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Pokey The Turtle's 30th Birthday Party.
On Saturday, August 9th, little Pokey celebrated his birthday among his many well-wishers at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center in Washington, DC.
People of all ages arrived some with hand-made birthday cards, some with Pokey hats, to salute Pokey. Of course there was birthday cake, and laughter.
Who is Pokey?
(Story continues from "Read More")
In 1995, as a hatchling, he was found at the entrance to the Nature Center, and brought inside to protect him from being trampled.
Without knowing it, Pokey (named for being a "slow-poke") had found his "forever" home.
Pokey is palm-sized, and about 1/3 the size of his eastern box turtle peers, because he was not initially fed the right diet.
He is now well fed, including earthworms, and he is thriving.
Being a turtle, the staff assumed he would be slow, but at times he can be quick and elusive.
For example, to get his exercise, he wanders the building, and although they "Pokey-proofed" the area, on occasion they have lost track of him.
They now tie a balloon to him for as Park Ranger Kerry Ferguson told The Washington Post, "He can really turn on the afterburners."
Raised in the Nature Center, Pokey is humanized and welcomes people.
When Park Ranger Kerry held his birthday party, she taught attendees how to pet Pokey with a gentle two-finger touch on his shell, while not touching his head or limbs.
And when everyone sang happy birthday to Pokey, although humanized, people had to blow out his candles for him.
While his many fans ate birthday cake Pokey was served his own special turtle food cake and the earthworms he loves. Happy Birthday Pokey!
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