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Endangered Western Pond turtles released in to the wild.23/03/2007 00:00:00
Oregon Zoo will prepare 58 endangered western pond turtles (Clemmys marmorata marmorata) -- a species on the verge of extinction in Washington a decade ago -- for return back to the wild. The turtles begin their journey at the zoo's Cascade Streams exhibit, where they have spent the past nine months growing large enough to avoid being eaten by non-native bullfrogs and large-mouth bass, threats that have decimated the species. The re-introduction of the western pond turtles into the wild is part of a collaborative effort of Oregon Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo, BPA, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As part of the Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project, conservation scientists at these organizations "head-start" newly hatched turtles gathered from wild sites, nurturing them at both zoos for about 10 months. Once they reach a suitable size of about 70 grams (a little more than 2 ounces), they are returned to their homes and monitored for safety. 'Giving young turtles a head start during the first months of their lives gives them a real edge,' explains Dr. David Shepherdson, Oregon Zoo conservation program scientist. 'Woodland Park Zoo and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have been working to save Washington's western pond turtles for 14 years. We're glad that we could provide additional assistance in helping save these highly endangered turtles.' Western Pond Turtle facts.
'BPA is pleased to be a part of an effort to restore the western pond turtle, an important wildlife species of the Northwest ecosystem,' said Greg Delwiche, vice president of BPA's Office of Environment, Fish and Wildlife. 'This year's encouraging numbers demonstrate that the region's investment in this program is paying off.' To help restore these rare turtles to their natural habitat, recovery workers take to the field each year. Under the supervision of western pond turtle expert Kate Slavens, they count, trap and fit transmitters on adult female western pond turtles. The female turtles are monitored every two hours during the nesting season to determine where they nest. The nests, which the females dig in the ground and then cover after depositing their eggs, are protected with wire 'exclosure' cages that help prevent predators from eating the eggs. The eggs are then allowed to incubate naturally, and the hatchlings are collected in the fall. The hatchlings are about the size of a quarter when they are removed and taken to the zoo facilities, where they can grow in safety. Unlike wild turtles, zoo turtles are fed throughout the winter, so by their summer release, the 10-month-olds are approximately as big as 3-year-old turtles. Some of the juvenile turtles are equipped with radio transmitters before release so biologists can learn more about post-release dispersal, habitat use during active and hibernation periods, and, ultimately, their survival rate. Scientists tracking the released turtles estimate that 95 percent of the turtles released back to the Columbia River Gorge have survived. Now listed as an endangered species in Washington and a sensitive species in Oregon, the western pond turtle was once common from Baja, California to Puget Sound. The Oregon Zoo's participation in the western pond turtle project is funded through The Oregon Zoo Foundation's Future for Wildlife Conservation Fund.
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