The conclusion of Panya’s Story

Throughout the summer, the animal care team kept a close and hopeful watch over Panya's eggs. Each day, they carefully tended to the incubation environment—watering the vermiculite to maintain the perfect level of moisture and humidity, and monitoring for any signs of hatching.

After nearly four months of dedicated care, a veterinary assessment sadly confirmed that the eggs were not viable. While this outcome is disappointing, it’s also a reminder of nature’s unpredictability. Despite our best efforts, there are no guarantees in wildlife care, and sometimes, the outcome doesn’t align with our hopes.

There is still much to take heart in. Thanks to swift intervention, Panya received prompt medical care and pain relief. Her eggs were given every opportunity to thrive, and the experience has contributed valuable data to our understanding of turtle biology, ecology, and conservation.

We are deeply grateful to the incredible staff and volunteers at the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC), whose tireless work supports injured turtles across the province. Our journey with Panya inspired us to take action — we proudly joined the OTCC’s Turtle Taxi volunteer team and became members.

We hope Panya’s story inspires you, too—whether it’s visiting the OTCC to learn more about Ontario’s native turtle species or getting involved in conservation efforts yourself. Together, we can help protect these remarkable animals for generations to come.