Calvin University partners with John Ball Zoo for spotted turtle conservation initiative

Calvin University has formed a unique partnership with John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Students in courses like wildlife biology and animal husbandry will have the opportunity to provide care for baby spotted turtles, which are an endangered species, in the zoo’s Great Lakes Rare Turtle Program. The program seeks to bolster the population of certain turtle species by providing human care for the turtles and then releasing them into the wild when they are more able to keep themselves safe from predators. 

According to an article on Calvin University’s website, Will Miller, who serves as an associate professor of biology and is a certified wildlife biologist leading the students in this initiative, was quoted as saying, “This project brings conservation to life for our students. At Calvin, we believe education is best when it’s hands-on and rooted in real places, and there’s no better example than helping protect one of Michigan’s rarest turtles. For students in conservation biology and pre-veterinary studies, this isn’t just a classroom lesson — it’s direct experience in caring for a species that needs us. Our growing partnership with John Ball Zoo reflects both our commitment to preparing students for meaningful work and our dedication to serving our community through stewardship of God’s creation.”

Miller’s students will feed the turtles, monitor their growth, and will place trackers on them so they can continue to be monitored when they are released into the wild. Zoo employees will visit the students on a weekly basis to talk about the turtles’ progress and the project overall. The program is an initiative of the zoo called the Great Lakes Rare Turtle Program that in the past has worked with box turtles, seeing success in the raising and releasing of hundreds of tracked turtles into the wild, then monitoring their progress for important insights into conservation.

Bill Flanagan, who serves as the conservation manager at John Ball Zoo, said, “We are excited to be partnering with Calvin University on this project to further assess head starting as a conservation tool and help these tiny turtles survive in the wild. This partnership will help inspire the next generation of conservationists and contribute to the preservation of wildlife and wild places right in our community. Turtles are incredible indicators of the health of an ecosystem overall, so the knowledge gained through this project will be crucial to their survival, as well as the survival of other species that share their habitats. My hope is that together with Calvin students, we can create a successful model for expanding our work with turtles and other vulnerable species even further.”

One student involved in the project, Jocelyn Nieze, explained, “The partnership with the Zoo on the spotted turtle head-starting project is an incredible opportunity for pre-veterinary students like me. I’m especially excited for the hands-on experience with this fascinating species — it directly connects to my passion for wildlife veterinary medicine and caring for native Michigan species.” 

For more information about Calvin University, visit the school’s website.