Posted on: 2018-08-10 10:30:40
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Recent turtle news you may have missed.
We have box turtle news … only semi-good. A man who illegally shipped dozens of them out of the country has been charged in federal court.
We have a baby sea turtle in need of a name. Also turtles (sea and others) rescued & released.
And sea turtles affected by red tide. And turtle conservation. Also drones make turtle protection easier.
Plus a memorable beach wedding shoot and more.
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Recent Box Turtle News
We found 2 stories affecting boxies this week … and sadly neither are feel-good stories. ☹️
Proposed electrical transmission line re-route may harm ornate box turtles: The live within the project area, and the project may result in the “incidental taking”—or unintentional loss—of some animals. 😥 Officials say this will not harm the overall population.
He shipped box turtles to Hong Kong: He labeled at least one box as “toys.” He’s been charged in federal court.
And since we need some positive box turtle vibes too, here’s a stunning dessert box turtle to enjoy. He lives at Garden State Tortoise.
Recent U. S. Turtle News
Sea turtles nesting, rescued, and released.
A big river cooter needs a new tank. Two sliders were on the loose in the same neighborhood! And a beloved pet returns home after surviving a fire & getting rehab.
The red tide may hang around for a while yet. But warmer beaches may be a bigger long-term threat for sea turtles. Plus more.
But first we name a turtle …
Name the baby loggerhead! The Tybee Island Marine Science Center is keeping one of the 6 loggerheads found in a hotel trash can recently. It will be the Center’s ambassador sea turtle, and like any good ambassador, it needs a name. The Center is asking for suggestions.
Runaway Turtles!
Both turtles are safely home now.
Will Suzy ever be allowed out of her tank again? The story doesn’t say, but her (or his … they’re not actually sure!) humans are happy Suzy Greenberg (yes, really) is back home after 3 days in the great outdoors.
Are Philadelphia sliders staging a revolt? Shortly after Suzy was safely back home in her tank someone found another escaped slider … less than a mile away! Wonder if they were planning to meet up somewhere. Do turtles have social media for planning these things? 😉
Red tide & sea turtles
Florida’s red tide may hang around until next year: It’s already killed hundreds of sea turtles, fish, and other marine life. And the blue-green algae that’s bloomed in area rivers & lakes is just making everything worse.
Mote Marine Laboratory is busy with red tide strandings: Staff is working feverishly to save those they can and studying those that die. The goal is to learn more about the algae and of course save as many animals—turtles and other marine life—as possible.
Sea turtle hatchlings vs red tide: Will it be a problem for the babies heading to the sea? Apparently disorientation is a bigger concern than the algae bloom.
Sea turtles heading home
Coral is finally back in the sea: The olive ridley sea turtle washed up on a beach in Oregon last October. Her recovery has been slow, but now she’s back where she belongs. Includes video & pictures.
Cedar gets a standing ovation: A crowd turned out to wish him well as he headed back to sea at Daytona Beach, FL. Includes video.
Independence gets his: The loggerhead was sick from the red tide when he was found July 1. The red tide is still there, but now that he’s healthy it’s important he go home. Hopefully he’ll swim away from the toxic bloom, like another recently released turtle has done.
Turtle rescues
One little green sea turtle with 3 names … and 2 visits to Gulf World Marine Institute this year. The most recent visit comes just 2 weeks after being released.
Honu evades capture for weeks: But it needed help, because it had a hook stuck in its neck. The Hawaii Marine Animal Response team won in the end, and the turtle is back at sea, minus the hook. Includes picture and video.
Postman makes a special delivery: He interrupted his regular schedule to help a turtle across the road. 💚 (New York)
They have a “TURTLE PROJECT” cooler! Scientists from the Virginia Museum of Natural History, that is. They used it to relocate a snapping turtle from a resident’s yard. Apparently they transport turtles fairly regularly?
Sea turtle nests & nesting news
Loggerhead nesting video: The video shows her covering the nest & heading back to the water on Anna Maria Island.
3rd nest disturbed on Edisto Beach: It looked like someone had dug into the nest with bare hands. Why is it so hard to leave the nests alone?
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch reports record nest numbers: With help from residents and visitors they’ve made the beaches more turtle-friendly. And smashed last year’s record. 💚
Other turtle news
31 years of studying & protecting Hawaii’s green sea turtles: When the Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA) Sea Turtle Research Program began the turtles were not doing well. Today they are thriving, and the program has expanded to other countries. 💚 But will they continue to thrive …
Honu and the changing climate: Hawaii’s green sea turtles have been doing great, but with warmer average temperatures and rising sea levels scientists worry this could change.
Tina is a Katonah Village Library favorite: The river cooter has been a fixture at the library for 26 years. But after recovering from a shell infection last year she needs a new, bigger tank with a spot for her to dry dock. The library is holding a fundraiser to make that happen. (New York)
Just a snapper on a log: A very cool photo of a snapping turtle enjoying a rest on a log.
Best wedding shoot ever: The weather hadn’t been too cooperative, but we’re pretty sure dozens of baby loggerheads photobombing their shoot made their day. It’ll definitely make for an unusual wedding photo album! (Florida)
Another turtle who survived a house fire: Turtles are amazingly resilient, and Turtle Wurtle is no exception. She survived a fire that sadly killed the other pets in the home. But after a bit of rehab she’s back with her grateful family. 💚 Includes video.
Interns help themselves and the turtles: Sea Turtle Inc. interns help with conservation, research, and educating the public. It’s a win-win-win, for the interns themselves, the sea turtles, and Sea Turtle Inc.
ICYMI: Where are the boy sea turtles? Last year came the news that one sea turtle population around Australia was almost all girls. Researchers in Florida have been reporting the same thing. Many years they see no male hatchlings at all. 🙁
Another sea turtle dies trapped in a chair: This time a bar stool. 😢
Recent International Turtle News
Lots of rescues, drones help protect turtles, and plans to help a river turtle survive.
Plus more.
First we celebrate half a century of protecting sea turtles …
Burmuda Turtle Project turns 50: And it’s excited to see turtles it tagged 20ish years ago now nesting in the area.
Trash vs turtles
Too often these amazing animals only survive because a few humans dedicate themselves to undoing what so many other humans are doing …
Rescued sea turtle pooped plastic daily: For at least 9 days after rescue the poor thing was passing plastic bags every day. Another rescued turtle passed a fishing net. 🙁 (Taiwan)
Plastic isn’t the only trash that can trap turtles: This poor thing got itself trapped in an item of clothing.
Turtle rescue & conservation news
Eagle-eyed children spot turtle in trouble: They saw the little loggerhead from a fishing boat, about a mile from shore. The captain called for help and a crew member brought the turtle on board to wait. Good job!
Listen to the tortoise lady: She runs a sanctuary with 354 turtles, tortoises, & terrapins. 💚 (Video).
New turtle rescue centre coming to northern India: It will be in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh state. The area has a number of protected turtle species.
Matilda has gone home: She spend a couple of months recovering from a broken shell due to a boat strike. Includes pictures.
Jenga is doing well: She was rescued back in May after suffering a shark attack. (South Africa)
Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance takes to the skies to protect turtles: The organization is using drones to monitor nesting & protect nests from predators. A worthy use of technology indeed! (Queensland, Australia)
A new project to save the Manning River turtle: The manager of the Australian Reptile Park wants to start a captive breeding program for the turtles as insurance against the threats faced by wild populations.
Other turtle news
Men videotaped killing turtle arrested: If convicted they face fines up to 100,000 or jail time up to 12 months. (Jamaica)
Countdown to leatherback nest hatching in Gnejna: They’re putting precautions into place now, with anticipated hatching date of Aug. 25 or 26. It might seem like a lot of trouble for one nest, but every little life is precious and important for the species. 💚 (Malta)
Film screening raises funds for wildlife: These particular funds will help raise awareness and protect the nest at Gnejna. 💚 (Malta)