Stockton Students Helping to Save Baby Turtles [VIDEO]
Students at Stockton University in Pomona have been assisting The Wetlands Institute in protecting baby Diamondback Terrapins.
Assistant Supervisor of Academic Lab Services at Stockton, John Rokita, tells 6abc.com that these specific species of turtles are quite unique, "Almost like fingerprints, no two are really alike."
Stockton student Evelyn Kidd is a friend of the turtles. She reportedly rescues approximately 50 turtles a year from cars and predators. The baby Diamondback Terrapins are especially vulnerable.
I LOVE this program. I may even volunteer for it at some point, because I'm ALWAYS jumping out of my car on busy Jersey shore roadways to move a turtle out of the road, or stopping traffic so that one may cross safely. And I get honked at and flipped off A LOT.
Melissa Laurino, an Animal Care Specialist at Stockton University, says their program goes even a step further than just going out into the world to save turtles from getting run over or eaten by another animal. "[We] will actually take all of the eggs out of the adult female, place them in the incubator", she tells 6abc, until they hatch.
Then, like students did earlier this week, those turtles will be released back into the wild. And, they can't wait to keep their efforts going. Program participant Heather Bariso says, "There's just so much to love about them. They're so interesting and I just want to learn more."
You can, too! You can even join the cause if you're up for the challenge. Stockton and The Wetlands Institute invite you to find more information here.
SOURCES: 6abc.com
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