The McWane Science Center has a new living exhibit giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how conservationists help Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin turtles.
The McWane Science Center is partnering with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Biology Department and the lab of Dr. Thane Wibbels in the creation of the active conservation lab for the Terrapin turtles. Programs like the Terrapin Nursery help to protect the species for future generations and visitors can help support them in a fun, hands-on way, according to McWane.
“I hope that visitors will learn about [Mississippi Diamondback] terrapins. Not a lot of people know that these turtles exist. I didn’t when I started at UAB, so I’ve learned a lot,” Abby Kelosky, an aquarist at the McWane Science Center, said in a statement.
The McWane Science Center is a hands-on science museum and nonprofit dedicated to research and exploration.
Mississippi Diamondback Terrapins play a big role in Alabama’s coastal ecosystems.
By feeding on snails and other invertebrates, they help protect marsh grasses that shelter countless fish, birds and other coastal creatures.
Habitat loss, predators and accidental capture in crab traps have caused terrapin populations to decline.
The terrapins are raised in a safe, controlled environment where they can grow stronger and healthier before returning to the marsh.
“I also hope that they learn that they are a keystone species of highest conservation concern,” Kelosky said. Working with McWane “allows Dr. Wibbels and his lab at UAB to bring in more females to house more eggs there, thus protecting and keeping more terrapins to release in the future,” Kelosky said.
In the Terrapin Nursery, the eggs are collected from nests threatened by predators or habitat disturbance. Hatchlings are fed a nutrient-rich diet reflecting what they would eat in the wild.
Student researchers monitor growth, health and behavior. After about two years, the terrapins are tagged, tracked and released into native habitats.
On “Giving Tuesday,” Dec. 2, visitors and supporters can help name the eight terrapin hatchlings.
Each $5 donation counts as a vote toward a favorite naming category, with all proceeds supporting McWane’s conservation and education initiatives.
The McWane Science Center also just opened its holiday exhibit, “The Magic of Model Trains.”
Moreover, it has extended its holiday hours on Monday, Dec. 22, Tuesday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30, offering more opportunities for families to explore, learn and participate in conservation initiatives.
