Off Exhibit: Out of the Box Conservation

Episode #38

Box turtles are on exhibit in the Maryland Wilderness, but it’s also not uncommon to see wild box turtles throughout the Zoo. These unique reptiles are native to Maryland and much of the United States, however, like many other local species they are facing challenges from habitat loss and land development. For close to 20 years the Maryland Zoo has worked to monitor and collect information on box turtles to gain more insight about their health, growth, and reproduction. On this episode of Off Exhibit we sit down with zookeeper Kat Mantzouris who is leading the Zoo’s box turtle project. Learn more about this small, but important, local turtle and what the Zoo is doing to help ensure a healthy population for the future. Plus, discover how the project is collecting valuable information as part of the Zoo’s efforts to conserve this and other species.

More About Off Exhibit

Off Exhibit is a podcast featuring in-depth discussions with animal professionals and wildlife experts from behind-the-scenes at the Maryland Zoo. Subscribe via iTunes, Android, or RSS. New episodes uploaded on Wednesdays.