Posted on: 2018-11-30 10:30:13
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Recent turtle news we found.
Some final sea turtle nesting numbers are still trickling in. Chilly sea turtles flooded the New England coast for Thanksgiving. And when communities understand the value of sea turtles, they want to protect them.
Also a diver gets a nibble from a sea turtle, a legal turtle exporter fined for also exporting turtles illegally, and more.
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Recent Box Turtle News
Lots of box turtles around the country are hibernating by now. And those that aren’t seem to have no interest in making the news.
So instead, feast your eyes on a rarely seen Spotted Box Turtle.
Recent U. S. Turtle News
So many cold-stunned turtles. Too many didn’t make it, but the lucky ones are getting the care they need to recover.
Also sea turtle nesting numbers show wide variations. Making fake paperwork for turtle exports can be expensive if you get caught. Plus more.
Sea turtle nesting numbers news
Low sea turtle hatching numbers in North Carolina again: It’s the 2nd year in a row that numbers have gone down. But experts say there’s no reason to worry yet.
Low sea turtle nest numbers in South Carolina, too: The turtles laid fewer than half the number of nests along the Grand Strand as last year. Experts say they expected lower numbers because of the cyclical nature of sea turtle nesting.
Record sea turtle hatchling numbers at Cape Romano: The season just ended saw almost 2x as many loggerhead hatchlings as the previous record. 💚 Includes video of a hatching nest. (Florida)
Cold-stunning news
A sad Thanksgiving surprise on Cape Cod: Around 200 frozen sea turtles, most already dead, were found washed up on beaches or floating in the slushy water. 😥
20 cold-stunned Kemp’s ridley sea turtles recovering in Florida: They had also washed up in Cape Cod Bay and 1st went to the New England Aquarium for treatment. But the Aquarium needs to keep space available for new arrivals, and so the 20 flew to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach thanks to Turtles Fly Too. Includes video.
60 sea turtles arrive at Gulf World Marine Institute: The group of Kemp’s ridley and green sea turtles also came from the New England Aquarium. Includes video. (Florida)
Virginia Beach Aquarium caring for 5 cold-stunned loggerheads: Those were the lucky ones. Sadly several other stranded turtles were either dead on the beach or died soon after rescue.
Miscellaneous turtle news
Meet some of Sea Life Grapevine’s sea turtle hospital patients: Most are there for temporary stays. A couple are unreleasable. Includes video & pictures. (Texas)
$15,000 fine for illegal turtle exports: The owner of a licensed turtle farm had permits to ship turtles he bred & raised on his farm. He was not allowed to ship turtles from other farms, but he did anyway and claimed they were from his farm.
See Honda head home: The sea turtle spent about 7 months recovering at Loggerhead Marine Life Center. And despite the chilly weather, he seemed eager to get back in the water. Includes video. (Florida)
Recent International Turtle News
Local communities protecting their sea turtles. But elsewhere microplastics & construction equipment threaten sea turtle nests. And turtles are in trouble in all corners of the world. Plus more.
Sea turtle news
Too much microplastic on Cyprus beaches: They have the 2nd highest amount of all places sampled in the world. These tiny bits of plastic can harm turtles that eat them, especially hatchlings. They can also raise the temperature of the sand, which can skew the ratio of male to female hatchlings.
Bantay Pawikan volunteers teach the importance of sea turtles: They also run the Pawikan Conservation Center in Bataan. Once upon a time they harvested and ate turtle eggs. Now they devote themselves to preventing the turtles’ extinction by protecting the animals and their eggs. (Philippines)
Saving Trinidad and Tobago’s leatherback sea turtles: Some 30 years ago the people killed a lot of the turtles without much thought. Then the government created a tour guide training course and those who took the course began to understand the value of conservation. And the turtle population started rising.
Boaters found a green turtle in distress of Grand Cayman: The Department of Environment rescued and is caring for it. Includes pictures and a short video.
300 kg green sea turtle nibbles army diver’s ear: The divers were cleaning the Ocean Tank at Great Yarmouth Sealife Centre. Noah the sea turtle was just one of the creatures wondering about the strangers invading their home. Includes pictures & video. (United Kingdom)
Sea turtle nests destroyed on a Cabo San Lucas beach: Other nests are also in danger. The federal Attorney General is investigating.
Other turtle news
Nova Scotia’s turtles need help: The Canadian province is home to only 4 turtle species. Sadly 3 of them are endangered, especially the Blanding’s turtle.
Canberra’s turtles also need help: And Eastern long-necked turtle hatchlings are getting a bit of TLC to help them survive. Includes video. Aren’t they adorable?!! 💚
Almost 500 dead turtles found in a pond: Officials recovered 654 Indian flapshell turtles from smugglers. Of those, 172 were alive but very sick. The rest were dead. 😥 (India)