World's Oldest Zoo Celebrates More Than 1,000 European Pond Turtles Hatchlings

The oldest zoo in the world has celebrated the hatching of more than 1,000 adorable European pond turtles threatened with extinction.

Overjoyed staff at the Schoenbrunn Zoo, in the city of Vienna, Austria, honoured the moment the young turtles hatched and left their nests at the Danube-Auen National Park.

The happy announcement was made on the Endangered Species Day on Friday, 19th May, in order to emphasise the importance of protecting the country's only native turtle species.

Head of the European pond turtle protection project Maria Schindler said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "We have been to the Danube-Auen regularly since March to check the clutches that have hatched.

"Using the remains of the eggshell and the undeveloped eggs, we estimate how many hatchlings hatched.

"It was a great turtle season with over 1,000 hatchlings. But only a fraction of them make it to adulthood."

The small reptile species - Emys orbicularis - are listed as near threatened on IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species.

Schoenbrunn Zoo has reportedly taken part in their conservation and protection from wild predators since 2007.

Schindler said: "From May to July we observe the female turtles laying their eggs and provide each nest with a special protective grid.

"That way, wild boar or foxes can’t dig up the eggs."

This way - according to Schindler - a total of 164 turtle clutches were protected from animals of prey last year.

She explained that after they hatch, many of the juvenile turtles may choose to leave the nest burrows over the autumn period.

But Schindler added that female individuals are particularly nostalgic and usually return to their nesting areas through the years.

She said: "It's always nice to see old friends. Female #42, for example, is 60 to 80 years old and has been returning to her nesting area for over 20 years."

National Park Director Edith Klauser said: "In the past, we only saw adult terrapins, if at all. Turtles of all ages can now be observed.

"We are therefore very grateful for the great cooperation between the Danube-Auen National Park and the Schoenbrunn Zoo."

Klauser warned people staying near the national park to drive slowly and keep their distance from the petit turtles in order to avoid injuring them.

The zoo added: "Under no circumstances should turtles from the trade be released into the wild - they are genetically different from the native ones and displace them!"

They emphasised that sponsorships to save the clutches are highly valued, and reasoned it by saying: "Because every clutch counts!"