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zookeeper and tortoise

World Turtle Day

Franklin Park Zoo

May 23, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Shell-ebrate World Turtle Day with us! 🐢

Spend the day discovering the amazing diversity of turtles and tortoises from around the globe, and learn simple ways you can help protect them. It’s a day full of slow-and-steady fun you won’t want to miss!

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Scavenger Hunt
Location: Zoo entrances
Go on a scavenger hunt as you search the Zoo for different turtle and tortoise species. Return your completed hunt by 4:00 p.m. for a chance to win a behind-the-scenes turtle experience for up to four guests. 

10:00 - 10:30 a.m.: Turtle Conservation Chat 
Location: Brooder Barn
Meet some of the turtle species we help raise and release into the wild, and learn about the work our conservation team does to protect turtles across New England, plus ways you can get involved.

11:00 - 11:30 a.m.: African Spurred Tortoise Chat
Location: Kalahari Kingdom
Learn about Franklin Park resident Big Ed, how African spurred tortoises thrive in their environments, and why careful research is so important before choosing a reptile as a pet.

1:00 - 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 - 3:00 p.m.: Turtle HATCH Discovery Station
Location: Tropical Forest
Learn about our award-winning Hatchling and Turtle Conservation through Headstarting program and how it’s helping protect local species, and meet our conservation team to explore the methods and materials they use to track, study and protect turtles across New England.

1:30 - 2:00 p.m.: Turtle Takeover
Location: Tropical Forest Hippo Theater 
Meet our turtle ambassadors and learn more about their unique behaviors, habitats and personalities.

Committed to Conservation

From local wetlands to coastal habitats, Zoo New England is dedicated to protecting native turtle species at every stage of life, combining hands-on conservation, scientific research, habitat restoration, and community partnerships to help threatened turtles not just survive, but thrive in the wild. Here's a look at our current projects dedicated to saving and protecting turtle species: 

Blanding's Turtle Conservation

We're monitoring and helping to protect four different Blanding’s turtle populations around the state.

Diamondback Terrapin Conservation

In partnership with MassWildlife and others, we monitor and protect the threatened diamondback terrapin, a saltwater turtle, in Buzzards Bay, MA.

Eastern Box Turtle Conservation

We study and monitor eastern box turtle movements, home ranges, growth and survival, and when possible, protect their nests. We’re currently monitoring headstarted turtles recently released back into their natural habitat.

Farms and Forests for Turtles

We're connecting landowners to resources that can help improve their properties for turtles and people alike.

HATCH Turtle Program

Students in our program participate in a real-world rare species conservation program by raising hatchling turtles to greatly increase their chances of survival in the wild.

Spotted Turtle Conservation

We’re working to conserve the last remaining population of the locally rare spotted turtle in Boston. Biologists radiotrack turtles to document population demographics, understand habitat needs and headstart hatchlings.

Wood Turtle Conservation

Once common in eastern Massachusetts, the wood turtle is now state-threatened. Since 2012, we’ve been protecting nests, restoring habitat, and working to boost their numbers.