What:
A total of 136 endangered western pond turtles (Clemmys marmorata marmorata) raised at Woodland Park Zoo and Oregon Zoo will be released into the wild in the Columbia River Gorge. Another 36 turtles - the offspring of Puget Sound area adults - 22 of which were captive bred at Woodland Park Zoo, will be released into western Washington at a later date. Media are invited to the turtles’ July 28 release.

The Western Pond Turtle Recovery Program is a collaborative effort between Oregon Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to help the rare turtle.

When:
Monday, July 26: call Woodland Park Zoo at 206.684.4838 to photograph or film the turtles to be released.
Turtle release: Wednesday, July 28, 2:00 p.m.

Where:
The pond is at Beacon Rock, 20 minutes away from Vancouver, Wash. at the Columbia Gorge. Contact Woodland Park Zoo for directions to the pond. For the protection of the turtles, please do not disclose the release site.

Who:
Head of Woodland Park Zoo’s Western Pond Turtle Recovery Program, Frank Slavens; western pond turtle expert, Kate Slavens; Woodland Park Zoo Collection Manager Mike Teller; WDFW biologists; and Oregon Zoo Conservation Scientist, David Shepherdson .

Other Info:
The batch of endangered turtles being released is part of a “head start” program at both Woodland Park and Oregon Zoos. Each year since the head starting project began 13 years ago, western pond turtle experts Frank Slavens, Kate Slavens, and recovery workers seasonally capture adult female turtles in the wild, fit them with transmitters, and release and track them until they nest in late spring and early summer. After natural incubation, the hatchlings are collected for zoo rearing until they are too big for the large mouths of non-native bullfrogs and large mouth bass to eat. Once they reach a suitable size of about 50 grams (about 2 ounces), they are returned to suitable habitat and monitored for survival and habitat use. A small captive-breeding colony of western Washington pond turtles is maintained at Woodland Park Zoo as well.

The turtles were once widespread in our region. But by 1990, due to the destruction of wetlands, human development, and introduced predators such as bullfrogs and fish, only a handful remained in the Puget Sound area and the numbers in Washington state had dwindled to fewer than 200 individual turtles. Since the head start program, 685 turtles have been restored to their natural habitat and, with this year’s releases, the total will be 857. In 2004, a bumper crop of 29 turtle nests was located in the wild. The eggs are expected to hatch in September and the hatchlings will be brought to Woodland Park Zoo and Oregon Zoo for head starting.

The Western Pond Turtle Recovery Program is a part of Woodland Park Zoo’s new Partners for Wildlife conservation initiative, an expansion of the zoo’s efforts and resources on proven wildlife conservation projects. The zoo currently participates in 45 field conservation projects in more than 29 countries around the globe.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, top award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.