Woodland Park Zoo Press Release

What:
Endangered western pond turtles (Clemmys marmorata), some with tiny radio transmitters glued to their shells, will be released into the wild in Pierce County. A portion of the group of 50 turtles will be released in Mason County. The 10-month-old turtles were collected from the wild as hatchlings and “head started” at Woodland Park Zoo to improve their chance of survival in the wild. The turtles currently weigh about 2 ounces.

Pond turtle being weighed
Photo: Ryan Hawk

The reintroduction of the western pond turtles into the wild is part of a long-term, collaborative effort among Woodland Park Zoo, Oregon Zoo, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to prevent the species’ extinction.

When:
Tuesday, July 17, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Where:
Wildlife site in Lakewood, Wash. Please contact the zoo’s PR department (contact listed above) if you plan to attend and directions will be forwarded. The release site is not being publicized to protect the sensitive habitats these animals occupy.

Who:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists and Woodland Park Zoo staff.

Info:
Western pond turtles were once common from Baja, Calif. to Puget Sound, including the Columbia Gorge. However, loss of habitat, disease and predation by non-native species such as bullfrogs decimated their numbers. They were on the verge of extinction in Washington in 1990, with only about 150 turtles left in the wild. The state listed the species as endangered in 1993.

As part of the Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project, wildlife biologists and staff “head start” the newly hatched turtles gathered from wild sites, nurturing them at Woodland Park and Oregon Zoos for about 10 months when they are large enough to escape the large mouths of non-native bullfrogs. In addition to the turtles being released in Pierce and Mason Counties, another 50 or so head starters from Woodland Park Zoo and Oregon Zoo will be released into the wild in the Columbia River Gorge. Today, researchers estimate that there are about 1,200 western pond turtles in Washington.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, 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.