Posted on: 2019-03-01 10:30:51
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It’s a very short and (mostly) sweet news digest this week.
There’s new research on an Asian box turtle, kids helping turtles, and a mystery in Texas.
Also sea turtle harvesting still banned in Fiji, smugglers stopped in Malaysia, and a cool look at how aquatic turtles spend their winters.
Plus a bit more.
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Recent Box Turtle News
American box turtles are still staying out of the news these days. But one heavily trafficked Asian box turtle would like you to please leave it alone so it can help the environment (and local industry).
Southeast Asian box turtle is helpful to the lumber industry?! Yep, apparently it helps some tree seeds germinate. And some of those trees are important for lumber. Sadly this pretty and important little turtle is also the most heavily trafficked turtle in the world. 🙁
Recent U. S. Turtle News
This week’s short list of stories includes kids helping to head-start turtles, an escape goes wrong for a tortoise & his canine friend, and turtle CPR to the rescue.
Saving turtles
Help survey turtles in Maine: Maine Audubon needs citizen scientists to document where turtles (& other wildlife) is most in danger from traffic. There’s 2 training sessions coming up in late March/early April.
Kids helping local turtle populations survive: Kids & turtles have always been a natural combination; kids just seem to love turtles. But instead of giving them pet turtles, why not have them help with turtle conservation? That’s what’s happening with some Massachusetts schools and diamondback terrapins.
Zookeepers refuse to give up on little Blanding’s turtle: It took 4 hours of turtle CPR, but the unconscious little turtle finally responded.
Miscellaneous turtle stories
Weird animal stories: The tortoise & the German shepherd: They got stuck in a tunnel together & needed firefighters to rescue them! Includes picture. (California)
Worries about nesting season North Carolina: Hurricane Florence wiped out dunes on some popular nesting beaches. Wildlife officials and the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue are working on plans to help the turtles have a successful season.
What’s wrong with Texas’ turtles? Texas Parks and Wildlife staff have found an unusually high number of dead or dying freshwater turtles in the past few months. So far they haven’t been able to figure out why.
Recent International Turtle News
Lots of help for sea turtles this week, and an interesting look at turtles under ice. Plus more smugglers stopped.
Sea turtle news
Sea turtle harvesting ban extended: Fiji’s 10-year ban expired this year, but the government recently revived it. Anyone caught possessing, transporting, or selling sea turtles faces a fine of at least $4000.
Baby leatherbacks get help leaving the nest: Apparently they had hatched but hadn’t made it up out of the nest. So officials dug them out & set them off in the right direction. Includes pictures. (Thailand)
Turtle-friendly lights on Grand Cayman: A trial of 40 lights has started. The new lights are replacing lights in areas that have seen the most hatchling disorientation in recent years.
Other turtle news
A drones-eye-view of brumating turtles: Turtles brumating (hibernating) under water don’t burrow in like land turtles (boxies!). Instead they just sort of stop moving. But not completely. And a scientist in Ontario sent a drone down to take a look.
Thousands of turtles confiscated in Malaysia: Authorities stopped smugglers carrying 3,300 pig-nosed turtles worth almost $37,000.
International turtle smuggler denied bail: India’s Supreme Court ruled earlier this week. He has been in jail since January 2018 and was the 3rd most wanted turtle smuggler. Seems like hes’ right where he belongs.