March 1, 2024

Wonders of Wildlife welcomes turtle named Bobby through partnership with Northwest

Bobby Bearcat has a new friend in the state’s animal kingdom through Northwest Missouri State University’s support of a partnership to provide critical care and rehabilitate loggerhead turtles.

A loggerhead turtle named Bobby – so named in honor of Northwest’s mascot – now inhabits Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium (WOW) in Springfield, Missouri, as part of a partnership involving the aquarium, Northwest, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Turtles Fly Too.

This is Bobby, a loggerhead turtle named in honor of Northwest's mascot through a partnership with Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. (Submitted photo)

“The Northwest community knows Bobby Bearcat as a spirit leader and goodwill ambassador for our campus,” Brandon Stanley, Northwest’s assistant vice president of marketing and communication, said. “We are proud to extend our Northwest pride through this partnership and highlight the incredible work being done to rehabilitate these animals.”

When temperatures drop each winter, hundreds of endangered sea turtles wash up on land and face life-threatening illnesses. In January, 16 cold-stunned turtles from the New England coast arrived in Springfield by private aircraft and were met by an expert animal care team from WOW.

This marks the fourth consecutive year WOW, which is recognized as the only sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center in the Midwest, has initiated the project. During that time, the facility has provided critical care for 30 loggerhead sea turtles before releasing them back into the wild.

This year, WOW is connecting with the state’s colleges and universities to name the turtles and serve as exclusive partners in the rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Each partner school has a turtle named in its honor.

For more information and updates about Bobby and the other sea turtles in WOW’s care, visit www.wondersofwildlife.org/sea-turtles.