Impact of Critical Water Main Break on Zoo Operations

On June 5, the City of Calgary experienced a significant water emergency which continues today. We’re working very closely with the City of Calgary and Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) to adjust our daily operations to ensure compliance with the Stage 4 City Mandatory Water Restrictions in place, while ensuring the safety, health and well-being of the animals we love and care for.

Here’s how we’re adapting:

Essential animal water stations will be maintained to ensure our animals’ well-being.
Our Animal Care, Health & Welfare (ACHW) team has implemented dry cleaning methods wherever and adjusting the frequency of habitat pool cleaning schedules.
Our irrigation systems are turned off
Our water fountains will remain on for now however we encourage visitors to bring water bottles or purchase water onsite

We appreciate your understanding as we make these necessary adjustments to support our community.

Animal Viewing Impacts

Indoor Gorilla Habitat: From July 2 until approximately the end of the month, the western lowland gorilla troop will not be viewable in their indoor African Rainforest habitat while work is done on the viewing windows. The troop will be viewable in their outdoor habitat throughout the project (weather and animal participation permitting). The rest of the African Rainforest building will remain open and accessible throughout the project. Thank you for your understanding.

African Savannah Yard: Hartmann’s mountain zebras and ostriches will be off-view until the end of the year while we complete exciting upgrades in the African Savannah Yard, including the construction of a new Savannah Barn for the animals. Our giraffe tower will continue to be viewable throughout the project. Thank you for your understanding.

Western Painted Turtles

Discover a carapace canvas. We are home to females ‘Martha’, ‘Rey’, ‘Kahlo’, and ‘Phasma’.

Bright colours swimming through fresh water

The western painted turtle is the largest subspecies of painted turtle, with a shell that can be 10 inches long. Identified by the red and orange stripes on their shell and body, and yellow stripes on the head and neck, these turtles make their homes in slow-moving water with soft, muddy bottoms and vegetation, such as marshes, ponds, creeks, and lakes. In the wild, they overwinter in bodies of water, but here at the zoo, they spend the colder months in our Administration building.

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (at relatively low risk of extinction)
Type: Reptile
Habitat: Bodies of freshwater from southern Canada to northern Mexico
Diet: Omnivore – fish, plants, and invertebrates
Size: 5 to 10 inches long
Weight: 800 to 1400 grams

Care & Conservation

How we care for them

At the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, we are bringing together our passion for plants and animals with our dedication to taking and inspiring action to sustain wildlife and wild places.

Learn More

facts about our animals

Fun Facts about Western Painted Turtles

Turtles shed their scutes (shell scales) on their shells as they grow, which allows their shells to grow with them.

The sex of a turtle is determined by the temperature of the egg, with warmer temperatures producing females and cooler temperatures producing males.