World Turtle Day

World Turtle Day is celebrated annually on May 23 to spread awareness among humans to help turtle and tortoises survive and thrive in their natural environment. This day aims to raise knowledge about turtles and tortoises. This special day was founded in the year 1990 by the American Tortoise Rescue to help people celebrate and protect turtles and their disappearing habitat around the globe. There are a total of 300 species of turtles across the globe, out of which 129 species are endangered because of human interruptions. They come in all shapes and sizes, the bog turtle can be as small as 4-inches, while the leathery turtle can weigh over 1000 pounds.

Turtles are a type of reptile that exists in many environments throughout the world. They have found their way into literature, poetry, and parable throughout the world’s literature. World Turtle Day celebrates for these noble reptiles.  It encourages people to take action to help protect the turtles

The first thing to know is that Turtles and Tortoises are not the same thing, though this day is dedicated to celebrating and protecting both. First created in 1990 by American Tortoise Rescue.  World Turtle day recognizes that some species of our hard (and soft!) shelled friends are suffering due to environmental hazards, issues with hunting and harvesting of their eggs.

American Tortoise Rescue was created by Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson, animal activists who had a particular passion for tortoises. They organize charity collections and works around the world to help protect these amazing critters, and created Turtle Day to get everyone involved and spread awareness of the shrinking habitat and declining numbers of these sensitive creatures.