Today in History: May 23

World Turtle Day is May 23 and is sponsored by American Tortoise Rescue. Its purpose, since 2000, 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. World Turtle Day is celebrated around the globe in a variety of ways, from dressing up as turtles or wearing green summer dresses, to saving turtles caught on highways, to research activities. Turtle Day lesson plans and craft projects encourage teaching about turtles in classrooms.

American Tortoise Rescue (founded in 1990) is the founding sponsor of World Turtle Day. American Tortoise Rescue (ATR) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation to provide for the protection of all species of tortoise and turtle. Foundlings that cannot be adopted because of ill health remain in the care of American Tortoise Rescue for the remainder of their lives.

Featured in Chase’s Book of Annual Events, the day was created as an annual observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world. Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson, founders of the rescue American Tortoise Rescue advocate humane treatment of all animals, including reptiles. Since 1990, ATR has placed about 3,000 tortoises and turtles in caring homes. ATR assists law enforcement when undersize or endangered turtles are confiscated and provides helpful information and referrals to persons with sick, neglected or abandoned turtles.

In 2013, over 160 free Turtle Day Lesson plans and teaching materials were sent out to classrooms for use with over 5,500 students. Lesson plans were provided by the Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group (TTPG), an organization that is open to all people interested in the welfare of chelonians. The TTPG is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1996 to help ensure survival of the world’s turtle and tortoise species. Individuals that maintain captive collections have a great responsibility to ensure their chelonians are properly cared for and maintained.

The term “World Turtle Day” is trademarked (a service mark) by Susan Tellem of Malibu, California.