Menita Prasad, the director of animal care at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, emphasizes the lack of attention given to turtles compared to more popular animals. She highlights the importance of special care for British Columbia’s endangered western painted turtles. The zoo is actively involved in a ten-year initiative to support the recovery of this native freshwater turtle species.
Describing the western painted turtle’s striking features, Prasad mentions its vibrant red plastron, the underside of its shell. The zoo, located in Langley, B.C., is halfway through the project of collecting wild western painted turtle eggs, hatching them, and subsequently releasing them to boost their survival chances.
This year has been particularly successful for the zoo, with over 550 turtles released, double the usual annual average. However, there is still a significant effort required to protect the species. The project, initiated in 2019, has already seen the release of approximately 3,000 turtles over the past decade.
The western painted turtle, classified as endangered by the federal government and red-listed in B.C., faces various threats, including competition from invasive red-eared sliders. These larger, more prolific turtles, often released into the wild by pet owners, pose a significant risk to the native western painted turtles by outcompeting them for resources.
The recovery program, a collaboration between the Coastal Painted Turtle Project and the B.C. government, focuses on releasing juvenile turtles weighing around 50 grams, making them less vulnerable to predators. The project aims to provide these turtles with an extra advantage in their survival, especially during critical early stages when they are most at risk.
Biologist Aimee Mitchell, a project manager for the Coastal Painted Turtle Project, underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to protect and restore western painted turtle populations. While the project has made progress in meeting its objectives, sustained actions are necessary due to the turtles’ slow reproductive rate and long lifespan.
Prasad stresses the need for public awareness and protection of turtle nesting sites on freshwater beaches. She notes the turtles’ unique behaviors, mentioning how some released turtles take their time exploring before finally venturing off into their natural habitat.
