The Zoological Society of Manitoba’s Education Department will be celebrating World Turtle Day at the Assiniboine Park Zoo on Saturday May 23, from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. World Turtle Day was initiated in 2000 by the American Tortoise Rescue, a turtle and tortoise rescue organization founded in 1990 in Malibu, California.
We are profiling these wonderful creatures as part of our International Biodiversity Day celebrations. Our turtle table will be set up next to the Tropical House and will feature interpretive artifacts and live turtles. Education staff will be on hand to talk to zoo visitors about the diversity of turtles, as well as their disappearance due to destructive fishing methods, over harvesting, the pet trade, pollution and development.
- The Canadian Wildlife Services conducted a study at three sites in the Great Lakes region found deformities in male snapping turtles, believed to be the result of chemical pollution.
- “Half of all the green sea turtles off of the Hawaiian coasts are thought to be infected by a deadly disease called Fibropapilloma. It is caused by chemical pollution.” (fromwww.hsus.org)
- “A scientific team monitoring the blood plasma of loggerhead turtles along the U.S. East Coast consistently found significant levels of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). PFCs are used as nonstick coatings and additives in a wide variety of goods including cookware, furniture fabrics, carpets, food packaging, fire-fighting foams and cosmetics.” (from: http://www.physorg.com/news122662971.html)
- 86% of sea turtle species threatened with extinction (from http://news.mongabay.com/2007/1114-fws_turtles.html)
The Assiniboine Park Zoo displays the spur-thighed tortoise, red-footed tortoise, yellow-footed tortoise, star tortoise, red-eared slider, and more. We hope to see you at the zoo!
Tails From The Zoo 