<description>&lt;h1&gt;It’s the 1980s and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has burst onto the scene, scoring millions of young fans.  &lt;/h1&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;br&gt; Half-human, half-turtle fighters Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo originated as comic book characters before spawning phenomenally popular films and cartoons.  &lt;/div&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;div&gt;But “turtlemania” also inadvertently sparked a pet craze that ultimately led to an invasive species problem.  &lt;/div&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;div&gt;Red-eared terrapins were a particularly popular pet. But many people didn’t realise they would grow from a matchbox-sized hatchling to a dinner-plate sized adult that lives for more than 40 years.  &lt;br&gt;    &lt;br&gt; As a result a significant number of freshwater turtles were illegally released in the late 80 and 90s. &lt;/div&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;div&gt;Rosie joins Turtle Tally UK’s Suzie Simpson to uncover the wild origin story of how invasive freshwater turtles became a familiar sight in our waterways.&lt;br&gt;  &lt;br&gt; &lt;em&gt;[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.    &lt;br&gt;  Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.    &lt;br&gt;  Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.    &lt;/em&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/"&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/"&gt;https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;/em&gt;Production:  &lt;br&gt; Host: Rosie Holdsworth  &lt;br&gt; Producer: Michelle Douglass  &lt;br&gt; Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez  &lt;/div&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;div&gt;Contributor:  &lt;br&gt; Suzie Simpson, Turtle Tally UK &lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; Image: &lt;br&gt; (c) Suzie Simpson / Turtle Tally UK&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; Discover More: &lt;br&gt; Head to Turtle Tally UK citizen science project to discover more about freshwater turtles in the UK and submit your sightings &lt;br&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.turtletally.co.uk/"&gt;https://www.turtletally.co.uk/&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; Find out about the National Trust’s work protecting our waterways and how you can help &lt;br&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/our-cause/nature-climate/climate-change-sustainability/protecting-coasts-and-rivers"&gt;https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/our-cause/nature-climate/climate-change-sustainability/protecting-coasts-and-rivers&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; The National Trust cares for places so people and nature can thrive. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference. Nature, beauty, history. For everyone, for ever. You can donate to us at &lt;a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/donate"&gt;https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/donate&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;em&gt;Follow Wild Tales nature podcast on your favourite podcast app or Youtube &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSxeBQ-U-goXdmkiNBSrrg"&gt;&lt;em&gt;@nationaltrustcharity&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt;. And join us on Instagram &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/wildtalesnt"&gt;&lt;em&gt;@wildtalesnt&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;em&gt;.&lt;/em&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; &lt;em&gt;If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea you’d love to hear, contact us at &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk"&gt;&lt;em&gt;podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/div&gt; </description>

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast

National Trust

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pet Craze

MAY 21, 202513 MIN
Wild Tales | Nature Podcast

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pet Craze

MAY 21, 202513 MIN

Description

<h1>It’s the 1980s and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has burst onto the scene, scoring millions of young fans.  </h1> <div> <br> Half-human, half-turtle fighters Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo originated as comic book characters before spawning phenomenally popular films and cartoons.  </div> <br> <div>But “turtlemania” also inadvertently sparked a pet craze that ultimately led to an invasive species problem.  </div> <br> <div>Red-eared terrapins were a particularly popular pet. But many people didn’t realise they would grow from a matchbox-sized hatchling to a dinner-plate sized adult that lives for more than 40 years.  <br>    <br> As a result a significant number of freshwater turtles were illegally released in the late 80 and 90s. </div> <br> <div>Rosie joins Turtle Tally UK’s Suzie Simpson to uncover the wild origin story of how invasive freshwater turtles became a familiar sight in our waterways.<br>  <br> <em>[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.    <br>  Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.    <br>  Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.    </em><br> <a href="https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/"><em><a href="https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/">https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/</a></em></a><em> <br> <br> </em>Production:  <br> Host: Rosie Holdsworth  <br> Producer: Michelle Douglass  <br> Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez  </div> <br> <div>Contributor:  <br> Suzie Simpson, Turtle Tally UK <br> <br> Image: <br> (c) Suzie Simpson / Turtle Tally UK<br> <br> Discover More: <br> Head to Turtle Tally UK citizen science project to discover more about freshwater turtles in the UK and submit your sightings <br> <a href="https://www.turtletally.co.uk/">https://www.turtletally.co.uk/</a> <br> <br> Find out about the National Trust’s work protecting our waterways and how you can help <br> <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/our-cause/nature-climate/climate-change-sustainability/protecting-coasts-and-rivers">https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/our-cause/nature-climate/climate-change-sustainability/protecting-coasts-and-rivers</a> <br> <br> The National Trust cares for places so people and nature can thrive. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference. Nature, beauty, history. For everyone, for ever. You can donate to us at <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/donate">https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/donate</a> </div> <br> <div> <em>Follow Wild Tales nature podcast on your favourite podcast app or Youtube </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSxeBQ-U-goXdmkiNBSrrg"><em>@nationaltrustcharity</em></a><em>. And join us on Instagram </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/wildtalesnt"><em>@wildtalesnt</em></a><em>.</em> <br> <br> <em>If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea you’d love to hear, contact us at </em><a href="mailto:[email protected]"><em>[email protected]</em></a> </div>