Baby turtles released in the future Rouge National Urban Park

On June 23, 2015, the Toronto Zoo, Parks Canada and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) released 21 baby Blanding's turtles to a pond that will soon be part of Rouge National Urban Park in the Greater Toronto Area.

This is the second year Blanding’s turtles – a provincially and nationally threatened species – have been released in the Rouge. In June 2014, the same group of partners collaborated on the release of 10 baby Blanding’s turtles.

Blanding's Turtle
© Parks Canada

The long-lived species, with a life span of up to 100 years, has inhabited the Rouge Valley for thousands of years, though prior to last year’s release its future was uncertain, with as few as six Blanding’s turtles remaining.

Blanding’s turtles are an important indicator species for wetland health and Parks Canada is strongly committed to re-establishing a healthy local population in Rouge National Urban Park.

The turtle eggs were collected from a stable source population in southern Ontario in 2013 and have been raised at the Toronto Zoo over the last two years. Earth Rangers also provided support for the project by building a facility to house the turtle eggs and babies at the zoo.

The public can help protect Blanding’s turtles by avoiding their nesting areas and by contacting authorities if they observe harmful behavior toward turtles or their habitat. The location of the pond housing the reintroduced turtles will not be disclosed at this time to help minimize disturbances and give the animals the best chance of surviving. To report turtle poaching, please contact Crime Stoppers.

Many more Blanding’s turtle releases are planned in the coming years!