Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie release coincides with terrapin sanctuary at Raystede

The recent release of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, Mutant Mayhem, has struck a chord with Raystede as we are currently creating a unique sanctuary for injured and abandoned terrapins.

Raising Awareness

We want to raise awareness about the welfare of turtles and terrapins and discourage people from thinking of keeping them as pets.

“Terrapins look very cute when they are small and became very popular as pets, largely thanks to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchises when they boomed in the 1990s,” says Matt Gough, Head of Animal Welfare at Raystede. “Of course, we want everyone to enjoy the latest movie but we also want people to think about the welfare of turtles and terrapins and discourage them from getting these animals as pets.”

Raising Awareness

We want to raise awareness about the welfare of turtles and terrapins and discourage people from thinking of keeping them as pets.

“Terrapins look very cute when they are small and became very popular as pets, largely thanks to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchises when they boomed in the 1990s,” says Matt Gough, Head of Animal Welfare at Raystede. “Of course, we want everyone to enjoy the latest movie but we also want people to think about the welfare of turtles and terrapins and discourage them from getting these animals as pets.”

Raystede Believes Terrapins Do Not Make Good Pets

They are often bought as pets as they are small and relatively cheap but there is woefully little information about how to keep them. Many owners do not realise that terrapins grow into very large adults - as much as 25cms long or the size of a dinner plate! They need a lot of space and specialist care.

It is thought that many millions of terrapins are produced for trade annually. There is ever-growing concern over the potentially invasive consequences from unwanted, oversized ex-pet terrapins. In 1996, the EU implemented a ban on import of the Red Eared Terrapin. However, alternative species quickly filled the gap. Now, more than 1,500 farms breeding terrapins for the pet trade exist in China alone.

Terrapins often end up in Raystede’s care when people realise they're not easy to care for, they grow too large or once the novelty wears off. Others are rescued after they've escaped or been released on purpose.

Raystede believes terrapins do not make good pets, but our mission is to help as many animals as we can. Raystede is fortunate to have the right environment to create a sanctuary for these much misunderstood creatures.

Raystede's Project Terrapin

The project will consist of an intake and isolation unit, training pools, soft release pond, main lake, educational facility and resting beach, and will be completed in the autumn.

When terrapins first arrive at Raystede, they are usually in poor health. They will be monitored and cared for until they are strong enough to be released into the sanctuary’s indoor training pools. They are likely to still be quite weak with poor muscle strength so this will give them the chance to build up their health. Once they have gained enough strength to live outside, they will be released into a soft release pond and ultimately the main lake. The lake has capacity for around 300 terrapins and there will be a beach for them to bask on.

Terrapins will have sanctuary at Raystede for the rest of their lives. They will not be put up for adoption.

Find out all about Project Terrapin here

Raystede's Project Terrapin

The project will consist of an intake and isolation unit, training pools, soft release pond, main lake, educational facility and resting beach, and will be completed in the autumn.

When terrapins first arrive at Raystede, they are usually in poor health. They will be monitored and cared for until they are strong enough to be released into the sanctuary’s indoor training pools. They are likely to still be quite weak with poor muscle strength so this will give them the chance to build up their health. Once they have gained enough strength to live outside, they will be released into a soft release pond and ultimately the main lake. The lake has capacity for around 300 terrapins and there will be a beach for them to bask on.

Terrapins will have sanctuary at Raystede for the rest of their lives. They will not be put up for adoption.

Find out all about Project Terrapin here

About Terrapins

Terrapins are a type of hard-shelled, small turtles. Pond terrapins or 'sliders' (Trachemys scripta) include red-eared sliders, yellow-bellied sliders and Cumberland sliders. In addition, there are ‘cooters’ (Pseudemis spp) which are terrapins that can be kept without a licence – these are the ones found mainly in pet shops etc. Non-native species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 may not survive in our countryside and are illegal to release or to allow to escape. These animals could also be an invasive species and a risk to our native wildlife.

Terrapins can drown

It is a little known fact that terrapins can drown - so if you have a pet terrapin and simply release it into the wild they could drown in deep water. This is wholly due to them having no muscle strength as they have been reared in a tank.

Terrapins don't belong here

Whilst it is amazing to see a terrapin in the wild in this country, they shouldn’t be here. Unfortunately, our climate suits them (although they cannot breed) and has led to their proliferation in natural waterways. However, they are not native to this country and do not have a natural place in our ecosystem.

Terrapins are really difficult to look after

They are extremely complex animals and require really specialist treatment - this is mostly impossible to do for most people. Whilst a lot of hobbyists are very knowledgeable, it is a fact that the import of exotic creatures such as terrapins, lizards and many other animals can be a cruel and wasteful affair, with a lot of animals dying in transit.

Life in a tank

Terrapins require exercise on land and in water. Most tanks do not provide this and a small fish tank doesn’t provide anything like the right habitat for terrapins to thrive.

Terrapins are just one of many exotic species of pet who suffer through life in a tank. Three quarters of all exotic reptiles die in the first year of being kept as a pet, due to people misunderstanding their needs.