Making Turtle Memories at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition
By Elena Duran, Communications Coordinator
Turtle Survival Alliance hosted its annual booth at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) on February 16-18. It was a first for many of our staff–myself included. I joined Turtle Survival Alliance in 2023 and though I had been to events and conferences, this was my first time at SEWE. Turtle Survival Alliance was one of dozens of exhibitors in Marion Square in downtown Charleston. From artists to retailers, and fellow conservation organizations, it was truly a spectacle of the presence of conservation initiatives in the Charleston area.
Many booths had live animals on display, and the main stage had several animal demonstrations throughout the weekend. Our turtle keepers brought five outreach turtles to the event to show the range of species we work with and demonstrate the sheer variety of characteristics when it comes to turtles. Coming from a non-biology background, it always struck me how two creatures can be so different in appearance, yet represent the same category of animals that we work to protect: turtles.
Take two of our outreach turtles, for example, Spike Magoo and Axel. Spike Magoo is a Yellow-blotched Map Turtle (Graptemys flavimaculata) that can fit in the palm of my hand, and he’ll never grow beyond that. On the other end of the spectrum is the massive Axel, a 75-pound Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), a crowd favorite. Axel was a star of the weekend, always drawing a crowd of baffled onlookers, trying to comprehend how this real-life monster was, in fact, real. Children and adults always react in shock when we pull out Axel and Pink, another Alligator Snapper who is just 10 pounds. With their gnarly faces, sharp beaks, and propensity to bite down in a millisecond, spectators are always slightly relieved when they learn that these creatures are not native to South Carolina and hiding in their backyards.
The highlight of the weekend for me was seeing the hundreds of kids come by our booth and have their first encounter with a turtle. Many of them have, of course, interacted with turtles before, and proudly shared their experience with me. Some boasted that they convinced their parents to pull over and help a turtle cross the road. Others shared their brushes with turtles in creeks, swamps, wetlands, or even parking lots. Practically every child that stopped by would immediately transfix on whichever outreach turtle was out, asking to pet or hold it, and one of our expert keepers would guide them in gently touching the shell of their new reptile friend. We were constantly peppered with questions–“What do they eat?” “Why does he have pink skin?” “Will he bite me if I stick my finger in his mouth?” (a more common question than you’d think)–until I felt like I knew about as much as our keepers.
I take pride in working for an organization that is known for science-based conservation efforts and supports a staff of passionate and knowledgeable herpetologists and turtle lovers. This really stands out at events like this, where, no matter the question, I know I can turn to one of my affectionately nicknamed “turtle nerd” coworkers for a sure answer when it comes to turtles.
Between the demonstrations and turtle encounters with the crowds, our keepers always prioritize the comfort of our outreach turtles. They work in shifts, ensuring breaks between stressful encounters with grabby children. These turtles in particular are dedicated to outreach, they are used to many hands petting them, time outside their everyday habitats, and the long days, but they still have limits that we respect. On Sunday, the last day of SEWE, it was far too cold for turtles to be outside, so they took a break to stay warm while we just chatted and engaged with the crowd instead.
SEWE is a great opportunity for us to connect with people who share our passion for conservation, and share knowledge on turtles and their need for our help. Allowing adults and kids alike to have a reptile encounter they may have never had before is a conservation win on its own. By teaching the next generation to love and respect turtles as much as we do here at the Alliance, we hope one day these species we work with won’t be on the brink of extinction.
I’m so looking forward to next year’s SEWE and all the turtle bonding to come!
If you are interested in hosting an educational outreach event with Turtle Survival Alliance, contact us at info@turtlesurvival.org.
-Elena
Spike Magoo and I had a special connection at SEWE.
Header image: two young SEWE attendees gently feel the shell of Pink, the Alligator Snapping Turtle, supported by Parker. All photos by Elena Duran.
