TORONTO, ON, Wednesday, June 22, 2022: The warm weather is here, and you may have noticed one small, but very important species on your outdoor adventures: the Blanding’s turtle! A collaborative initiative co-led by Parks Canada and the Toronto Zoo added 56 juvenile Blanding’s turtles to Rouge National Urban Park yesterday as part of recovery efforts to support this threatened species in the Greater Toronto Area.

Why do Blanding’s turtles need our help?

The Rouge River Watershed has changed drastically over the past 200 years, and this has had major consequences for the animals that live there. Historically, this area was home to the Blanding’s Turtle, which is currently a federally endangered species. In the 1990s, fewer than 10 adult Blanding’s turtles were found in the area that is now the Rouge National Urban Park, which is not nearly enough to support a healthy population. As a result, our head-start program began. 

Your Toronto Zoo and Parks Canada began restoring over 100 hectares to ensure nesting and foraging habitats for these turtles and other native species since 2015. That’s 100 Canadian football fields! Since the program's inception, over 500 Blanding’s turtles have been released into the wild and 56 more were released yesterday.

“We’re so grateful to be working with amazing partners like Parks Canada and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to save this incredible species” says Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo. “We are delighted to think about a future in which we have a self sustaining Blanding’s turtle population. This important species recovery program is a fine example of community collaborations in action to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction”. 

“Southern Ontario is home to the highest density and largest variety of turtle species in the country, all of which are recognized as species at risk,” said local MP representing Scarborough-Rouge Park, Gary Anandasangaree. “The Blanding’s Turtle Head Start Program illustrates the deep commitment of Parks Canada, The Toronto Zoo and its partners to protect biodiversity and contribute to the recovery of species at risk in Rouge National Urban Park. These head start turtles will be monitored for years to come, and will be a key indicator of the health of wetlands to inform future restoration actions in the park. As we celebrate and honour the cultures and teachings of Indigenous peoples this month, we are grateful for the inspiring conservation efforts happening in our community, including this one done in partnership with the Rouge National Urban Park Advisory Circle, to truly make the Rouge a place for wildlife to thrive in the heart of our region.” 

The Blanding’s turtles released each year are two-year-olds, to ensure they are big and strong enough to thrive in their new environment. Each June, eggs are collected from stable source populations in Ontario, and are then incubated for around 2 months to ensure proper development, and to keep them safe from predators at such a vulnerable stage. Once they hatch, these tiny turtles spend their first year in the Americas pavilion where guests can visit them, and after their first birthday they move to the Wildlife Healthcare Centre to spend their days swimming and sunning themselves under UV lights. Once they are reach two years of age, the turtles move to the Wildlife Health Centre’s outdoor enclosures to acclimate to the elements, like daily weather changes, sounds, and sights, to prepare them for release. The release takes place in different locations each year, and is kept top-secret to do everything we can to mitigate the threat of poaching.

One of the most important aspects of this process is being able to keep tabs on what happens to these juveniles once they leave our care. Through partnerships with the University of Toronto Scarborough and Laurentian University, some of the turtles are fitted with small radio transmitters which attach to their shells. This not only allows us to monitor their survival, but also provides invaluable information about their habitat use, weight, and how environmental factors like temperature and precipitation play a role in their behaviour. This is critical information for park managers so they can create additional suitable wetland areas where aquatic animals can thrive.

Why June 21st?

The release happens each year on June 21 to commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day which acknowledges the heritage, cultures and achievements of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Turtles appear in many traditional teachings and Creation stories. The turtle also plays an essential role in the Creation story, as the Earth is formed on its back. Referred to as ‘the turtle with the sun under its chin,’ the Blanding’s turtles receive a blessing at the Toronto Zoo from an elder before being introduced to their new home.

Who else is involved in helping the Blanding’s turtles?

• Adopt-A-Pond/Toronto Zoo
• City of Toronto
• Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve
• Laurentian University
• MagnetawanFirst Nation
• Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks
• Ministry of Northern Development
• Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry
• MiziweBiik; Parks Canada (Rouge National Urban Park)
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
• University of Toronto Scarborough.

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Media Contact Information:

Amy Naylor

416-848-5920

Media Relations Coordinator 

[email protected]

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The Toronto Zoo’s mission is to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction and our vision is a world where wildlife and wild spaces thrive.

An iconic tourist attraction and Conservation organization, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day including December 25 and attracts approximately 1.2 million guests each year.

Toronto Zoo is accredited by Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Zoo has also achieved the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Certificate of Good Animal Practice® and is inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

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