On Saturday, 23 May, the Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter will join in the celebration of World Turtle Day with a slate of special observances and activities.

The purpose of World Turtle Day, which is observed every year on May 23 and sponsored since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.

“We celebrate turtles every day at Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter” said Chief Marketing Officer Tina Trumbach. “But we are observing World Turtle Day with some special activities that we hope our guests will join in and support, including a limited edition T-shirt sale and an educational presentation on ‘Sea Turtles in Cayman’ by local experts.

From 10am to 4:30pm, special limited edition Cayman Turtle Farm World Turtle Day 2015 T-shirts will be on sale in the Box Office Lobby. There are a very limited number of shirts on sale, and the cost per shirt is CI$10 or US$12. Funds raised will benefit Cayman Turtle Farm’s sea turtle sponsorship, research and conservation programmes.

An educational video, which is shown for Cayman Turtle Farm guests daily, will also be on view at the Education Centre mini-theatre throughout the day and copies will be on sale in Splash Gift Shop.

Special turtle conservation themed presentations, with the topic of “Sea Turtles in Cayman” will also be held in the CTF Education Centre at 11:00am and 2:30pm. The talks will be given by CTF Curator of Terrestrial Exhibits & Education Programmes Geddes Hislop at 11am and by Dr. Janice Blumenthal — coordinator for the CI Government Department of Environment’s (DoE) Marine Turtle programmes at 2:30pm. All guests in the park are welcome to attend. Dr. Blumenthal’s presentation will also serve as an orientation for volunteers in the DoE’s turtle programmes for the current turtle nesting season.

For those who would like to express their support for turtles artistically, a World Turtle Day Chalkfest will be held from 10am to 2pm on the red walkway outside the Cayman Turtle Farm Education Centre. Participation is open to all guests as long as drawings are kept to a turtle theme.

Special World Turtle Day themed beverages will be on sale at Schooner’s Bar & Grill — including the “Twisted Turtle” — a refreshing mix of coconut rum and pineapple juice with a splash of Blue Curacao and melon liqueur , for US 9.50 + 15% gratuities.

Donation boxes for conservation and research programmes will be placed at locations throughout the park. Guests donating will receive a small turtle-themed gift.

To continue with the day’s educational theme, signage on the meaning and significance of World Turtle Day along with sea turtle conservation tips will be displayed in the Cayman Turtle Farm Box Office Lobby for the duration of the day.

To cap off the day’s events, there will be a raffle draw for an Annual Pass to the Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter for everyone who participated in the day’s activities.

On-line, Cayman Turtle Farm will be asking former guests to post their best CTF turtle photos on the Cayman Turtle Farm Facebook page as well as the attraction’s Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Cayman Islands residents receive a special admission rate at Cayman Turtle Farm of just CI$10 for adults, CI$ 4 for children ages 5 to 12 and children age 4 and under are admitted for free.