Posted on: 2019-01-25 10:30:40
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Recent turtle stories you may have missed.
Not too much has been happening this week, but we did find some interesting research news, a few rescues, and golf course owners who love their resident turtles.
Also more smugglers caught, a beach cleaned, and more.
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Recent Box Turtle News
Once again we found no box turtle news this week. But we did come across this picture of a pretty Eastern box turtle taking a dip.
Recent U. S. Turtle News
Stories this week include chilly turtles, turtles on the golf course, students studying turtles, and more.
But first …
Enjoy oysters & wine with the Turtle Survival Alliance: The non-profit recently moved its headquarters & wants to meet its new neighbors. If you happen to be near Mt. Pleasant, SC consider joining them on Jan. 30!
Cold stunning news
2 cold-stunned turtles rescued in North Carolina: The flood of cold-stunned turtles earlier in the season is over. But chilly turtles are still washing up. Sadly most are dead, but these 2 are doing well. Includes pictures.
Why are more turtles getting cold-stunned? Possibly because warmer waters farther north are encouraging the turtles to stick around too long. And stronger storms are blowing them off-course more often.
New cold-stunned sea turtle rescue group in Texas: Aransas County has been seeing more sea turtles & a local non-profit started the group in the fall. It recently rescued its 1st cold-stunned turtle.
Other turtle news
It’s a wildlife-friendly golf course: And apparently its resident turtles are the stars. The course’s owners actively work to ensure a healthy environment for the turtles and other wildlife. 💚 All golf courses should do this.
Middle schoolers in Massachusetts studying Blanding’s turtles: It’s part of a head-start program for the threatened turtle population. The students are helping to track growth & weight changes for 2 turtles until they are released in May.
New turtle rehab center at Florida Aquarium: It has a surgery center & enough room for up to 50 turtles, depending on their size. The 1st new residents will be arriving soon.
Illegal net snares marine life, including turtle: Another reminder to use safe nets & try not to abandon them. Sadly the juvenile green sea turtle did not survive. (Hawaii)
Recent International Turtle News
This week we found interesting results from a study of Cayman’s green turtles’ DNA, a cleanup of a nesting beach, and, sadly, a lot of smuggled turtles. Plus more.
But first …
Watch sea turtle snag lunch: This video shows a sea turtle munching jelly fish.
Miscellaneous turtle news
Juvenile loggerhead rescued from Northern Ireland beach: The cold-stunned animal was initially in critical condition at a seal sanctuary and slowly warming up. It has since warmed to normal temperatures & is showing signs of improvement.
A call to better protect sea turtles: This one’s from eastern India. But the story’s the same all over the world: Human activity hurts the turtles and the people who care are trying desperately to get more people to care and do their part.
Cayman’s green turtles saved from extinction by turtle farm: In the 80s & 90s the area’s green turtles were functionally extinct (population numbers were to low to sustain the population). But the Cayman Turtle Farm released tens of thousands of turtle hatchlings during that time. This helped keep the population alive. Turtle numbers are still low, and there’s concern about the current release program, but it shows these programs can work.
190 tons of waste removed from beach in Oman: The country is dedicated to managing its turtle conservation projects, including keeping nesting beaches clean.
Turtle smuggling & poaching news
2 raids result in seizure of more than 1700 turtles: The turtles were hidden under fish in one case and in a car trunk in the other. Previous raids also found more than 700 turtles.
Legal wrangling over turtle smuggler: He was arrested last January (after escaping from Thailand during trial a few years ago) & has been jailed in India since. In that time he has made several pleas for bail (all denied) and now Thailand wants to extradite him. Wherever he ends up, we hope he gets a stiff sentence.
Rare river turtle rescued from a market in Bangladesh: It was saved because it was part of a study. Market-goers saw the tracker attached to it and called the number provided.