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World Turtle Day

An awareness day on May 23 dedicated to protecting turtles and tortoises and raising public awareness about threats to their habitats and populations.

Sunday

May 2027

Last updated February 26, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEMay 23

OBSERVED INInternationally

CATEGORYAnimals

SUBCATEGORYReptiles

ORIGIN

Institutional Initiative

FOUNDING ENTITY

American Tortoise Rescue

FIRST OBSERVED

2000

HOW THE HOLIDAY CAME TO BE

American Tortoise Rescue, a nonprofit founded in 1990 by Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson in Malibu, California, created World Turtle Day in 2000 to increase public respect, knowledge, and action to protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats.

Institutional Recordvia tortoise.com

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Get ready to celebrate World Turtle Day on May 23! This day has been around since 2000 and is dedicated to the conservation of turtles and tortoises, as well as their habitats. It's a great opportunity for us to take action in protecting these amazing creatures from becoming endangered or extinct. Turtles have been around for over 200 million years and are an important part of our planet's biodiversity. They play a crucial role in keeping ecosystems healthy, so let's do our part in making sure they remain safe!

TIMELINE

World Turtle Day Timeline

World Turtle Day Established

American Tortoise Rescue established World Turtle Day to draw attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and to encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.

First World Turtle Day Celebration

People worldwide participated in the first observance of World Turtle Day, bringing awareness to the threats turtles faced in their natural habitats.

Worldwide Observance

By this year, World Turtle Day had become a globally recognized celebration, engaging conservationists, educators, and communities around the world in turtle and tortoise conservation efforts.

Social Media Involvement

Use of social media spurred even wider recognition and celebration of World Turtle Day, with people posting images, stories, and calls to action, increasing awareness and participation.

Turtle-Themed Events

Events such as turtle-themed games, educative seminars, and conservation efforts became prominent in celebrating World Turtle Day, helping to further inspire individuals to act in favor of turtle and tortoise preservation.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate World Turtle Day

Attend a local event

Check out your local zoo or aquarium to see if they are hosting any special events to celebrate World Turtle Day. They may even offer educational talks and activities related to turtles.

ADOPT

Adopt a turtle

Find a local shelter that rescues turtles, and adopt one as a pet. Not only will you be helping the environment, but you'll also get to celebrate World Turtle Day with your own personal reptile.

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer at your local turtle sanctuary

Many sanctuaries are always looking for volunteers to help care for the turtles. Give back on World Turtle Day by donating your time and energy to help these creatures.

LEARN

Learn about different species of turtles

Research different species of turtles, their unique characteristics, and the habitats they live in. Learning more about turtles can help inspire people to help protect them and their environment.

CREATE

Create a turtle craft

Get creative by making a painting or sculpture of a turtle, or even just drawing one! Making art is a great way to honor and celebrate World Turtle Day.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why World Turtle Day is Important

World Turtle Day celebrates turtles

By celebrating this special day, we can show our appreciation for turtles and highlight the need for conservation efforts worldwide. By spreading the word and organizing events that focus on turtle protection and preservation, we can help protect these incredible animals for generations to come!

Turtles are an important part of our ecosystem

As one of the oldest living species on Earth, turtles play a vital role in keeping our oceans and habitats healthy. They help to maintain the balance of nature by controlling pests, providing nutrients to the soil, and serve as food for many other animals. Plus, they're very bio-indicators - meaning that if their populations decline, so can the health of their ecosystems.

Turtles are threatened by human activity

Sadly, turtles face many threats due to human activities such as fishing, hunting, pollution and habitat destruction. By raising awareness about turtle conservation on World Turtle Day, we can help reduce these risks to these amazing creatures and protect them for future generations.