Lincoln Park Zoo Helps Restore Turtle Population

Chicago, IL - A goal set a few years back by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Lincoln Park Zoo to create an ornate box turtle population of 100 by 2020 has been reached four years ahead of schedule.

The zoo released 15 turtles to their native habitat last month to reach the goal, according to a news release.

“A conservation win like this gives us added momentum to continue fighting to conserve species—not only locally, but across the globe,” said Lincoln Park Zoo Curator Diane Mulkerin. “Unfortunately, due to urbanization, climate change and human impact, it’s not often we can celebrate a major conservation success like this, which would not be possible without our partners at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.”

The zoo’s plan to help restore the population includes taking eggs from the prairies and transferring them to the zoo where they are incubated, hatched and reared without the threat of predators that reside in the turtles’ environments.

At the zoo the turtles are also able to bypass hibernation, allowing them to reproduce more quickly and grow in size.