Helping Turtles While Helping Inmates
The Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) is an aquatic species native to the Pacific Northwest, and is now classified as endangered in Washington and declining in Oregon as well as California. However, the Oregon zoo is dedicated to the conservation of this fascinating species and has been working on a headstarting program for 25 years, which involves raising hatchlings to a suitable size to re-release back into their native habitat. The program is called the Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project and strives to protect the species, which is threatened by predators such as bullfrogs and bass. Yesterday, 20 of these turtles were released into the Columbia River Gorge, assisted by some very special helpers. These assistants were inmates of the Larch minimum-security prison in Vancouver, Washington. The Larch prison is involved in sustainability practices, including the propogation of narrow-leaf plantain for pollination by butterflies which are bred at the Oregon Zoo. This is highly beneficial to inmates as they are able to contribute to conservation in ways they never imagined. The Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project has seemingly proved successful as a study showed that there is a 95% survival rate in headstarted turtles. The hope is that these results continue to improve the population of this endangered North American native.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
Sea Turtle able to be released immediately following removal from entanglement
Read the latest Turtle Conservation Society Newsletter from Malaysia
An attempt to halt turtle catching in Fiji
Sea turtle release highlights World Turtle Day
A petition to stop sea turtles being sucked away
Housing construction detrimental to desert tortoises
Biology
More flippers means light work for hatchlings
From the Library…
American Tortoise Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1990 to provide for the protection of all species of tortoise and turtle. Located in Malibu, CA, and founded by a husband and wife team of Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson. They started World Turtle Day in 2000. See their web site at www.tortoise.com
Question or Concerns? Want to submit an article to get posted? Email us at [email protected].
Photo from Adam G. Clause.
