Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre Receives $250,000 in Funding to Aid in Turtle Rehabilitation
/The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is receiving $250,000 in funding from the Ontario government as part of a $4.5 million investment to protect species at risk announced on Friday.
The funding will go towards staffing, protecting and recovering at-risk turtles, education, field research and disease surveillance.
“The on-the-ground work carried out by stewardship organizations is extremely important to protecting at-risk plants and wildlife in Ontario,” said David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “Our government is proud to support its partners and the many important research and recovery projects they are undertaking this year to help preserve our province’s rich biodiversity for generations to come.”
"This historic investment will strengthen their work in ecological restoration and rehabilitation projects locally and across the province,” said MPP Dave Smith.
The Conservation Centre was one of over 80 projects approved for funding through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program. They are the only accredited veterinarian hospital dedicated to turtles in the province.
"They (turtles) come in from all over Ontario, we have 1,500 turtles that come in per year approximately," said Dr. Sue Carstairs, Conservation Centre executive and medical director. “Since road mortality is one of the leading causes of declines and why seven of the eight of our native species are at risk, this really does a lot to help mitigate that any by time to fix the problem.”
@ptbo_canada Turtles are important for our wetlands! They help clean and filter the water for us! We love these guys! #turtlesoftiktok #turtlesquad🐢 #ptbo #prbocanada #wildlife #animals #turtle #turtles ♬ Hug a Turtle - Parry Gripp