The Raptors keep turning heads.
The Toronto Zoo is celebrating the Toronto Raptors’ NBA championship by naming a bale of turtles after the city’s basketball heroes. (Yes, a group of turtles is called a bale.)
“To commemorate the Toronto Raptors World Championship win, we’ve named 37/48 Blanding’s turtles released into the wild today after the 2019 Raptors team members, coaches, owners, superfans,” the zoo posted on social media.
And, the zoo’s thread is everything.
To commemorate the Toronto @Raptors World Championship win, we’ve named 37/48 Blanding’s turtles released into the wild today after the 2019 @Raptors team members, coaches, owners, superfans etc, etc… 🏀🐢#WeTheNorth #WeTheChampions #ConservationWin
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
Call it proof slow and steady wins the race.
Especially when they are supremely talented.
This is Kawhi Leonard (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/r4mTKxh2CT
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
This is Kyle Lowry (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/gyweLsQAvO
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
This is Fred VanVleet (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/RogZNFLdcN
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
This is Danny Green (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/MST5LlBb0m
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
This is Pascal Siakam (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/jWjEHDcR9H
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
This is Serge Ibaka (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/sFuKHrzlq7
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
This is Marc Gasol (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/kNdZWEgw5c
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
The architects are celebrated.
This is Nick Nurse (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/RIn8SxJcBB
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
This is Masai Ujiri (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/FKfCwt51my
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
Even the superfans get a nod.
This is Drake (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/hiunjhkEr7
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
This is Superfan Nav Bhatia (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/xvyPSqPjng
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
As well as the city’s mayor.
This is John Tory (the turtle). 🏀🐢 pic.twitter.com/HlYWT74kCg
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
Bravo, Toronto Zoo.
We get it and love it.
Okay you get the gist…
— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) June 21, 2019
And as a footnote to this all-too-true fable, the turtles were released into the wild as part of an ongoing effort to conserve the endangered species.
On Friday, 48 baby Blanding’s turtles were introduced into a wetland in the city’s Rouge National Urban Park.
“The program which started in 2014 has now officially reintroduced 213 juvenile Blanding’s turtles into the wild in an effort to save the species,” officials said.
In the 6th year of @ParksCanada @TheTorontoZoo @TRCA_HQ and @ONresources releasing Blanding’s turtles into #RougeNUP, we have introduced over 200 turtles into the park! https://t.co/9NMIkSErub pic.twitter.com/s5IaqCW4nR
— Rouge National Urban Park (@RougePark) June 22, 2019
Photos Toronto Zoo/Twitter
