Where Do Turkeys Pardoned by the President Go?
As an animal lover and in the build up to Christmas this story makes me wonder whether the Queen should begin a new tradition here based on this thanksgiving act of mercy. This story tells us….
Following the bizarre American tradition that sees the president pardon a turkey each Thanksgiving, the turkeys go on to live a care-free life of luxury.
When the tradition of gifting presidents turkeys started years ago, the birds were typically sent to farms or zoos to live out their days.
In 2013, the turkeys were sent to their new home at Morven Park, the historic estate of former Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis – where the 2014 and 2015 turkeys also went.
Now, however, the spared turkeys are sent to an enclosure at Virginia Tech called “Gobbler’s Rest,” according to the White House – where they get to frolic with other free turkeys.
At Gobbler’s Rest, located on the school’s campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, the lucky turkeys are cared for by veterinarians and students of Virginia Tech’s Animal and Poultry Sciences Department.
At their new home, the turkeys may be visited by the public – who can also learn about the “university’s teaching, research and outreach programs in animal and poultry sciences and veterinary medicine.”
Despite one turkey winning the title of official National Thanksgiving turkey each year, the runner-up turkey is also pardoned and sent to live with its companion.