John Ball Zoo releases 24 eastern box turtles into the wild [Video]

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The John Ball Zoo is releasing their eastern box turtles into the wild. 

Each year, the zoo’s conservation team gives groups of turtles a “head start” at the zoo. Head starting is a conservation practice where young animals are raised with the help of humans and are released when they stand more of a chance against predators. 

“So, this is a technique that has really direct benefits for these turtles,” said Jennifer Moore, associate professor of biology at Grand Valley State University. “It sort of gets them over those vulnerable times where that mortality is really high. And we can make sure using head starting that we’re putting really more robust turtles on the landscape and and we’re increasing our population numbers, basically.”

This year, the zoo has already released 24 turtles into the wild.

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