Endangered Dinosaurs: Desert Tortoise Ecology & Conservation

Learn about the endangered desert tortoise, our living dinosaurs! This class covers behavior, adaptations, and the techniques used to monitor and understand them. Take this information into an important habitat to spot the clues used to track tortoises. 

Your enrollment directly supports the Desert Tortoise Tracking Program in Joshua Tree National Park! Learn more about this and other critical programs at tinyurl.com/WhatWeFund2025.

• The lecture portion of this class takes place at Joshua Tree National Park Headquarters in Twentynine Palms.
• The outdoor portion takes place at Lost Horse Road in Joshua Tree National Park.
• Anyone may attend! No expertise or experience is required.
• Entry to Joshua Tree National Park is included in the cost of enrollment.
• No meals or equipment are provided.

This class is leisurely. It requires less than 2 miles of walking with shade, seating, consistent terrain, and little to no elevation gain.

Instructor Brian Henen: Brian Henen has researched and helped conserve ten species of tortoises of Africa, Asia and North America, beginning with the energy and water requirements of adult female, egg-producing, Mojave Desert Tortoises.

These studies include sequencing the genome of the Mojave Desert Tortoise, genetically assessing the sperm storage and multiple paternity of desert tortoise clutches, the temperature dependence of hatchling sex ratios in relation to nest temperatures, poaching effects on tortoise health, and tortoise nutrition.

Dr. Henen has contributed to multi-agency conservation initiatives, conservation assessments of sub-saharan turtles and tortoises, and co-supervision of several PhD, MSc and Honours students.

Photo credit: NPS/Cathy Bell