
Owner Relinquished

What does it mean?
Animals in our exhibit that have been owner relinquished have been brought to us because a person either does not have the time, equipment, space or ability to properly care for the animal.


Owner Relinquished
Animals
There are times we all wish we could own a rare and special animals. However, not all of these animals are meant to be raised and live in a domestic environment. Their care and needs are higher than the owner initially thought they could handle. When this is the case, there are times we have been able to accept the animal into our collection. These animals have been domesticated and cannot thrive in the wild. These animals are then used to teach the community more about the species, their habitat and the importance they bring to our ecosystem.
The red-eared slider is native to the Southern United States and northern Mexico, but has become established in other places because of pet releases, and has become invasive in many areas where it outcompetes native species.
This amphibian is normally found in very humid conditions in tropical rain forests, close to fresh water. It is often found on flat rocks, trees, plants (notably bromeliads), and the leaf litter of the forest floor. During the dry season, specimens are known to congregate in damper places, such as under rocks or fallen tree trunks.
