DES MOINES, Iowa — In a big win for its conservation efforts, Blank Park Zoo celebrated the hatching of 57 Blanding's turtles.
The Blanding's turtle is an endangered species native to Iowa, parts of the upper Midwest, Northeast and Canada. Habitat loss and low nest success has left the species with a declining population.
“The Blanding’s turtle desperately needs these kinds of successes to ensure its survival," Blank Park Zoo President and CEO Anne Shimerdla said. "We are proud to play a role in this vital conservation effort and look forward to seeing these turtles thrive in the wild.”
The hatchings are the result of a multi-year conservation project with the zoo, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University.
The project began in April 2022 after the DNR saw a Blanding's turtle population decline across the state.
The DNR creates and manages habitats needed by the turtles, while Iowa State helps track the turtles on that public and private land using radio telemetry. ISU will also bring pregnant female turtles to the Blank Park Zoo who will then identify, incubate and hatch eggs.
The baby turtles will be reared by the zoo until they are big enough to be relocated to their original habitat where the female was found.
The turtles will be kept away from the public to ensure their well-being and security, the zoo said in a news release.
