Carolynne Crawley, who is Mi’kmaw, Black and Irish, poses for a portrait during a prescribed burn in High Park, Toronto on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Crawley, who is one of the founders of Turtle Protectors and the founder of Mist No’kmaq, is also a member of the Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle which is focused on “healing Indigenous lands and community” in High Park. Toronto Canada
Jenny Davis, a co-founder of Turtle Protectors, holds up a turtle hatchling from last year that did not make it and was subsequently preserved for scientific purposes in Toronto on May 17, 2023. Katherine KY Cheng/Globe and Mail. Turtle Protectors held a “Volunteer Orientation on the Land” in High Park to demonstrate how to patrol for turtles and practice setting up nest protectors Toronto Canada
Branches on fire during a prescribed burn in High Park, Toronto on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The City of Toronto, in partnership with Indigenous leaders, carried out a controlled burn in parts of High Park in its continued effort to protect rare tree savannahs in the sprawling west-end park and “re-Indigenize” the land. Katherine KY Cheng/Globe and Mail. Toronto Canada
Cherry blossoms, also known as Japanese cherry or Sakura, peaked early in High Park this year due to sudden high temperatures that reached over 25 degrees during mid-April in Toronto on April 20, 2023. Katherine KY Cheng/Globe and Mail. In Tokyo, this year’s flowering marked one of the earliest since records began in 1953 - tying with 2020 and 2021 - according to the country’s weather agency. Toronto Canada
Cherry blossom petals and footprints frame the opening of a turtle nest exit hold in High Park in Toronto on May 16, 2023. Katherine KY Cheng/Globe and Mail. Painted turtle hatchlings, which are native to High Park, typically overwinter in the nest and emerge during spring. When picking prime nesting spots, mother turtles will pick sandy slopes that are far from shorelines to reduce the risk of flooding. Toronto Canada
A Midland painted turtle — one of two turtle species native to High Park — sunbathes on a patch of branches in Grenadier Pond on the edge of High Park, Toronto on Monday, April 17, 2023. Katherine KY Cheng/Globe and Mail. Given a bout of sudden warm mid-April weather during this year, turtles and hatchlings emerged early, worrying Turtle Protectors volunteers that they would be cold-stunned by the subsequent drop in temperatures the following week. Toronto Canada
Alice Wang, a new volunteer of Turtle Protectors, helps fix an old turtle nest protector by removing nails of a wooden frame near Cherry Blossom Hill in High Park in Toronto on April 23, 2023. Katherine KY Cheng/Globe and Mail. Last year, there were about a total of 20 nest protectors used, many of which have been damaged from people stepping on the wire mesh. Toronto Canada
A rescued turtle that had its shell broken after being run over by a car recovers at the Downsview Park location of the Toronto Wildlife Centre on May 25, 2023. Katherine KY Cheng/Globe and Mail. Toronto Canada
Three dancers get ready for an opening ceremony before a prescribed burning in Toronto on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The City of Toronto, in partnership with Indigenous leaders, carried out a controlled burn in parts of High Park in its continued effort to protect rare black oak savannahs in the sprawling west-end park and “re-Indigenize” the land. Katherine KY Cheng/Globe and Mail. Toronto Canada
Carolynne Crawley points out a popular turtle nesting path near Cherry Blossom Hill to a group of new Turtle Protectors volunteers during a “Volunteer Orientation on the Land” in High Park, Toronto on May 17, 2023. Katherine KY Cheng/Globe and Mail. The orientation was meant to demonstrate how to patrol for turtles and practice setting up nest protectors Toronto Canada
The sunset in High Park after a Midland Painted Turtle lays her eggs – the first turtle egg-laying spotting of the year for the Turtle Protectors in Toronto on June 2, 2023. Katherine KY Cheng/Globe and Mail. Toronto Canada
Turtle Protectors
Katherine Cheng
Photographer + Videojournalist
based in Toronto, Canada
Private Story
Turtle Protectors
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