Turtle Rehabilitation and Release Program

New Jersey serves as a hub for a turtle rehabilitation program that focuses on caring for turtles poached from their natural habitats. The program is run by the Turtle Conservancy, where turtles often arrive in poor health after being smuggled for the illegal pet trade. One unique aspect of the care process involves using genetics to determine the turtles' origins, which is crucial for planning their eventual return to the wild. The program aims to restore turtle populations by nursing these confiscated turtles back to health, thereby giving them a second chance at life.