Posted on: 2018-12-07 10:30:16
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Recent turtle news we found interesting.
There’s unexpected snapping turtles, sea turtle rescues, and turtle traffickers stopped.
Also diamondback terrapin stories … one (mostly) happy tale of conservation success and one adorable video.
Plus more.
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Recent Box Turtle News
We only found one box turtle story this week. Asian box turtles are also threatened and endangered.
Man suspected of breeding Chinese box turtles professionally: The man claimed he was just passionate about conservation of the endangered animals.
And we came across this picture of a pretty if slightly grumpy looking Western box turtle:
Recent U. S. Turtle News
This week we found a reminder that snapping turtles are amazing. And sometimes they turn up in unexpected places. Also increasing turtle populations is great, but we also need to think about how to sustain that increase.
But first we have …
Reminders about sea turtles on Northwestern beaches: They don’t belong in Oregon & Washington this time of year. If they’re alive they’ll need help, so if you find one call for help. Phone numbers in story.
And some utter adorableness:
Scientist feeds baby turtle & internet loses its mind: Not that we blame anyone one bit! It’s a teeny-tiny diamondback terrapin getting teeny-tiny bites of food. What’s not to love? If you scroll down the page a bit you’ll also see a baby loggerhead eating. (Georgia)
Snapping turtle news
Stumbling across an unknown snapping turtle population: A couple years ago a wildlife surveyor put out a turtle trap just to see what he’d get … and was shocked when what he got was an alligator snapper! Now they’re studying them. (Texas)
An amazing photo of an amazing turtle: You may have seen the picture of the snapping turtle with almost a foot of mud on her back … and grass growing on that! She wasn’t coming out of hibernation (brumation) like some captions suggested. She was actually heading to her winter mud hole. Did you know these turtles go to the exact same spot each year?
Other turtle news
Conservation success leads to other problems: Efforts to protect the Diamondback Terrapin in Eastham has been working. The number of nests laid has increased from 50 to 245 since 2005. That’s great, but it means the area needs more nesting sites to accommodate all those nests.
Arizona mud turtle may get protected habitat: This aquatic turtle with a limited range has lost much of its Sonoran Desert habitat. But the US Fish & Wildlife Service may protect the area where the only known US population lives.
Recent International Turtle News
This week more turtle traffickers have been arrested, sea turtles rescued from plastic, and researchers learning about sea turtle nest temperatures. Plus more.
Sea turtles rescued from plastic
Piece of plastic caused sea turtle’s labored breathing: See the moment staff at Two Oceans Aquarium removed the obstruction. (South Africa)
Sea turtle found wearing necklace of plastic: It looks like the top of a plastic jar. And it was around the olive ridley sea turtle’s neck. Luckily workers saw it and freed it. Includes pictures. (Costa Rica)
Other sea turtle news
Possible new nesting site for olive ridley sea turtles: At the mouth of the Rushikulya River, on India’s eastern coast, a new sand bar may prove attractive to the turtles. One already nested there recently.
Jaguars hunting sea turtles in Costa Rica: The Olive Ridley arribada makes a convenient buffet for the jaguars. As sad as it is to see a turtle eaten, it’s also a fascinating look at nature. The turtle arribadas may be a big reason the jaguars do well in this area. Includes video.
Fixing the ratio of girl to boy sea turtle hatchlings: Warming temperatures has led to populations with a lot more female than male turtles. Because nest temperature determines sex of the hatchlings. Recent research has been looking at how to lower nest temperatures enough to allow more males to develop.
Miscellaneous turtle news
Flapshell turtle rescued & released: A resident in Agra saw the turtle about to be attacked by wild dogs. A wildlife NGO came to the rescue & released it after making sure it was healthy. Kudos to the person who called for help to save the turtle. (India)
19 people arrested for selling turtle products: Products being sold included glasses, bracelets, and pens. (southeast China)
Asiatic softshell turtle rescued & released: Every turtle counts, and this one seemed happy to get back to the wild a day after being rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Includes video. (Cambodia)