The Interesting Journey of a Presidentially Pardoned Turkey

Every year around Thanksgiving, an odd yet heartwarming ritual takes place at the White House – the presidential turkey pardon As millions of turkeys meet their fate on dinner tables across America, the president symbolically spares two lucky birds from that destiny With a quick declaration, these turkeys gain freedom and celebrity status. But what happens after the cameras stop rolling? Where do these privileged turkeys go to live out their pardoned lives? Their journey is quite fascinating.

The presidential turkey pardon is a relatively new tradition, only dating back to 1989 under President George H.W. Bush. However, gifting turkeys to presidents has happened sporadically since the 1870s. It wasn’t until the 1940s that the National Turkey Federation began providing an official presentation turkey each year. While a few previous presidents casually remarked about “pardoning” their turkey, Bush was the first to formalize it. Ever since, every president has carried on the tradition.

These pardoned turkeys instantly become minor celebrities Thousands enter a contest just for the chance to be selected. The White House takes two top contenders After an online poll, one gets named the National Thanksgiving Turkey, though both get pardoned. Their presentation takes place in a Rose Garden ceremony filled with cameras and fanfare befitting their new privileged status. After the president’s declaration, the birds are free to live out their days in comfort.

Following their pardon, the Turkeys take up residence at the luxurious Willard Hotel in Washington DC They get their own room featuring lush accommodations to rest up after their big day. Some report the birds bond with their handlers during their stay. When it’s time to leave the capital, the turkeys ride off in style in the back of a limo. Quite an upgrade from their previous living quarters!

So where do they go to enjoy their freedom? For many years, they were sent to farms or petting zoos close to Washington D.C. to live out their years on display for visitors. However, these turkeys did not live long despite their reprieve from the Thanksgiving table. Why? Most domesticated turkeys are bred to have more breast meat and grow faster than wild turkeys. This selective breeding means they mature quickly but have health issues causing shorter life spans.

Realizing this, in recent years the turkeys began being sent to universities for study instead of public display. Scientists at these schools hope to learn more about the health issues plaguing domestic turkeys. The goal is to find ways to improve their welfare down the road. So pardoned turkeys today serve an important role beyond just ceremonial. Their unique status affords researchers up close access and insight they could not gain otherwise into health challenges limiting these animals’ lives.

In 2021, the pardoned turkeys named Peanut Butter and Jelly were sent to Purdue University’s Animal Science Research and Education Center. They resided in an enclosed outdoor area and had round-the-clock care from veterinarians and students. Before being chosen, Purdue staff visited the farm they came from. This allowed gathering baseline health data to track any changes that occurred during their life. Research on Peanut Butter and Jelly focused on learning more about musculoskeletal health in turkeys, part of an ongoing effort to improve their mobility and longevity.

The 2022 lucky turkeys, named Chocolate and Chip, also went to a teaching college – North Carolina State University. They will reside in a new facility created through donations specifically for housing pardoned turkeys. Students and veterinarians will monitor and care for Chocolate and Chip while performing non-invasive studies. Research will investigate problems like diseases and disorders impacting industrial turkeys. The hands-on experience benefits the students’ education while also furthering knowledge to enhance turkey well-being and production practices.

Through being pardoned by the president, these turkeys go from anonymous livestock to pampered celebrities free to live in comfort. Though their lives are still shortened by selective breeding, their unique status now makes them ambassadors educating about and promoting their species’ welfare. So the presidential pardon not only saves two lucky birds in the short term but also helps create a better future for turkeys overall. What an impact from one lighthearted White House tradition! The pardoned turkeys’ journey is quite remarkable and meaningful.