BLANDING’S TURTLES RELEASED IN ROUGE NATIONAL URBAN PARK

TORONTO, ON, Tuesday, June 23, 2020: Fifty-seven baby Blanding’s turtles got a head start in the Greater Toronto Area’s (GTA) Rouge National Urban Park today thanks to a collaborative head-start program co-led by Parks Canada and the Toronto Zoo. Present for this momentous occasion were Omar Mcdadi, Field Unit Superintendent, Rouge National Urban Park, Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo, Jeff Yurek, Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Jean Yip, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt and John MacKenzie, CEO, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

This was the seventh year that Blanding’s turtles – federally-listed as endangered and provincially-listed as a threatened species – have been reintroduced into the park. These Blanding’s turtles were rescued as eggs from nests vulnerable to predation in a stable, source population in central Ontario and have been raised in a protected environment at the Zoo for two years. Thanks to this initiative, so far, almost 400 of these turtles have been restored to the Rouge.

Other program partners include: Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation, Magnetawan First Nation, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).

In June 2014, this group of partners began reintroducing juvenile Blanding’s turtles in the Rouge, and to date, has reintroduced 396 head-start and hatchling Blanding’s turtles in an effort to save the species. The Blanding’s turtle is a long-lived species with a life span of up to 80 years. This species has inhabited the Rouge Valley for thousands of years, though prior to 2014, its future was uncertain with as few as seven adult Blanding’s turtles remaining.

“All eight turtle species in Ontario are federally listed as at risk and need our help,” said Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo. “Blanding’s turtles are a flagship species representing a group of animals facing a variety of threats right here in our own backyard. Your Toronto Zoo is proud to be joining forces with these important community partners in educating the public on their plight in the wild and in doing everything we can to mitigate the threats they face and halt declining populations.”

“Parks Canada is committed to working with its partners to protect species at risk like the Blanding’s Turtle in Rouge National Urban Park,” said Omar Mcdadi, Field Unit Superintendent, Rouge National Urban Park. “Amphibians and reptiles, including Blanding’s Turtles, are great indicator species. These 57 turtles will be monitored for years to come, helping to track the health of wetlands in the park. This informs restoration projects throughout the Rouge to ensure we are preserving nature in Canada’s first national urban park for future generations.”

Canada’s first national urban park spans more than 79 km² in the GTA, making it one of North America’s largest protected areas in an urban setting. The Blanding’s Turtle Head-Start Conservation Program in Rouge National Urban Park is part of a significant partnership to help recover this at-risk species.

This year’s Blanding’s turtle release also takes place in close proximity to National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. On this day, we celebrate the heritage, cultures and achievements of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Turtles appear in many traditional teachings and stories including How the turtle got its shell and The Turtle with the Sun under its Chin. The turtle also plays an essential role in the Haudenosaunee Creation Story, as it is believed that the Earth was formed on a turtles back. Referred to as ‘the turtle with the sun under its chin,’ the Blanding’s turtle is an important ambassador and teacher of Indigenous knowledge and we are proud to help re-introduce them into Rouge National Urban Park.

The 57 Blanding’s turtles that were released into the Rouge were also given an extra-special distinction acknowledging the current COVID-19 pandemic and the amazing efforts of our frontline workers and those individuals who lost their lives to this virus. As a thank you for their ongoing commitment and sacrifices during this unprecedented time, Toronto Zoo and Parks Canada worked alongside the Scarborough Health Network to name 53 turtles after an important member of their frontline team. The Toronto Zoo named the remaining turtles after Dr. Eileen de Villa Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Chief Matthew Pegg who Chairs the City of Toronto’s Emergency Operations Centre and Mayor John Tory. In addition, one of the turtles was named after Stanley “Stan” Muise who died from COVID-19 in May. This turtle represents all of those individuals whose lives were cut short by this virus.

Scarborough Health Network Team Members:

Ajith Varghese, Manager, Spiritual Care	Ann Sideris Director, Workplace Health and Safety	Babi Kattakayathil Executive Assistant
Christina Gagnon Registered Nurse	Christina Hawkins Social Worker	Cristina Badlis Physiotherapist
David Graham Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer	Dr. Abdel Belhaj Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control	Dr. Albert Lauwers Executive Vice President Medical and Clinical Programs
Dr. Dick Zoutman Chief of Staff	Dr. Elaine Yeung Corporate Chief of Medicine	Dr. Liz Hartley Anesthesiologist
Dr. Reena Lovinsky Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control	Dr. Robert Ting Physician	Dr. Norm Chu Chief and Medical Director of Emergency Services
Dru Ann Skeates Manager, Emergency Care	Elyse Hosein Emergency Preparedness Specialist	Fred Go Director, Surgery
Glyn Boatswain Director, Women’s and Children’s Health	Heidi McDowell Rehab Assistant	Jaclyn Smoskowitz Social Worker
Katrina Studeny Registered Practical Nurse	Leigh Duncan Executive Director, Communications and Public Affairs	Lisa Cipriano Communications Lead
Linda Calhoun Vice President & Chief Professional Practice Executive	Liora Krinsky Registered Nurse	Liz Buller President and CEO
Lorie Sheridan Registered Nurse	Marina Zajakovski Registered Nurse	Meredith DePaulsen Manager, Patient Care
Michele James Vice President, People and Transformation	Minette MacNeil Interprofessional Practice and Allied Health	Nick Dimovski Director, Logistics and Supply Chain
Nick Parsons Registered Nurse	Nicholas Smith Manager, Marketing and Communications	Nisa Karan Manager Workplace Health & Safety
Penny Lalopoulos Karafile Director Support Services	Petra Sheldrake Director, Laboratory Services	Philippa Dawood Wellness Coordinator
Rebecca Harvey Executive Vice President Clinical Programs	Renee Blomme Director, Privacy and Risk Management	Rincy Pulickal Registered Practical Nurse
Sharah Haque Registered Nurse	Shelley Dorazio Pharmacy Director	Stephen Casey Manager, Birchmount Emergency Department
Tabatha Bowers Nurse Practitioner	Tanisha Donaldson Clerical Information Management Supervisor	Thiru Appasamy Operations Lead for the Cardiovascular and Stroke Program
Trixie Williams Director, Oncology & Cardiovascular	Tyler Crocker Director, Plant & Facilities Operations	Varma Maharaj General Manager, Support Services
Vydia Nankoosingh Manager, Infection Prevention Control	Zahir Hirji Manager, Risk & Privacy

These Blanding’s turtles were rescued as eggs from non-viable nests in Ontario and have been raised in a protected environment at the Zoo for two years. Thanks to this initiative, so far, almost 400 of these turtles have been restored to the Rouge. Giving these turtles a ‘head-start’ in life, the Zoo has raised them past their most vulnerable stages where they would otherwise have faced an increased chance of predation from animals like raccoons. The University of Toronto Scarborough and Laurentian University are assisting with long term monitoring of the released turtles. Parks Canada, TRCA, MNRF, MECP, and the Toronto Zoo believe that this type of head-starting and reintroduction of the turtles, along with long term monitoring and ongoing habitat restoration, are keys to the species’ survival in Rouge National Urban Park.

-30-

---

At the Toronto Zoo, black-footed ferrets, Blanding’s turtles and eastern loggerhead shrikes are bred and cared for under strict animal care protocols until they can be relocated into suitable habitats in the wild. The breeding and reintroduction facilities at the Toronto Zoo are in need of upgraded equipment and increased space so that we are better able to monitor and care for the animals until they are able to be released. Increasing our capacity at the Zoo means an increase in population of these endangered animals in the wild.

As important as they are for endangered species survival, these conservation programs depend almost entirely on donations and grants for their funding. Your support for the Toronto Zoo’s endangered animal conservation programs – for our ferrets, turtles and shrikes, and all the other endangered animals at the Zoo – means you are a partner in the fight against extinction.

Please donate today to support Toronto Zoo programs to protect, conserve and increase the populations of endangered species worldwide.

---

The public can help protect turtles by avoiding their nesting areas and by contacting authorities if they observe harmful behavior toward turtles or suspicious behaviour in their habitat. The public are also encouraged to get involved through the Turtle Tally on the Adopt-A-Pond Citizen Science app, by reporting their observations of turtles to the Toronto Zoo, to help inform biologists of these animals and their current ranges, to identify potential threats and concerns, and to learn more about the incredible animals that we share the land and water with. The location of the wetland housing the reintroduced turtles will not be disclosed at this time to help minimize disturbances and give the animals the best chance of surviving.

---

---

Toronto Zoo Media Contact:

Amanda Chambers
Supervisor of Strategic Communications
[email protected]
(416) 938-5283

Parks Canada, Government of Canada Media Contact:

Jeffrey Sinibaldi, MA
Public Relations and Communications Officer, Rouge National Urban Park
[email protected] / Tel.: 647-271-8189

Agent des relations publiques et des communications, Parc urbain national de la Rouge
Parcs Canada, Gouvernement du Canada
[email protected] / Tél.: 647-271-8189

About The Toronto Zoo
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. More than a tourist attraction, 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 except 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).

About Parks Canada
Parks Canada manages one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and cultural heritage areas in the world, including 46 national parks, 171 national historic sites, four national marine conservation areas and one national urban park. A rich assembly of natural, cultural and agricultural landscapes, Rouge National Urban Park is home to amazing biodiversity, some of the last remaining working farms in the Greater Toronto Area, Carolinian ecosystems, Toronto’s only campground, one of the region’s largest marshes, a beach at Lake Ontario, amazing hiking opportunities, and human history dating back more than 10,000 years. The Rouge is within a one-hour drive for 7 million Canadians. parkscanada.ca/rouge