This Friday, 23 May the Cayman Turtle Farm will join in the celebration of World Turtle Day with a slate of special observances and activities.

The purpose of World Turtle Day, which is observed every year on May 23 and sponsored since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.

“Every day at Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter is really a World Turtle Day,” said Chief Marketing Officer Tina Trumbach. “But today we’re celebrating with some special activities that we hope our guests will join in and support, including a limited edition T-shirt sale, the unveiling of a new mural in our Education Centre & Hatchery, and educational seminars on ‘Sea Turtles in Cayman’ by local experts throughout the day.”

From 10am to 4:30pm, Cayman Turtle Farm World Turtle Day 2014 T-shirts will be on sale in the Box Office Lobby. There are a very limited number of shirts on sale, and the cost per shirt is CI$10 or US$12. Funds raised will benefit Cayman Turtle Farm sponsorship and conservation programmes.

In the Cayman Turtle Farm’s Education Centre & Hatchery, a new mural created by the students of Grace Christian Academy and with the theme of preserving turtle nesting habitats will be unveiled and displayed. An educational video, which is shown for Cayman Turtle Farm guests daily, will also be on view at the Education Centre mini-theatre throughout the day.

Special turtle conservation themed seminars, with the topic of “Sea Turtles in Cayman” will also be held through the day. Details and times are:

 

• 10am to 10:30am – Presentation by Dr. Janice Blumenthal – coordinator for the CI Government Department of Environment’s Marine Turtle programmes
• 11:45am to 12:15pm – Presentation by Geddes Hislop, CTF Curator Terrestrial Exhibits and Education Programmes
• 1:00pm to 1:30pm – Presentation by Geddes Hislop, CTF Curator Terrestrial Exhibits and Education Programmes

For those who would like to express their support for turtles artistically, a World Turtle Day Chalkfest will be held from 10am to 2pm on the red walkway outside the Cayman Turtle Farm Education Centre. Participation is open to all guests as long as drawings are kept to a turtle theme.

To continue with the day’s educational theme, signage on the meaning and significance of World Turtle Day along with sea turtle conservation tips will be displayed in the Cayman Turtle Farm Box Office Lobby for the duration of the day.

For more information and admission rates, call the Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter on 949-3894, email [email protected] or visit www.turtle.ky

Photo Caption: The special limited edition Cayman Turtle Farm World Turtle Day 2014 T-shirt design.