea.

• Praschag, P. & R. Gemel (2002): Identity of the black softshell turtle Aspideretes nigricans (Anderson 1875) with remarks on related species. Faun. Abh. Mus. Tierk. Dresden 23: 87-116
• Praschag, P., Schmidt, C., Fritzsch, G., Müller, A.., Gemel, R. & U. Fritz (2006): Geoemyda silvatica, an enigmatic turtle of the Geoemydidae (Reptilia: Testudines), represents a distinct genus. – Organisms Diversity & Evolution 6 (2): 151-162.{{Cite journal |last1=Praschag |first1=Peter |last2=Schmidt |first2=Christian |last3=Fritzsch |first3=Guido |last4=Müller |first4=Anke |last5=Gemel |first5=Richard |last6=Fritz |first6=Uwe |date=2006-05-10 |title=Geoemyda silvatica, an enigmatic turtle of the Geoemydidae (Reptilia: Testudines), represents a distinct genus |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S143960920600002X |journal=Organisms Diversity & Evolution |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=151–162 |doi=10.1016/j.ode.2005.10.001 |bibcode=2006ODivE...6..151P |issn=1439-6092}}
• Praschag, P., Hundsdörfer, A.K., Reza, A.H.M.A. & U. Fritz (2007): Genetic evidence for wild-living Aspideretes nigricans and a molecular phylogeny of South Asian softshell turtles (Reptilia: Trionychidae: Aspideretes, Nilssonia). Zoologica Scripta 36 (4): 301-310{{Cite journal |last1=Praschag |first1=P. |last2=Hundsdörfer |first2=A. K. |last3=Reza |first3=A. H. M. A. |last4=Fritz |first4=U. |date=2007 |title=Genetic evidence for wild-living Aspideretes nigricans and a molecular phylogeny of South Asian softshell turtles (Reptilia: Trionychidae: Aspideretes, Nilssonia) |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1463-6409.2007.00282.x |journal=Zoologica Scripta |language=en |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=301–310 |doi=10.1111/j.1463-6409.2007.00282.x |issn=1463-6409}}
• Praschag, P., Hundsdörfer, A.K. & U. Fritz (2007): Phylogeny and taxonomy of endangered South and South-east Asian freshwater turtles elucidated by mtDNA sequence variation (Testudines: Geoemydidae: Batagur, Callagur, Hardella, Kachuga, Pangshura). Zoologica Scripta 36: 429–442.{{Cite journal |last1=Praschag |first1=P |last2=Hundsdörfer |first2=A. K. |last3=Fritz |first3=U. |date=2007 |title=Phylogeny and taxonomy of endangered South and South-east Asian freshwater turtles elucidated by mtDNA sequence variation (Testudines: Geoemydidae: Batagur, Callagur, Hardella, Kachuga, Pangshura) |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1463-6409.2007.00293.x |journal=Zoologica Scripta |language=en |volume=36 |issue=5 |pages=429–442 |doi=10.1111/j.1463-6409.2007.00293.x |issn=1463-6409}}
• Praschag, P., Stuckas, H., Päckert, M., Maran, J. & U. Fritz (2011): Mitochondrial DNA sequences suggest a revised taxonomy of Asian flapshell turtles (Lissemys Smith, 1931) and the validity of previously unrecognized taxa (Testudines: Trionychidae). Vertebrate Zoology, 61: 147-160.{{Cite journal |last1=Praschag |first1=Peter |last2=Stuckas |first2=Heiko |last3=Päckert |first3=Martin |last4=Maran |first4=Jérôme |last5=Fritz |first5=Uwe |date=2011-06-22 |title=Mitochondrial DNA sequences suggest a revised taxonomy of Asian flapshell turtles (Lissemys SMITH, 1931) and the existence of previously overlooked taxa (Testudines: Trionychidae) |url=https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/31146/ |journal=Vertebrate Zoology |language=en |volume=61 |pages=147–160 |doi=10.3897/vz.61.e31146 |doi-access=free |issn=2625-8498}}
• Rovatsos, M., Praschag, P., Fritz, U. and  Kratochvšl,L.(2017). Sex chromosomes enable molecular sexing in softshell turtles (Trionychidae). Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 42150 (2017), doi:10.1038/srep42150{{Cite journal |last1=Rovatsos |first1=Michail |last2=Praschag |first2=Peter |last3=Fritz |first3=Uwe |last4=Kratochvšl |first4=Lukáš |date=2017-02-10 |title=Stable Cretaceous sex chromosomes enable molecular sexing in softshell turtles (Testudines: Trionychidae) |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/srep42150 |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=42150 |doi=10.1038/srep42150 |pmid=28186115 |bibcode=2017NatSR...742150R |issn=2045-2322}}
• Gong, S., Vamberger, M., Auer, M., Praschag, P., and Fritz, U. (2018): Millennium-old farm breeding of Chinese softshell turtles (Pelodiscus spp.) results in massive erosion of biodiversity, The Science of Nature 105: 34. DOI: 10.1007/s00114-018-1558-9{{Cite journal |last1=Gong |first1=Shiping |last2=Vamberger |first2=Melita |last3=Auer |first3=Markus |last4=Praschag |first4=Peter |last5=Fritz |first5=Uwe |date=2018-05-04 |title=Millennium-old farm breeding of Chinese softshell turtles (Pelodiscus spp.) results in massive erosion of biodiversity |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00114-018-1558-9 |journal=The Science of Nature |language=en |volume=105 |issue=5 |pages=34 |doi=10.1007/s00114-018-1558-9 |pmid=29728774 |bibcode=2018SciNa.105...34G |issn=1432-1904}}
• Vamberger, M., Ihlow, F., Asztalos, M., Dawson, J. E., Jasinski, J. S., Praschag, P. and Fritz, U. (2020): So different, yet so alike: North American slider turtles (Trachemys scripta). Vertebrate Zoology, 70(1): 87-96.  70{{Cite journal |last1=Vamberger |first1=Melita |last2=Ihlow |first2=Flora |last3=Asztalos |first3=Marika |last4=Dawson |first4=Jeffrey |last5=Jasinski |first5=Steven |last6=Praschag |first6=Peter |last7=Fritz |first7=Uwe |date=2019-12-13 |title=So different, yet so alike: North American slider turtles (Trachemys scripta) |url=https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/30054/ |journal=Vertebrate Zoology |language=en |volume=70 |pages=87–96 |doi=10.26049/VZ70-1-2020-06 |issn=2625-8498}}
• Praschag, P. & R. Gemel (2022): A new subspecies of the Asiatic softshell turtle Amyda ornata (Gray, 1861) from its northern distribution range. Herpetozoa 35(1):81-93{{Cite journal |last1=Praschag |first1=Peter |last2=Gemel |first2=Richard |date=2022-05-25 |title=A new subspecies of the Asiatic softshell turtle Amyda ornata (Gray, 1861) from its northern distribution range |url=https://herpetozoa.pensoft.net/article/86055/ |journal=Herpetozoa |language=en |volume=35 |pages=81–93 |doi=10.3897/herpetozoa.35.e86055 |doi-access=free |issn=2682-955X}}
• Shannon DiRuzzo, Peter Praschag, Lisa Miller, Micah Brodsk (2022): The Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, Volume 32, No. 4, 2022 pp. 262–270, DOI: 10.5818/JHMS-D-22-00002, Successful Treatment of Severe Ulcerative Dermatitis in an Aubry's Flapshell Turtle (Cycloderma aubryi){{Cite journal |last1=DiRuzzo |first1=Shannon |last2=Praschag |first2=Peter |last3=Miller |first3=Lisa |last4=Brodsky |first4=Micah |date=December 2022 |title=Successful Treatment of Severe Ulcerative Dermatitis in an Aubry's Flapshell Turtle (Cycloderma aubryi ) |url=https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-herpetological-medicine-and-surgery/volume-32/issue-4/JHMS-D-22-00002/Successful-Treatment-of-Severe-Ulcerative-Dermatitis-in-an-Aubrys-Flapshell/10.5818/JHMS-D-22-00002.short |journal=Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery |language=en |volume=32 |issue=4 |doi=10.5818/JHMS-D-22-00002 |issn=1529-9651 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240811110339/https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-herpetological-medicine-and-surgery/volume-32/issue-4/JHMS-D-22-00002/Successful-Treatment-of-Severe-Ulcerative-Dermatitis-in-an-Aubrys-Flapshell/10.5818/JHMS-D-22-00002.short |archive-date=2024-08-11}}

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