The Taxi Carapace program is looking for volunteers to safely transport injured turtles to rehabilitation centre
The arrival of spring heralds the end of hibernation for many turtle species. Turtles, which are sensitive to temperature changes, quietly resume their activities, moving around in search of food, mates and egg-laying sites. Unfortunately, these movements entail major risks for these slow-moving reptiles, which are vulnerable to road collisions. To maximize injured turtles’ chances of survival, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) runs initiatives such as Carapace and Taxi Carapace. These complement Éco-Nature’s turtle conservation initiatives, which include the activities of the Centre de réhabilitation des tortues du Québec (CRTQ).
Taxi Carapace is an all-volunteer transportation service that safely and quickly transports turtles in distress to the CRTQ, located at the Centre d’exploration du Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, in Laval. These volunteers are also responsible for transporting the cared-for turtles back to their natural habitat, ensuring their safe reintroduction. The effectiveness of Taxi Carapace depends on the engagement of volunteers, without whom many injured turtles would be deprived of vital care within a reasonable timeframe. To become a Taxi Carapace volunteer, please fill out this form (in French).
The Carapace project is an NCC conservancy initiative that, through citizen reporting, gathers essential data on the movements, habitats and causes of mortality of the province’s native turtles. This information is used to implement targeted conservancy measures, such as the development of wildlife crossings, but also to alert partners like the CRTQ to the location of turtles in need of urgent care. To report a turtle sighting, simply fill in the form on carapace.ca (in French). If the animal is clearly in distress, it’s best to stay by its side and contact the CRTQ.
What to do when you see a turtle?
“Public involvement is fundamental to the recovery of injured turtles. The Taxi Carapace program goes beyond simple reporting to provide a concrete opportunity for action. This network of volunteers ensures that injured turtles are transported quickly and safely to the care centre, maximizing their chances of survival. By participating in this program and contributing to the protection of these vulnerable species, citizens are actively and directly involved in conservancy work.” – Francisco Retamal-Diaz, NCC Project Manager
Facts
- The Taxi Carapace initiative was launched in June 2024.
- More than 50 volunteers have joined this initiative since June 2024.
- Of the 93 turtles released in 2024, 32 were released by volunteers.
- Over 3,600 kilometres were covered by these volunteers, including one volunteer who covered about 400 kilometres to release a single turtle!
About Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)
Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country’s unifying force for nature. NCC seeks solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, permanent land conservation. As a trusted partner, NCC works with people, communities, businesses and government to protect and care for our country’s most important natural areas. Since 1962, NCC has brought Canadians together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. In Quebec, NCC has protected over 55,000 hectares of natural areas in the province.
About Éco-Nature and the Centre de réhabilitation pour les tortues du Québec (CRTQ)
Éco-Nature has been working for the recovery of Quebec’s turtles for nearly 25 years. Whether through population monitoring, conservation and habitat restoration projects, care, citizen support and raising awareness, many actions are deployed to ensure the survival of adult turtles and to reduce mortality at the most vulnerable stages (eggs and hatchlings). The Centre de réhabilitation des tortues du Québec aims to reduce the mortality of native turtles and increase citizen initiatives for turtle conservation. With the help of volunteer veterinarians and community support, these actions contribute to the recovery of Quebec’s native turtle populations, which are in a precarious situation.
Since 2018, the CRTQ has played a central role in protecting the province’s native turtles. To protect all of Quebec’s turtles, Éco-Nature and Carapace work closely together on various projects, including Taxi Carapace.
Remerciements
We would like to thank Environment and Climate Change Canada through the Canadian Nature Fund, the Gouvernement du Québec through the Accélérer la conservation dans le sud du Québec (ACSQ) project, the Fondation de la faune du Québec, the Équipe de rétablissement des tortues du Québec, Domtar, and Éco-Nature-Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles for their support.
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Gabrielle Goyette
Coordinator, Marketing and Communications
Nature Conservancy of Canada – Québec region
514 461-4154