Select a region
Tortoise mania appears to have taken over Jersey, with more than half-a-million sculpture 'unlocks' in just six weeks.
Since 50 large tortoise sculptures were put in place around the island at the beginning of July, the Tortoise Takeover app – sponsored by the Government – has been downloaded over 10,000 times.
The Go Wild Gorillas app was downloaded 6,672 times over the entire 11-week trail in 2019.
There have also been more than 515,000 sculpture 'unlocks', which is 127% more than for Go Wild Gorillas.
Pictured: App users can unlock sculptures, view an interactive map, and collect rewards.
Alexandra Shears, Director of Communications and Fundraising at Durrell, said it was "amazing" to "see how much the island has engaged with Tortoise Takeover".
She explained: "As well as raising funds to build a new reptile and amphibian house here at Jersey Zoo, we wanted the trail to help islanders reconnect with nature and explore parts of the island that they had not been to before."
Alexandra said that "the app stats speak for themselves", adding: "Tortoise mania really has taken over!"
Users can download the free Tortoise Takeover app on the Google Play or App Store, in which they can unlock sculptures, view an interactive map, collect rewards, upload photos, and keep an eye on their trail statistics.
At the end of the trail, the giant tortoise sculptures will be auctioned off by Durrell to raise funds to build a new reptile and amphibian house at Jersey Zoo.
The official Tortoise Takeover trail guide can be found in the July edition of Connect Magazine – you can read the digital edition below...
Express is proud to be the media partner for this year's Tortoise Takeover. Sign up to our daily news email for all the latest updates.
MEET THE TORTOISES #1: A berry good shell-ection of sculptures
MEET THE TORTOISES #2: Strike a cosmic connection with a p'tit pal
MEET THE TORTOISES #3: Dodo you like to explore? From Eden to Eco Ninjas...
MEET THE TORTOISES #4: My tortoise family and other sculptures
MEET THE TORTOISES #5: Keep going, as the trail keeps growing
MEET THE TORTOISES #6: Will you be the 'lucky one' as the trail continues?
MEET THE TORTOISES #7: Good enough to eat?!
MEET THE TORTOISES #8: Live slow...die old?
MEET THE TORTOISES #9: Life in plastic...it's shelltastic?
MEET THE TORTOISES #10: A 'Royal' visit...to the Tortoisphere
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.