Turtle Tally UK

29/08/2026

It’s been a wet and windy day but we were still joined by visitors in their raincoats and wellies at Tilgate Zoo today ☔️💧🌧️

Thanks to everyone who came and saw us. The team at the zoo are amazing so come along. We’ll be back tomorrow and a sunnier day!

Tilgate Park Paul Eversfield

23/08/2026

Next weekend we’ll be talking to visitors at the amazing Tilgate Park! Come join us if you’re free for this amazing event.

One week until our Wild Weekend returns! 🐾
Meet and greets and games, activities and animals, treats and talks, stories and stalls, big wins and wildlife will greet you on 29th and 30th August at Tilgate Zoo! It's our fundraising weekend, this year all in aid of TRAFFIC!
The charity TRAFFIC is on the frontline tackling the global illegal trade in wild animals and plants and we can all do our bit to help!
Come along for some great fun, all in the knowledge that it's for a good cause! We'll see you then!

27/07/2026

We’ll be joining Tilgate Park Zoo on the 29th and 30th August at their Wildlife Traffic Day so come along for a fab day of fun learning and activities!

Our Wild Weekend returns! 🐾
No one likes traffic, but there is something we can do about it! Come visit us on 29th or 30th August for two fun-filled fundraising days full of games, activities, storytime, meet and greets, prizes and so much more in aid of TRAFFIC!
The charity TRAFFIC has worked tirelessly for the last 50 years to tackle the global illegal trade in wild animals and plants that threatens so many species. However, there is plenty more to be done and we can all help!
Come along for some great fun and all for a good cause! Pop it on your calendars and we'll see you then!

26/07/2026

An amazing set of speakers and great opportunity to network with passionate chelonian specialists.

🐢 Early Bird Rate Reminder – European Turtle Alliance Conference 2026 🐢
Last Chance! 7 Days left to book!

If you only put one tortoise event in your diary this year, make it this one!

Whether you share your home with a single pet tortoise or work professionally in conservation, veterinary practice, research or education, the European Turtle Alliance Conference offers something for everyone.

Join delegates from across the UK and beyond for a weekend of inspiring talks, practical learning, networking and the latest developments in tortoise and turtle welfare.

📅 17th & 18th October 2026

📍 ARU Writtle University College, Essex

Hear from an outstanding line-up of international speakers, including experts from Garden State Tortoise (USA), A Cupulatta (Corsica), Mandai Wildlife Reserve (Singapore), the Okinawa Kame Centre (Japan) and many more.

🎟️ Early bird tickets are available until 31st July, so don't miss your chance to save.

As a proud partner of the conference, Norfolk Tortoise Club highly recommends this event to anyone with an interest in tortoises and turtles. We hope to see many of our members there!

Please help spread the word by sharing this post with fellow tortoise enthusiasts, veterinary practices, shops and wildlife organisations.

04/07/2026

Great to see this guidance and pre-assessment.

28/06/2026

Great to see this campaign and very well needed 👍

Keeping a pet can be exciting and fulfilling, but it comes with great responsibility!

Many animals kept as pets are not native to our shores so we need to be careful how we keep them. And our industry needs to play our part educating owners to care for their aquatic pets and know what to do if they can no longer look after them.

Pet owners might think releasing their fish or aquatic animal into wild is the kindest thing to do if they can no longer look after them. But it really isn’t.

So this Invasive Species Week is the perfect time to tell pet owners – Don’t Let Them Loose! We’re fully behind this new campaign from the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat, which we also helped to create!

And check out our new page on our website offering advice to fishkeepers who can no longer look after their fish. Find it in the I Have Fish part of our website, under Useful Information.

https://ornamentalfish.org/fish-keeper/useful-information/rehoming-fish/

24/06/2026

Stopping the spread means different things and as part of our work, we ensure we clean, check and dry all our gear when working in and around the waterbodies. If you paddleboard, canoe, fish or sail, you can also take part in this to stop the spread. We also encourage people to rehome responsibly and not release pets into the wild as part of this message.

22/06/2026

It’s Invasive Species Week 2026! An opportunity to highlight the key issues surrounding this topic. Invasive species can and do impact our native species, both fauna and flora, so it is not only important to mitigate risk through preventative actions but also monitoring and actioning ways to reduce overall impact.

Many pet turtle owners house their animals in outdoor ponds and enclosures therefore ensuring these are secure and there is no risk of escape is an important factor to prioritise.

How can you help?

Check your turtle enclosure is secure and your beloved pets are safe and remain under your care, not unsafe out in the wild 👍💪

Don’t have a turtle?

You may have other pets such as reptiles, amphibians, birds and rodents that could also escape so ensure they are all secure and safe 🤝

29/05/2026

During our family event days at Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, we witnessed several turtles nesting in the sandy bank created within the sanctuary enclosure. Due to the weather, both heat and change in air pressure, several females came up to nest. We were able to gain footage and talk through the nesting behaviour with several members of the public. This is not something many would come across but we were lucky enough to share this experience with visitors and they were amazed to see small white eggs drop into the nest chamber she made.

These animals do need an appropriate environment to lay eggs when kept as pets. If they can’t pass eggs, they become egg bound (dystocia) which can be fatal and needs veterinary intervention. There are many reasons for dystocia including inappropriate husbandry and nutrition.

27/05/2026

An amazing day at Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare talking with visitors about the issue of feral turtles in the UK. Our young Turtle Tally team shared a story of ‘Bob’ the pet turtle from hatching to pet owning to pond. This was impactful with visitors who clearly appreciated the knowledge of our young enthusiasts. Another day tomorrow and we’re back on the 6th June so still time to come visit.