Tortoises

I applaud your article (Part I, Jan. 26) and subsequent editorial (Feb. 1) concerning the plight of the desert tortoise and the actions being taken by our committee and other agencies to save it and its community of desert life from extinction. I am pleased to add to your thorough and accurate coverage that the committee has just received approval of our request for $100,000 from the California Environmental License Plate Fund. This grant will be used to acquire critical tortoise habitat at the Desert Tortoise Natural Area in eastern Kern County. Thank you, vanity plate owners--all is not vanity.

This is a good start for our Desert Tortoise Lifeline Fund, but just a beginning on the way to our $2.5-million goal.

CURTIS HORTON

Executive Director, Desert

Tortoise Preserve Committee

Pasadena