Posted on: 2019-03-29 10:30:28
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Recent turtle news we found interesting.
This week was almost all about the sea turtles. Nesting & hatching. Rescued & released.
Plus a bit more.
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Recent Box Turtle News
We didn’t find any box turtles in the news this week. But we did come across this beautiful picture of a pair of boxies. Aren’t they adorable?
Recent U. S. Turtle News
Lots of sea turtles getting treatment. And quite a few heading home, too. Plus saving cooters & protecting snappers.
But first, a sea turtle outside its normal range with a unique “passenger” …
Olive ridley sea turtle makes seagull friend off Southern California coast: Ok, not really. But the turtle, which rarely shows up in that area, did make a handy resting spot for the bird! Includes picture.
Sea turtle news
7 sea turtles headed back home: The turtles were of 3 different species (green, Kemps ridley, & loggerhead) and were rehabilitated by Amos Rehabilitation Keep. Includes video. 💚 (Texas)
Brevard Zoo inundated with green sea turtles: The 13 turtles that all arrived one weekend a couple weeks ago was strange on its own. But there’s been a steady trickle of them still coming in; 9 in total. And nobody’s sure why. Includes video. (Florida)
Injured green sea turtle on an adventure for healing: Rescuers thought the turtle was dead when they 1st saw it on a St. Thomas beach last month. It wasn’t, but it was seriously injured. After getting stabilized it flew to Florida for rehab at the Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys. Includes video.
The National Aquarium’s been busy! Releasing a few dozen rehabbed sea turtles. 💚 Story includes video of the release of some of the Kemp’s ridleys. (Florida)
So much plastic: Inside so many turtles. 😢 The South Carolina Aquarium has started a public education initiative to help people understand how plastic affects the planet & its animals. It even has an app! And some state lawmakers are discussing plastic bans.
Other turtles news
Saving the Plymouth Red-Bellied Cooters: This turtle has been on the endangered species list since 1980. But diligent work at a local agricultural high school has helped increase numbers by head-starting the hatchlings. Of course, this program can only succeed if we also make sure the adults have safe places to live …
Maryland still allows unlimited commercial snapping turtle trapping: And the center for Biological Diversity wants to stop that. It recently filed a petition with the state’s Department of Natural Resources. Several other states have put limits on freshwater turtle trapping in recent years. Let’s hope Maryland follows that trend.
Recent International Turtle News
Sea turtles hatching and sea turtles going home. Also an update on the turtle-themed plane. And tortoiseshell is beautiful … but it belongs on turtles!
The “Flying Honu” is finally ready to fly: We got a look at All Nippon Airways’ turtle-themed airplane back in December. It wasn’t ready for flight then. But the airline has just taken delivery of its 1st Flying Honu & flights will begin soon. If you missed the December stories, take a look now. It’s pretty “cute” for an airplane!
Phang Nga olive ridley nest hatches: Back in February it was huge news that an olive ridley sea turtle had nested on the Thai beach for the 1st time in 23 years. Last week 68 of the 81 eggs laid hatched & the babies toddled to the sea. Includes pictures. 💚
2 sea turtles head back into the Mediterranean: They spent 3-5 months recovering from injuries, including a cracked shell for one. Includes videos. (Israel)
2 loggerheads go home in Argentina: They had gotten themselves caught in fishing nets earlier this year, one with an infection. Includes video.
Sea turtles rescued from poachers go home: The 18 green sea turtles were seized 2 weeks ago. Earlier this week they got to go back to their lives. (Bali)
Where’s Herbie? The loggerhead turtle got her freedom back in January after staff at uShaka Marine World (Durban, South Africa) noticed she had started wanting to nest. She left with a tracker & has been getting more adventurous in her explorations recently. 💚
Hawksbill shell trade was huge: Technically it’s still pretty big (even though killing the turtles now is illegal). But from the mid-1800s through the late 1900s millions of the turtles were killed for their shells. 😢