Ijams albino box turtle celebrates fifth birthday with rescuer

Aaron Bullock with the albino box turtle he rescued in 2009.

Five years ago, Aaron Bullock found a very small, pale turtle near his driveway. He rescued the odd reptile and named it "Space Rocket." His father Andy called Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency wondering what to do.

He soon learned that Space Rocket was a box turtle, a protected species in the state, and that because it was an albino it would not survive long in the wild. 

Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of color in the skin, hair and eyes due to the absence of tyrosinase, a copper-containing enzyme involved in the production of melanin, i.e. natural pigments. Also, albinistic animals tend to have weak immune systems, very sensitive eyes and lack the necessary camouflage to hide from predators.

Ijams was asked to take in the tiny thing in as an education animal.  For months, our vet Dr. Louise Conrad had to hand-feed the little one until she was old and strong enough to feed itself.

This past week, Aaron who is now eight-years-old paid Space Rocket a visit to mark the five year anniversary of her rescue.

Good job, Aaron!

- Stephen Lyn Bales

Aaron's "Space Rocket" now lives in the Exhibit Hall at Ijams

Aaron and Dr. Louise Conrad who patiently hand-fed the weak turtle for months
before it was strong enough to feed itself.