There are many ways to teach people about turtle conservation — school visits, education centers, adopt-a-turtle programs
and even “turtle days.”
World Turtle Day
Did you know that May 23 is World Turtle Day? Since 2000, the American Tortoise Rescue group has sponsored this global effort to increase knowledge of and respect for turtles, and to encourage people to help them survive and thrive. Turtle Day is celebrated in a many ways. Some people dress up as turtles or wear green clothes to show support. Others head to the highways to help turtles safely cross the road. Still others focus on research projects. There are even Turtle Day lesson plans and craft projects to help teachers talk about turtles in school classrooms.
Education Centers
Education centers provide great opportunities to work with the public. Rather than having a few people travel all over to reach out to the community, the community can come to you. “Education turtles,” like Andrea and Paddy (pictured at right), can be seen close up, allowing adults and children to really get to know the species we are trying to save. In addition, the public can see various parts of the hospital, including the surgery and laboratory, and the hatchling area.
Education through Art
At the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia, Chan Eng Heng painted an outdoor wall with murals depicting the plight of turtles. Turtle Alley, as its now called, highlights the fact that there that are more turtles and more turtle conservation work done in Terengganu than anywhere else in Peninsular Malaysia. Chan’s original work has now been expanded to include more than 100 mosaics made and sponsored by visitors to the alley.
Education through Camel?
What if people can’t come to a center? You take your education efforts on the road! In India, traveling by camel is an inventive way of making even the smallest villages aware of the threats that turtles face.