Posted on: 2019-02-22 10:30:32
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Recent turtle news we found interesting.
Did you know box turtles are bad-ass? Of course you do. But we came across a story showing just how much.
Florida beaches are getting ready for sea turtle nesting season. And more Indian & Thai beaches are protecting their sea turtles.
Learn about head-starting Western pond turtles, see a tiny turtle’s tiny beating heart, and check out a sea turtle webcam.
Plus more.
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Recent Box Turtle News
Forget the tortoise & the hare, here’s a story of the box turtle & the rattlesnake.
Ornate box turtle vs. rattlesnake: The boxie won & made a meal of that pesky snake. Includes pictures (but sadly no video).
Recent U. S. Turtle News
This week we found a few sea turtles heading home and a Blanding’s turtle with a unique look & a new home, among other stories.
But first, would you like to help sea turtles?
South Walton Turtle Watch Group needs volunteers: The group is looking for people to help patrol the beaches, looking for nests & nesting females. If you’re in Walton County, Florida & you’re interested, the sign-up deadline is March 1.
Or maybe just watch one from the comfort of home …
Take a break & watch Kirby: The male loggerhead is recovering at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and has his very own live webcam! He was swimming about lazily when we visited. Learn about his rescue here.
Sea turtle release news
Goodbye & good luck, Yahtzee! The green sea turtle arrived at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium after getting trapped in fishing line. While there Yahtzee also had some fibropapilloma tumors removed. Includes pictures & video. (Florida)
16 Kemp’s ridleys head home: They got their freedom earlier this week after about 3 months of rehab at SeaWorld Orlando. (Florida)
Other turtle news
Are they really installing non-turtle-safe lights? Most communities get excited about replacing their bright lights with turtle-safe ones. But apparently this one is planning to go the opposite way?! (Hawaii)
This 10-year-old raised almost $1800 for the turtles: She did it by selling turtle crafts over the past year. And last week she got to visit the turtles at the New England Aquarium.
Little Hope isn’t letting a heart condition stop her: The tiny turtle’s heart is outside her body! And video of her heart beating has captivated people around the world. Includes pictures & video. (New Jersey)
Very special Blanding’s turtle gets a new home (and name!): Shirlee (formerly Lucy) is a rare yellow Blanding’s (they’re usually dark with a yellow throat & spots). Since her unique look makes her more vulnerable to predators & poachers, she has called the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago home. Now she has moved on to the Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, where she’ll be an ambassador for her species.
Inside the Oregon Zoo’s Western pond turtle project: Meet B6, one of the turtles who went back to the wild last year. Also hear how the zoo collects hatchlings & prepares them to go back to the wild when they’re bigger & better able to survive. Includes video.
Recent International Turtle News
More beaches get protections for nesting turtles. And the turtles seem to appreciate it. Sadly it’s still a seemingly endless battle against plastic. And poachers. 🙁
But first, finding any turtle is always exciting. Finding this turtle was epic …
An exciting tortoise find: This giant tortoise species isn’t extinct after all! But so far researchers have only found one. They’ll need more to try to start a breeding program.
Sea turtle conservation news
Chennai to get turtle conservation zones: Activities along the coast will be restricted during mating season, from December to April. This will include resorts turning off lights after 11 pm. (eastern India)
Olive ridley turtles returning to Boracay Island: Apparently they appreciate the conservation efforts being made on the island. Two sets of hatchlings were recently released to the sea.
2 Thai beaches get turtle protections: Leatherback turtles recently returned to nest there, so locals & officials have declared the beaches protected incubation sites.
A gorgeous hotel with very special guests: This hotel in Dubai offers luxury rooms to its human visitors. And lifesaving rehab services to its sea turtle visitors.
Turtles vs. plastic news (again)
Floating patches of plastic trash at the beach trap baby sea turtles: They try desperately to get out to open water, but they can’t make it. Rescuers were able to save some. Includes video. (Honduras)
One poor tortoise pooped out half a flip-flop! In the Seychelles Islands, where green sea turtles nest and giant tortoises live, tons (yes, literally tons) of plastic debris washes ashore & litters the beaches.
The poor turtle was so tightly wrapped it couldn’t move: Luckily a passerby came to its rescue, dragging it out of the water & cutting off the mass of fishing line. Includes video. (Crete)
Turtle poaching & trafficking news
Jail time & fine for possessing turtle parts: They’ll be spending 2 years in jail. And an extra year if they don’t pay the fine. Seems fair to me. (Malaysia)
7 people charged with illegally transporting Hicatees in Belize: The critically endangered turtle lives in northern Belize, along with Guatemala and southern Mexico.
Miscellaneous turtle news
On the wrong airport runway: Actually any runway would be the wrong one for the little turtle who was quickly relocated to a safer spot. Includes picture. (Queensland, Australia)
Interactive Turtle Rescue experience comes to Scarborough Sea Life Sanctuary: Kids (of all ages!) can learn about all the work that goes into saving a turtle. They’ll choose a virtual turtle to rehab & go through all the rehab steps until the turtle is ready for release. (England)
South Australia’s freshwater turtles need help: Between nest predation, poor water quality, and disease the turtles have little chance of recovery without our help.