MP Keddy releases rare Blanding’s turtles into the wild

July 03, 2008

ANNAPOLIS COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA - Mr. Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore–St. Margaret’s and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, participated today in a ceremony to release 34 Blanding’s turtles into the wild.

“By taking action today, the Government of Canada is ensuring that species at risk, like the Blanding’s Turtle, are protected for future generations,” said Mr. Keddy. “I applaud the hard work of our partners and volunteers, whose tireless efforts have resulted in the largest Blanding’s turtle release in Nova Scotia’s history.”

Last year, working with a Parks Canada Species at Risk team and partner organizations, more than 250 volunteers dedicated over 10,000 hours towards species at risk recovery in Kejimkujik National Park and the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve.

In order to protect the Blanding’s Turtle, volunteers helped discover and monitor nesting sites; at times the work required all night vigils. The turtles released today have been protected and hatched at the Oaklawn Farm Zoo. The two-year old “headstarted” turtles are now less vulnerable to predators, and have a greater chance of survival than turtles naturally hatched in the wild.

A sweetgrass ceremony provided by Bear River First Nation started the day’s event. Privileged partners, like L’sitkuk - Bear River First Nation, are an integral part of the Blanding’s turtle recovery effort as they provide a spiritual connection to the turtles as well as assistance with the assessment of turtle survival. Friends of Keji, Oaklawn Farm Zoo, Acadia University, Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, Bird Studies Canada and many other individuals, corporate and government agencies have also been extensively involved in this initiative.

As part of the lead up to today’s event, some of the volunteers and local schools were given the honour of naming the 34 young turtles. The names were announced as part of the ceremony.

Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site of Canada is part of a national system of parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas that is recognized as one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected areas in the world.

Information:
Stephen Flemming
Species at Risk Scientist
Kejimkujik National Park of Canada
902 682-2185


Backgrounder

Thirty-four young Blanding’s turtles, a species at risk, have been released into the wild this year after a “Turtle Send-Off” celebration in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site of Canada. The turtles were raised at Acadia University and the Oaklawn Farm Zoo as part of the species at risk recovery project, and after two years they are ready to be released. Before they were let go, the turtles were each named by the many partners and volunteers. This is an extraordinary number of turtles considering that Nova Scotia has only about 350 Blanding’s turtles.

Blanding's turtles are medium-sized freshwater turtles. Adults have dark-green, high-domed shells with yellow flecks. Their undersides are yellow with black patches. They have black scaly skin and are easily identified by their distinctive yellow throats.

Kejimkujik and its surrounding greater region are home to many species at risk of extinction, such as the Blanding’s turtle, which is protected under the federal Species at Risk Act and the Nova Scotia Species at Risk Act. Other species at risk in Kejimkujik include the Eastern ribbonsnake, the Water-pennywort, the Monarch butterfly, the Piping Plover, the Common Nighthawk, the Rusty Blackbird, the Olive-sided Flycatcher, and the Chimney Swift.

Under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), Parks Canada is responsible for the protection and recovery of listed species found in national parks and other protected heritage areas administered by Parks Canada.

In order to protect Blanding's turtles, Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site has spearheaded recovery actions, research, public education and partnerships.

The protection provided by Kejimkujik is a key factor in preserving Nova Scotia's Blanding's turtle population. All Blanding's turtle habitat in the park receives the highest level of protection. In these areas of special protection, no development or recreational activities may occur.

The Blanding's turtle recovery team is made up of Parks Canada staff, members from Universities, Federal and Provincial government, First Nations, industry, non-governmental organizations and volunteers.

Volunteers and partners play a critical role in the recovery of the Blanding’s turtle and other species at risk recovery in Kejimkujik. More than 250 volunteers invested a total of over 10,000 volunteer hours at Kejimkujik last year.