World Turtle Day

On May 23 many countries celebrate World Turtle Day. A turtle is an animal that symbolizes wisdom, wealth and longevity. This unusual holiday originated in 2000 at the initiative of the American Turtle Rescue Society. This organization was founded by enthusiasts in 1990 in Malibu (California, USA) to preserve the population of turtles living on the outskirts of the city.

The purpose of the holiday was to draw public attention to the problem of the death of a large number of turtles due to the proximity to humans.

In recent years, Turtle Day is celebrated not only in those parts of the globe where these animals live, but also in many other countries.

Mykolaiv Zoo joins in celebration of World Turtle Day.

The collection of turtles of our zoo includes 27 species, of which 8 terrestrial species, 19 aquatic species, a total of 90 individuals.

The largest tortoise in Mykolaiv Zoo is African spurred tortoise (Geochelone sulcata), its weight reaches 24 kg and the length of the ventral shield is 45 cm. The smallest turtle is the spot-legged wood turtle (Rhinoclemmys punctularia).

The collection of turtles of Mykolaiv Zoo is also famous for its long-lived animals, such as the radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) born in 1983. This male, despite his respectable age, is actively looking for a female. The Indochinese box turtle (Cuora galbinifrons), born in 1998, and the yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulata), born in 1996, are also long-term residents of our zoo.

At the beginning of 2021, the collection of turtles in our zoo was replenished with a new species. On February 15, a species of mata mata (Chelus fimbriata) was received as an exchange of animals from a private individual. This turtle is currently the youngest in the zoo, because it was born on September 15, 2019.

Usually from late spring to mid-autumn tortoises are placed in a summer enclosure. Tortoises are regularly enriched in the summer enclosure: feed supply methods alternate (on dishes, suspended on wire and plastic carousel, mounted on vertical metal rods), feed is offered in grated form, cut into large pieces, or undivided bundles (lettuce, fresh greenery).

Today, in honor of the thematic day, young biologists of Mykolaiv Zoo as a gift for turtles prepared a vitamin cake from a fresh dandelion greenery, stellaria greenery, with robinia buds. The aquaterrarium staff added pieces of meat, fish and seafood to these delicacies. And we treated the heroes of the day with such a vitamin cocktail.

Due to the late and cool spring, the turtles have not yet been placed in the summer enclosure, so you can see them on exhibit in the Aquaterrarium and in the winter house of primates. We are waiting for you.