World Turtle Day

World Turtle Day
Date May 23
Next time 23 May 2017 (2017-05)
Frequency annual
Eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina

The purpose of World Turtle Day, May 23, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.[1][2][3]

World Turtle Day is celebrated around the globe in a variety of ways, from dressing up as turtles or wearing green summer dresses, to saving turtles caught on highways, to research activities. Turtle Day lesson plans and craft projects encourage teaching about turtles in classrooms.

Promoting organizations

Founded in 1990, American Tortoise Rescue[4] is the founding sponsor of World Turtle Day.[5] The term "WORLD TURTLE DAY" is trademarked by Susan Tellem of Malibu, California[6] American Tortoise Rescue (ATR) is certified by state and federal agencies as a nonprofit 501(c)(3)corporation to provide for the protection of all species of tortoise and turtle. Foundlings that cannot be adopted because of ill health remain in the care of American Tortoise Rescue for the remainder of their lives.

Featured in Chase's Book of Annual Events,[7] the day was created as an annual observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world. Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson, founders of the rescue American Tortoise Rescue advocate humane treatment of all animals, including reptiles. Since 1990, ATR has placed about 3,000 tortoises and turtles in caring homes. ATR assists law enforcement when undersize or endangered turtles are confiscated and provides helpful information and referrals to persons with sick, neglected or abandoned turtles.

In 2013, over 160 free Turtle Day Lesson plans and teaching materials were sent out to classrooms for use with over 5,500 students. Lesson plans were provided by the Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group (TTPG), an organization that is open to all people interested in the welfare of chelonians. The TTPG is a non-profit 501c3, founded in 1996 to help ensure survival of the world's turtle and tortoise species. Individuals that maintain captive collections have a great responsibility to ensure their chelonians are properly cared for and maintained.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Be Kind to Turtles, World Turtle Day is May 23". WorldTurtleDay.org. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Celebrate World Turtle Day". Retrieved Feb 2009. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. ↑ Wendy Heller (May 13, 2008). "American Tortoise Rescue Celebrates World Turtle Day May 23rd". Retrieved Feb 2009. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. ↑ http://www.tortoise.com
  5. ↑ "American Tortoise Rescue Celebrates World Turtle Day May 23rd". Health News Digest. May 13, 2008. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved Feb 2009. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  6. ↑ "USPTO trademark #4635425".
  7. ↑ http://www.mhprofessional.com/templates/chases/
  8. ↑ "Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group Website".
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