10,000 Endangered Baby Turtles Released (media release, August 29, 2023) - Upper Thames River Conservation Authority

August 29, 2023
For Immediate Release

10,000 Endangered Baby Turtles Released

Snapping Turtle Hatchlings

This year, approximately 10,000 endangered Ontario turtles will hatch in the Southern Ontario At Risk Reptiles (SOARR) lab in London, Ontario. SOARR is one of Canada’s most successful reptile research and protection programs, incubating and releasing more endangered turtles than any other facility in the country.

“This season has been one of our most successful ever, in terms of the number of eggs protected and hatchlings released,” said Scott Gillingwater, Species At Risk Biologist with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. “This success gives hope for many of these rare reptile species.”

Gillingwater has developed new and innovative approaches in species research and protection, and maintains one of the largest freshwater turtle egg incubation programs for endangered turtles in North America. “Each season, we learn more and improve our protection efforts for these species, which now depend on human intervention to survive here,” he said.

Since the program launched in 1994, it has become nationally and internationally recognized for its research and conservation gains of many at-risk reptile species.

Some accomplishments include:

reversing the rapid decline of Spiny Softshell Turtles along the Thames River,
incubating and releasing 110,000 turtle hatchlings of seven species,
locating and studying the largest known Canadian populations of threatened and endangered reptiles including the Spiny Softshell Turtle, Blanding’s Turtle, Spotted Turtle, Queensnake, and others,
training more than 150 early-career biologists and technicians,
developing recovery strategies and management plans for at-risk reptiles, and
reaching tens of thousands of people through education programs.

Spiny Softshell Turtle Hatchling

For the endangered Spiny Softshell Turtle, SOARR has made the difference between life and death. This species had nearly disappeared entirely from the Thames River as the population was aging with very few young surviving. Thanks to SOARR incubating eggs and releasing the hatchlings back into the Thames every year, the Spiny Softshell population is growing again.

“We’re slowly gaining ground, but there is much more to accomplish,” said Gillingwater. Community members and businesses can get involved by helping to sustain the SOARR program through a tax-deductible donation. Your gifts immediately support at-risk reptiles right in here in your own backyard.

Give today at www.thamesriverdonations.ca/species-at-risk