Posted on: 2018-05-04 10:30:38
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Turtle news we found interesting recently.
Stories include sea turtles nesting, sea turtles rescued, and sea turtles going viral … but sadly not for a happy reason.
Other news includes big fines for catching & shooting an alligator snapper, a turtle napping, and investing in the recovery of the Great Barrier Reef.
Plus much more.
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Recent Box Turtle News
Still no new box turtle news this week.
But here’s a whole passel of ornates enjoying a feast!
Recent U. S. Turtle News
Sea turtle news includes a nest, releases, and rescues. Also a new potential threat from plastic and a look at protecting Hawaii’s green sea turtles.
And killing an alligator snapping turtle is expensive. But not even half as expensive as shining a light on a sea turtle!
But first we start with a plea for a turtle’s safe return:
Rocket has been turtle-napped: Officials at the Mitchell Lake Audubon center in San Antonio are asking for help getting the red-eared slider back.
This turtle got a head start on nesting season
Longboat Key logs its 1st nest of the season: It was a few days before sea turtle season officially starts. But turtles don’t really care about calendars!
Sea turtles go home, sometimes more than once
Luna finishes her ambassadorship: The 2-year-old loggerhead has been the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s ambassador since she was a tiny hatchling, greeting & enthralling visitors. But last week she went home to the sea with a new assignment: Transmit her location to researchers for as long as her satellite tag keeps working.
Poor George keeps getting caught: A fisherman accidentally hooked him at a pier in Panama City Beach. So he made his 2nd trip to Gulf World Marine Institute, but only stayed a couple of days. He also had a few more hooks in him that the Institute removed before letting him go.
Turtle rescues
Not many fish, but 1 leatherback sea turtle makes trip worthwhile: The turtle was tangled in a crab pot line, but the men managed to free her.
Crab pot snags another leatherback sea turtle: This one was also lucky and was freed.
If you bother turtles, plan to pay up
Almost $6000 for killing alligator snapper: The 2 men who caught & killed an alligator snapping turtle in Oklahoma will pay dearly. Sadly this does not bring back the turtle. Hopefully it will cause others to think twice before doing the same.
Harassing a sea turtle carries a steep fine: Very steep. Up to $15,000 steep. “Harassing” includes everything from touching it to shining a light on it. Good.
Miscellaneous turtle news
Plastic may threaten sea turtle survival in more ways than one: A new study shows that microplastics exist on pretty much all beaches. And it tends to collect in dunes … where turtles like to nest. Why does this matter? Because the plastic holds heat better than sand. And that can mean higher temperatures in the sand … which means higher nest temperatures … which means more female turtles. The researchers plan more study to see if this is really happening.
The biggest danger to Hawaii’s green sea turtles: And simple steps to take to avoid hurting them.
Recent International Turtle News
Sea turtle news this week is a mix of happy & sad, cute & disturbing.
In other turtle news, a snapping turtle makes an amazing recovery, another Canadian turtle is in danger, and more.
Sea turtle news
After mass nesting comes mass hatching: At Gahirmatha beach, where the arribada happened in early March, more than 100,000 babies swarmed from their nests in just 48 hours. Officials expected the hatching to last up to 10 days. Unfortunately, after jubilation came sadness, as torrential rains compacted the sand and trapped later-hatching babies in their nests.
Olive ridleys hatch just in time to celebrate Earth Day: Perfect timing, little ones! Includes video. (Indonesia)
Why do so few sea turtles survive to create the next generation?: This infographic shows the threats they face as they try to grow up. Also the threats adults face as they try to mate & lay eggs.
Showing kids the magic of sea turtles: The kids get a chance to do turtle walks, protect the eggs, and watch the hatchlings make their way to the sea. (Chennai, India)
Dead sea turtles go viral on Facebook: Both turtles had been hit by boats at the same beach in Terengganu, Malaysia. Warning: Story includes graphic & disturbing pictures. Please, please, please pay attention when boating where sea turtles live!
Other turtle news
Crushed snapping turtle goes back home: Based on his injuries he most likely got run over by a truck last year. But with a lot of care & time his cracked shell & fractured pelvis healed. And now that the weather’s warmed up, he’s back where he belongs. Includes pictures. (Nova Scotia, Canada)
New turtle rehab center: Charles Darwin University has opened a new rehab facility to care for sick & injured turtles and other marine life. (northern Australia)
Australia determined to protect & restore Great Barrier Reef: And the country is investing more than $500 million (Australian) to help make it happen. This would benefit many marine species, including the sea turtles.
Poachers vs India’s freshwater turtles: Sadly the poachers are winning as most turtle species in the Ganges River are close to extinction.
Another Canadian turtle at risk: The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada added the Midland Painted Turtle to its list of at-risk species.