Meet Root, the turtle with a mobility aid made of Lego

Root the wood turtle is a unique resident at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax. Unlike the famous teenage mutant ninja turtle, Donatello, Root doesn’t live in a sewer or ride a skateboard. But what sets Root apart is his missing right front foot, which has led to the creation of a special Lego mobility aid to help him get around.

Root’s missing foot has been a mystery since he was brought into captivity 20 years ago. Heather McKinnon Ramshaw, the museum’s animal care specialist, doesn’t know how he lost his foot, but she suspects it may have been the reason he was collected from the wild by the Natural Resources Department personnel. Despite his disability, Root spends most of his time in his enclosure, swimming in water and exploring his surroundings.

To prevent further damage to his shell, staff at the museum came up with a creative solution – a Lego platform with wheels attached to a removable dog harness. This mobility aid lifts Root up higher, preventing his shell from scraping on the floor as he moves around. Tessa Biesterfeld, a naturalist interpreter at the museum, was the mastermind behind this innovative contraption, ensuring that Root can explore different areas of the museum comfortably.

With his new wheels, Root enjoys his daily strolls and even appears to be moving faster than other wood turtles. His bold and brave personality, combined with his unique mobility aid, has made him a special attraction at the museum. Despite his assertive behavior towards other turtles, Root’s playful nature and love for salads and earthworms make him a beloved resident among staff and visitors.

Wood turtles are a threatened species in Nova Scotia, making Root’s presence at the museum even more significant. With a potential lifespan of 50 to 80 years, Root may be a long-term resident, so ensuring his comfort and well-being is a top priority for the museum staff. While he may not be a pizza-loving ninja turtle, Root’s charm and resilience have made him a shell-ebrity in his own right at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax.