There’s Good News: 22 turtles released back into the wild from Oregon Zoo

Published May 15, 2026 7:35 am

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Zoo says it successfully released 22 northwestern pond turtles back into the Columbia River Gorge after a year-long head start program, and it's "time to shell-a-brate".

The endangered reptiles were collected as hatchlings last spring, and reared in the zoo's conservation lab, where they grew quickly with the help of heat lamps and plentiful food.

Good luck out there little guys!

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Kelsey Merison

Kelsey Merison is an Anchor and Multimedia Journalist with KTVZ News. Learn more about Kelsey here.

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