Name a Headstart Hero

Give an endangered Blanding’s turtle a name and a headstart on life

Your symbolic adoption helps prepare these tiny turtles for release into protected wetlands, supporting efforts to restore turtle populations in Ontario

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Packages to ship starting at the end of June.

Become a Headstart Hero and play a direct role in protecting one of Ontario’s most threatened species.

With this special adoption, you’ll have the unique opportunity to name one of this year’s Blanding’s turtles - raised through the Toronto Zoo’s headstarting program and released back into the wild when they’re strong enough to thrive.

Your support helps give these turtles the best possible start, contributing to their care, growth, and safe return to Ontario’s wetlands.

Your adoption package includes:

  • A personalized certificate of adoption featuring a photo of your adopted turtle, their new name*, and the adopter's name
  • A Turtles of Ontario fact sheet
  • A turtle magnet 
  • Recognition as a Species Ambassador on our digital donor wall
  • A full charitable tax receipt for your donation

You’ll also have the option to add an additional donation to further support turtle conservation efforts.

*The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy reserves the right to request an alternate name if the provided name is deemed to be inappropriate or offensive

$150.00
$150.00
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A stock image of a Blanding's turtle

Why Adopt a Blanding's turtle?

Blanding's turtles are currently listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and are a provincially and nationally threatened species.

What is headstarting?

Your Toronto Zoo raises and reintroduces juvenile Blanding's turtles into wetlands of the Rouge National Urban Park to support local turtle populations. When baby Blanding’s turtles are first born they are soft and small – approximately the size of a loonie - making them an easy target for predators. The Toronto Zoo raises headstart turtles to be the size of a baked potato, at which point their shells are much harder and they are large enough to evade most predators, giving them the best chance at survival.

Your Toronto Zoo's Impact

Prior to the initiation of this program, Blanding’s turtles were facing almost imminent local extinction, with as few as six individuals remaining. This will be the eleventh year these endangered turtles will be released into the wild, with approximately 50 turtles being released each year. The Blanding’s Turtle Headstarting and Reintroduction Program is made possible by the Toronto Zoo Adopt-A-Pond Wetland Conservation Program, with support from our partners at Parks Canada/Rouge National Urban Park, Scales Nature Park, the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, the Toronto Wildlife Centre, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP).

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