Blanding's Turtle Story Presented On Mother's Day

This year, spend Mother's Day at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax. Together with Parks Canada and the Nova Scotia Blanding's Turtle Recovery Team, the museum is hosting a special program on the Blanding's turtle on Sunday, May 11.

Over the winter, the museum has provided a home for baby Blanding's turtles and visitors have had the opportunity to watch them grow. Once strong enough, the turtles will be re-introduced into Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site of Canada.

The day's events will include storytelling by author Kristin Domm and award-winning illustrator Jeff Domm will help children draw their very own turtles. There will also be displays and live turtles to see. Members of the recovery team will be on site to tell people how they can become a volunteer and help the turtles. All moms, accompanied by their children, will get in free. The event takes place from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the museum, 1747 Summer St., Halifax.

"The Museum of Natural History has been an active supporter of the Blanding's Head-start Program since its inception, having successfully raised hatchlings over the winter periodically since 1995," said Andrew Hebda, museum zoologist. "We are pleased to partner with Parks Canada to help Nova Scotians participate in an important rare species conservation initiative."

The Blanding's turtle was officially listed as endangered under the Nova Scotia Endangered Species Act in 2000 and recognized as threatened nationally by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

"The more people learn about species at risk, the better we will be able to protect them," said Ian Morrison, park warden at Kejimkujik. "The loss of species affects us all. In Canada, as elsewhere in the world, species are becoming endangered at an alarming rate. The major reason for species loss is destruction of habitat. It's that simple -- no habitat, no species. Even in protected areas such as national parks, some species are at risk. It is Parks Canada's mandate to conserve biodiversity and maintain ecological integrity in all national parks."

Kejimkujik National Park plays an important role in protecting the Blanding's turtle. A major part of the Nova Scotia population of the turtles can be found within the park. In partnership with universities, federal and provincial government agencies, and other organizations such as the Museum of Natural History and the Blanding's Turtle Recovery Team, the park conducts ongoing research, monitoring programs and public events to raise awareness of the survival issues of valued natural species.