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 on June 1

Become a champion for Canadian wildlife by naming one of this year's Blanding's turtle headstarts at the Toronto Zoo. These incredible turtles are part of a groundbreaking conservation effort to restore this threatened species, and your support plays a crucial role in their journey back to the wild. 

Your adoption package includes:

  • A personalized certificate of adoption featuring a photo of your adopted turtle, their new name*, and the adopters name
  • A turtles of Ontario fact sheet
  • A turtle magnet 
  • Recipients name displayed on our online recognition wall
  • A full charitable tax receipt for your donation

By naming one of these threatened turtles, you’re directly supporting the Zoo’s Blanding’s turtle Headstarting and Reintroduction program. Your contribution helps ensure these turtles can thrive in the wild, safeguarding the species for future generations.

This is a limited-time opportunity to be part of something turtley special. Join us in protecting the future of wildlife and take pride in supporting this meaningful conservation effort.

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

$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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