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zookeeper and tortoise

World Turtle Day

Franklin Park Zoo

May 23, 10:00 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. Visit Kalahari Kingdom to meet Big Ed the African spurred tortoise and learn more about unique adaptations that help his species survive in desert environments. 

Try your hand at turtle-themed scavenger hunts, activities and giveaways as you learn more about turtle species from all parts of the world. 

Stop by Franklin Farm and Outback Trail for special HATCH chats to learn about our award-winning Hatchling and Turtle Conservation through Headstarting program and how it’s helping protect local species.

It’s a day full of slow-and-steady fun you won’t want to miss!

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.