May 11, 2011

Contact:   Bill Giduz

An eastern box turtle (not "Davidson") stalks a berry to eat. (Photo by J.D. Willson '02)

The organizers of the planned Charlotte Zoological Park (CZP) have big ideas about building a high-quality facility where the public can view and learn to appreciate creatures of the wild.

A first step in their plan is a mobile zoo of a few "ambassador animals" who will make educational sorties to area schools and civic groups.

And one of the first ambassadors selected for this duty is an eastern box turtle named "Davidson."

"They first wanted to name it ‘Dorcas', but I convinced them ‘Davidson' made more sense!" Professor of Biology Mike Dorcas chuckled.

Dorcas, who directs the college's Herpetology Lab, has been in contact with CZP planners because of their complementary missions. Like the CZP, Dorcas and student researchers of the Herp Lab present educational programs that feature a collection of turtles, snakes, frogs and other reptiles.

So Dorcas was eager to help when Matt Marsee, associate director of acquisitions for CZP, started looking for a mobile zoo turtle.

It would have been easy, but ecologically unfriendly, to simply capture a turtle in the wild. "Davidson" was a perfect candidate because he was no longer living the wild lifestyle. He had been rescued from the road by a passing motorist and handed over to biologists at the Savannah River Ecology Lab in Georgia, where Dorcas has a base of research.

Since "Davidson's" place of origin was not specifically known, Dorcas knew he would not fare well if released randomly back into the wild. Reptiles removed from their usual range by well-meaning humans often become confused by their new surroundings and die. So "Davidson" was being cared for at the ecology lab when Dorcas learned of CZP's need.

Professor of Biology Mike Dorcas

Dorcas offered the Ecology Lab's resident turtle for CZP service, satisfying everyone's best interests, and "Davidson" took up residence in a large CZP terrarium on April 30.

CZP administrator Marsee reported, "Davidson is doing well, and appears to be enjoying life in his new home. He likes eating strawberries the most out of everything we have fed him so far."

"Davidson's" first public appearance will be at CZP's booth at Pet Palooza in Independence Park on Saturday, May 14. This fall he will be begin "work" as part of the inaugural CZP "CHAZOOM" mobile education program. Children and adults will be able to encounter him up close and learn about his species and environment. Marsee said, "Our preparations are going well, and we should have a nice slate of animals to bring out to local schools in the fall."

CZP is now hoping the college can help acquire other herpetological species for its educational program, including a corn snake and softshell turtle.

CZP is a non-profit organization founded in 2008 dedicated to the mission of creating a world-class zoological facility in the Charlotte. The group intends to educate, entertain and inspire people by bringing them face-to-face with wildlife and providing opportunities to participate in animal and habitat conservation.

Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,900 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, N.C. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Through The Davidson Trust, the college became the first liberal arts institution in the nation to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages, giving all students the opportunity to graduate debt-free. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding Honor Code is central to student life at the college.
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