C. p. bellii nesting once again on Vancouver Island
For many years, the sight of Western Painted Turtles basking in the sun of a Nanaimo summer was something you could only tell your children from memory. However, that is not the case anymore. Slowly but surely like the turtles themselves, the species is coming back from the brink of the endangered species list.
The turtles are making history right now at Nanaimo’s Diver Lake where they have just been recorded for the first time ever hatching on its shores.
Four of the tiny turtles with their distinct underbelly streak of red have emerged so far and biologists are now watching the shores through installed cameras, for more. The turtle species is the last native one on Vancouver Island so a dedicated effort has been underway to protect their habitat from development.
Click the link to watch the video and learn more..
Tortoises are escaping and being found in the UK this week. Is there a tortoise convention going on? see the Miscellany section
Turtle News From Around the World
Blog
Seychelles Turtles With MCSS: MCSS:- Emiel’s final blog
Seychelles Turtles With MCSS: Tarek’s final blog
Crime & Punishment
USA:- Sea Turtle Found Dead, Nests Run Over on Miami Beach: video
Health & Medical
India:- 3 injured Olive Ridley turtles wash ashore in 24 hours: video
Education
USA:- AL Gopher Tortoise Road Mortality Project
USA:- Signs on Fernandina Beach to remind people not to put gopher tortoises in the water: video
Miscellany
UK:- Runaway tortoise ‘Mr T’ spotted bombing through Welwyn Garden City
UK:- Family tortoise Rory ‘taking well-earned rest’ after city adventure
UK:- Bid to find owner of runaway tortoise
This Week In Turtles…
Turtle Census – June 24, July 1, July 22. Time: 10 am – 12pm
Every year in June and July we pick three days to set out live-capture, baited hoop nets in Deer Par k Lake. Come to the Children’s Garden to watch as VLM staff gather all of the turtles that are collected in these nets, and do the following: Identify the species of turtle and whether it’s male or female. Clean the shell to remove any stuck-on algae. Determine whether this is a new turtle or recapture. Cost: Included in museum admission.
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Photo from Check News.
