About us: information guided by caution, responsibility and respect for animals

Editorial standards

• We use verifiable sources for health, legal and technical topics.
• We avoid advice that could encourage release into the wild, informal transfers or unsuitable keeping conditions.
• We take particular care with invasive species, native wildlife and found animals.
• We update pages periodically when new sources or corrections become available.
• We distinguish general information, personal experience and signed professional contributions.

How we handle content

Our content is designed to be accessible to someone seeking a quick answer, yet sufficiently grounded to guide further reading. Pages on more sensitive topics separate general advice, warnings and sources, so that a sentence is not mistaken for an absolute instruction.

External submissions are assessed before publication. We do not publish remote diagnoses, promises of a cure, copied material or content incompatible with animal welfare and ecosystem protection.

Veterinary and legal review

The guides offer general orientation, not diagnoses or individual advice. Professional authorship and specialist review are stated only where they are actually documented. For your specific situation, consult a vet experienced in reptiles or the relevant authority.

Three websites, complementary roles

The Guardians of the Earth Foundation ETS presents its mission, projects and transparency information. Tortoises brings together the editorial project dedicated to terrestrial species. This website explores aquatic turtles without duplicating the other project’s guides.

The Ethical Sanctuary is a private project, not open to the public. These pages do not offer bookings, visits or an automatic animal intake service.

Images and identification

Images support our educational content: they do not certify a species and, on their own, do not document animals housed at the Sanctuary or work carried out there. Identifying an individual animal requires suitable photographs and confirmation from knowledgeable people.

The logo on images identifies the editorial project; it is not photographic or scientific certification. The homepage collage is a silent, animated illustration, not footage of animals at the Sanctuary.

Reading and reusing content

To request permission to reuse text or images, contact the Foundation specifying the material and intended use. Conditions also depend on any rights held by the respective authors.

The website limits straightforward copying of its own content, but cannot prevent screenshots or technical extraction. Links, contact details and legal information remain usable. Photographs with an explicit Creative Commons licence are governed by the terms shown beside the image: the author, source and licence remain clearly identified.