The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released ninety-seven alligator snapping turtles into the wild last Wednesday. Twenty-two of those turtles came from the Peoria Zoo.
This is the second release since the AST recovery program began in 2006. The program seeks to reintroduce the endangered turtle species to Illinois.
Scientists and zoo keepers are hoping to learn more about the turtles’ movements and adaptation to the new environment from the transmitters they carry.
But it will be about seven years before the turtles are mature enough to breed in the wild.
The next release is scheduled for next year in late July.