ST. LOUIS — A worldwide icon from Missouri will soon celebrate her 40th birthday, and anyone interested in joining the party is invited to come to St. Louis to meet her.
Peanut the turtle's birthday party will take place at the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood on Saturday, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) said. Doors will open for the free event at 10 a.m. and the event runs until 2 p.m. Guests of all ages are welcome. Activities include card making, litter awareness, an "Eat Like Peanut" activity, and a free Turtle's Tale program, which attendees must register for.
Peanut's fame came from her pain. The red-eared slider turtle got a discarded plastic six-pack ring stuck around her shell at a young age, where it remained for an estimated 9 years. The stuck piece of plastic forced Peanut's shell to grow into a peanut, or figure-eight, shape.
Peanut was found in St. Louis in 1993 and was delivered to the Saint Louis Zoo soon after, where the plastic was removed. MDC has since taken over Peanut's care.
In the decades since, Peanut has become an anti-littering mascot for the region.
"Peanut has been featured in numerous TV stories and newspaper articles, made public appearances at venues like the Missouri State Fair, and even been highlighted internationally on websites like TheDoDo.com," MDC said on its website. "Peanut’s 40th Birthday Celebration is a chance for visitors to meet Peanut and thank her for her years of public service."