The Desert Tortoise Council was established in 1975 to promote conservation of the desert tortoise in the deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. The Council is a non-profit organization comprised of hundreds of professionals and laypersons who share a common concern for desert tortoises in the wild and a commitment to advancing the public’s understanding of the species. For the purposes of the Council, the term "desert tortoise" includes the species complex in the southwestern United States and in Mexico, currently referred to as Gopherus agassizii, Gopherus evgoodei, and Gopherus morafkai.