The delicate work of saving endangered turtle species unfolds in quiet corners of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition this weekend, where the Turtle Survival Center displays both the fragility and resilience of creatures most visitors have never seen.

At their booth near the Gaillard Center’s main entrance, center staff present living examples of species teetering on extinction’s edge — the golden coin turtle from Vietnam, the geometric tortoise from South Africa’s Western Cape. These aren’t the charismatic sea turtles that nest on Lowcountry beaches each summer, but lesser-known species facing even steeper odds.

“People connect with what they can see,” said Dr. Sarah Mitchell, the center’s conservation director, as a small crowd gathered around a tank holding juvenile Burmese star tortoises. “Once they understand how close we are to losing these animals forever, they want to help.”

The center, based in South Carolina, operates one of the world’s most comprehensive turtle breeding programs. Their work spans continents, from rescuing animals from illegal wildlife markets to establishing breeding populations that can eventually return to the wild.

Mitchell explained how the center’s climate-controlled facilities house more than 30 critically endangered species. The geometric tortoises, she noted, number fewer than 3,000 in the wild — making them rarer than giant pandas. Yet their plight receives a fraction of the attention.

“Turtles have survived since the dinosaurs,” Mitchell said. “They’ve weathered ice ages and asteroid impacts. But they can’t adapt fast enough to human development and the illegal pet trade.”

The SEWE display includes detailed explanations of the center’s restoration efforts. Visitors can learn about head-starting programs, where hatchlings receive protection during their most vulnerable months before release. Interactive exhibits show how GPS tracking helps researchers monitor released animals.

For many attendees, the booth offers their first glimpse of conservation work happening in their own region. The center’s facilities in rural South Carolina house breeding programs that ship animals to partner organizations worldwide.

“We’re essentially running an ark,” Mitchell said. “Some of these species exist only in captivity now. Our job is to keep them alive until their habitats can support them again.”

The Turtle Survival Center’s SEWE presence runs through Sunday at the Gaillard Center, with staff available to discuss adoption programs and volunteer opportunities throughout the weekend.