Turtle News Briefs, July 18, 2017

Posted on: 2017-07-18 09:30:17
Turtle News Briefs

Turtle News Briefs

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Today we have a relatively short list of turtle stories from around the US and the world. Most are good news and hopeful stories.

Recent Box Turtle News

Still no new box turtle stories, but we still like these three from last week. Check them out if you haven’t already.

  • Fiberglass box turtle: A vet in Ohio fixed a boxie’s broken shell with fiberglass a few years ago and released him. Recently she discovered her old patient just hanging out in the woods. How did she know it was him? The fiberglass “bandage” was still attached!
  • Bourret’s box turtle babies update: We shared a story about the endangered turtle hatchlings back in June. The National Zoo says they’re doing great … and they may have some younger siblings by the end of July!
  • Good news for the Keeled Box Turtle: This species of Asian Box Turtle is endangered, like so many of its cousins. But the Turtle Conservation Center has had recent success with breeding them. It says 2016 was its best year yet.

Recent U. S. Turtle News

Today’s stories include honoring a Fish & Wildlife Officer, release day for 3 sea turtles, and a lucky day for an injured terrapin.

3-D printed legs for Bump the sulcata tortoise: She’s just 1 year old, and she’s shown a will to live. After a fire in her habitat, she lost most of her legs and wasn’t expected to survive. But she did, and she’s even moving around. So her human dad got some help to create new legs so she can hopefully walk right again.

Florida Fish & Wildlife Officer honored: Officer Philip Stone works to protect sea turtles, both in his official capacity and as a volunteer. Way to go, Officer Stone! (Florida)

A better life for neglected turtle Isabella: The Midland Softshell Turtle was sick and missing a foot. Her owners were charged with attempted animal cruelty. Isabella has a new home in a wildlife turtle sanctuary. (Ohio)

Gulf Breeze Hospital’s celebrity patient: Gigi caused quite a stir when she arrived at the hospital for a CT scan. Why? Probably because she’s a blind loggerhead sea turtle. Her home is the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center.

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Saving Lucky: Lucky was indeed very lucky the day a group of turtle lovers found her. The diamondback terrapin had a cracked shell and exposed organs. They taped her up, spent time searching for a turtle rescue and delivered Lucky to Stockton University, which has a Diamondback Terrapin Head Start program.

 

Selling turtles on the side of the road in San Antonio? Apparently it’s legal under Texas law. But not San Antonio city law. And these turtles were smaller than federal law allows. Still the sellers faced no charges. 🙁

Golden Graham, Crackle and Pop go home: The three sea turtles were rehabilitated at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and released last week. (Video)

Can slow and steady win this race? The US Fish & Wildlife Service sure hopes it can reverse the decline of the spotted, Blanding’s, and wood turtles. The Service hopes to help them recover enough to avoid having to list any of them under the Endangered Species Act.

Two repeats that are still relevant. The petition for New Jersey’s state reptile is still open. And the Vermont/Quebec turtle census still wants your turtle sighting reports.

 

 

Recent International Turtle News

A trapped turtle mystery, discovering a rare turtle and talking turtles, among other stories.

Lifeguards save loggerhead sea turtle: The poor thing was tangled up in fishing line (a lot of fishing line!). Luckily it had no injuries, so it was able to go right back out to sea. (Thailand)

How did turtles get trapped in a net? Officials are investigating the death of 17 Krefft’s river turtles. 🙁 The animals are protected. (Australia)

Rare and endangered turtle shows up in wildlife sanctuary: Scientists know very little about the three-keeled land turtle.

Turtle poachers escape after throwing rocks at police & conservation volunteers: Sea Shepherd volunteers discovered the poachers on Mayotte (a French island) and called police. Sea Shepherd works to protect and defend marine wildlife and its habitat.

Turtles can … talk?! Yep. Adults talk to hatchlings. And babies can apparently talk to each other from their eggs! The most recent discovery of talking turtles is the pig-nosed turtle, which communicates while feeding, nesting, and just resting.

 

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