Posted on: 2018-02-16 10:30:16
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Turtle news we found interesting recently.
Stories include more turtle protections, successful hatchings, and successful rehab. Plus a wedding, a possible way to help more male sea turtles hatch, and more.
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Recent Box Turtle News
No new box turtle news this week.
Instead, enjoy this curious beauty from the Chambana Box Turtle Project.
Recent U. S. Turtle News
Recent stories include a release, plans for a sea turtle awareness day, and more research on how nest conditions affect sex ratios.
Also, getting married with turtles as witnesses is awesome, and more.
Booga has left the hospital: The loggerhead sea turtle lost a flipper after being tangled in fishing trap line. She spent a few months recovering at the Turtle Hospital, and went back to sea last Saturday. Her doctors expect her to be just fine even without that flipper. (Florida)
Sea Turtle Awareness Day at Clearwater Aquarium: If you live near the Aquarium or plan to be near Clearwater Beach on May 12, mark your calendar! The Aquarium has planned a sea turtle-focused day. Sign up to help with beach cleanup, or just go to learn more about these beautiful creatures. There’ll be games for the kids, too.
Radiated tortoise heads south for a visit: His name is Fuji, and he left Brookfield Zoo in Illlinois to stay at SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord for the year. He’ll have 5 other turtles for company.
Wildlife wishes you’d just say no to wish lanterns: Remember, after you release them, they fall back to earth somewhere. They’re not biodegradable (despite claims). And turtles, birds, & other wildlife can get tangled in the wire support hoops.
Potentially good news for sea turtle sex ratios: Warmer nest temperatures have been turning some sea turtle populations almost all female. But recent research suggests extra moisture in the nest can keep the eggs cooler. This can help more males develop.
The sea turtles were wedding attendants! A Clearwater Marine Aquarium diver married the love of his life in the sea turtle habitat, Mavis’ Rescue Hideaway. The bride wore white fins, and one of the turtles seemed to be taking the attendant duties quite seriously.
Recent International Turtle News
A sea turtle is healing nicely in Bermuda and the season’s 1st babies head to sea in Ramanathapuram, India.
Meanwhile in Indonesia, 2 turtle shell smugglers have been caught, but egg thieves got away.
Also more Blanding’s turtle habitat protected, South Asian countries work together for sea turtles, and more.
Bridget the sea turtle is almost ready to go home: The green sea turtle got herself caught on a fishing hook last year. But the young girl who caught her knew just how to get her help. Includes video of a recent exam to see how she’s doing. (Bermuda)
This season’s 1st babies released at Mukundarayar Chathiram: 123 of 128 Olive Ridley eggs laid on December 18 had hatched. (Tamil Nadu, India)
Egg collection going strong: Also in the MR Chathiram area, 6 nests yeildeded 668 eggs last Tuesday. This was the most collected on one day this season. Hopefully the hatching success rate of this batch will also be high.
Turtle hatchery robbed: 😢 Five robbers with machetes stole eggs & escaped over a 2-meter high wall. (Indonesia)
Lots of green sea turtles nesting this year: Queensland beaches have seen an increase in turtles nesting. (Australia)
More Blanding’s turtle habitat protected: The Couchiching Conservancy land trust added 295 hectares (728 acres) of land to its holdings in southern Ontario. The land is home to other at-risk species, too.
Three turtles survived pollution “incident”: 200,000 litres of a toxic liquid killed every other living thing in a pond north of Sydney. 😢
440 pounds of turtle shells! I think the turtles would have preferred to keep those. 😢 But Indonesian police have arrested the two men who were apparently smuggling the shells to China.
Hunting snapping turtles is illegal in Ontario: Two fishermen found that out the hard way. And they’re paying dearly.
New South Wales could learn from Queensland: Queensland banned balloon releases back in 2011. NSW still allows people to release “up to 20” balloons at any one event. It only takes one to cause problems for a sea turtle or bird who tries to eat it or gets tangled in its string.
South Asian countries working together for the turtles: Five countries have formed a regional task force to protect the area’s sea turtles. No matter what any other differences may be, all involved agree the best way to stop the sea turtles’ decline is to work together.