🐢 World TURTLE Day 2025 – May 23

🌍 World TURTLE Day ORIGIN & HISTORY

On May 23 people around the globe honor turtles as well as tortoises as World Turtle Day. The day is observed to bring recognition to these animals and raise awareness and knowledge about them. Turtles are majestic creatures and bring people happiness. This day is created to help protect these animals in their natural habitat. World TURTLE Day is celebrated on the 23rd Day in May.

Turtles have been on earth as long as the dinosaurs have been around. It’s amazing to think that they have been around that long and we need to protect them in their natural environment so they can live and thrive. There are 300 different species of turtles but 129 of these species which is almost half are on the endangered species list.

World Turtle Day was started in 1990 by husband and wife team Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson that founded the American Tortoise Rescue (ATR). They are a nonprofit group which is responsible for saving all species of turtles and tortoises. They rescue them and rehabilitate them so they can be healthy and flourish.

People also rescue turtles from roads and highways and return them to their natural habitats on this day. It’s important to help turtles found in the road to make it to the destination they are headed to safely by getting them off the road and away from danger. It isn’t advisable to take them from their natural environment since they are aware of where they can find known food sources.

Turtle Environments are Vanishing and being Polluted.

Turtles are loved by people all over the world. We need to respect these animals. Sadly global warming, Cutting down and clearing land for houses, roads, and buildings destroys natural habitats. We can help educate people about things they can do to help turtles worldwide. Protect turtles by saving natural habitats and keeping beaches and waterways clean.

Unfortunately, turtle environments are being polluted and materials are harming them and getting into their body. Do your part to help stop this from happening by not using plastic straws.

Do your part to help research and protect these lovable animals on World Turtle Day.

💚 HOW to Celebrate & Observe World TURTLE Day?

Not sure how to LOVE the day? We’ve got a few interesting ideas to consider that may help get you started.

Here are some activities that you can do on World TURTLE Day!

💙 RAISE Social Awareness

Use social media posts with the hashtags #WorldTurtleDay, #TurtleDay, #AnimalHolidays, #MayHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you ❤️ World TURTLE Day.

LEARN more about importance of TURTLES

KIDS LEARN ALL ABOUT SEA TURTLES

VISIT THE SC AQUARIUM SEA TURTLE CARE CENTER

EIGHT Fun Facts you never knew about World TURTLE Day

1. The upper shell of a turtle is called a carapace. The lower crust is a plastron. The shell is part of the turtle’s skeleton and is made of modified ribs and vertebrae.
2. The shell is made up of about 60 bones that are covered by plates called scutes which are made of keratin.
3. Sea turtles have special glands which help them remove salt from the water they drink.
4. Turtles are classified into two orders: those that move their head inside the shell sideways and those that pull it straight in. Sea turtles have lost the ability to retract their head altogether.
5. Green sea turtles can hold their breath for up to five hours.
6. Turtles are known for their longevity. Some species can live for more than 100 years, with the oldest recorded turtle reaching an impressive age of over 190 years! His name is Jonathan and was a gift to the governor of Saint Helena, one of the Seychelles Islands back in 1882.
7. Scientific researchers have deemed that large turtles may be able to live 400 to 500 years!
8. Some species of aquatic turtles hibernate by breathing through their butts. They have the ability to breathe through their cloaca, a multi-function rear opening that serves for respiration, reproduction, and excretion.

Future DATES for World TURTLE Day

Year	Date	Day of the Week
2023	May 23	Tuesday
2024	May 23	Thursday
2025	May 23	Friday
2026	May 23	Saturday
2027	May 23	Sunday

🐢 Turtle FAQ

What should I NAME my turtle?

• Here are some popular, unique, and creatively inventive names for your new turtle!

• Donatello or Donnashello
• Leonardo, Raphael, or Michelangelo
• Grease Lightning or Lickety Split
• Mary Shelly or just Shelly
• Nitro or Turbo
• Peek-a-Boo
• Bulldozer or Tank
• Flippy
• Hard Top
• Red
• Slow Poke or Pokey
• Mock Turtle
• Snappy or Zippy
• Squirt
• Yertle
• Tuck

Why we L💜VE World TURTLE Day

Turtles have been around since 220 million years ago. Turtles, if protected and their habitats are treated with respect, can have a very long life span. Turtles can live over 100 years. They are known for being pretty slow movers but can go fast if needed. except for Antarctica turtles live all over the world. Some turtles make really cool pets.

Turtles are featured prominently in cartoons and as Bowzer in the video game Mario Brothers. Franklin, Tuck from Wonder Pets, Toby the Turtle from 64 Zoo Lane, Crush and Squirt from Finding Nemo, and Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are some of the famous turtles featured in cartoons.

Show Some Turtle Love!

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