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Conservationists Urge The Public To Respect The Wild And Keep Box Turtles In Their Natural Habitat This Summer

NASHVILLE, Tenn (WTVF) — As the unofficial start to summer approaches with the long-awaited holiday weekend, people are eagerly anticipating the warmer weather and outdoor activities.

However, amidst the excitement, it's essential to remember that humans aren't the only ones looking forward to enjoying the season.

Many animals and reptiles, including box turtles, emerge during this time. With that in mind, conservationists are reminding the public that it is illegal to keep a wild box turtle as a pet.

Joanna Prosser, the Animal Care Director of Walden's Puddle Wildlife Center, is deeply passionate about caring for animals. At the center, she has witnessed people taking wild box turtles and attempting to turn them into pets. These turtles tend to appear more frequently in the spring and summer months, capturing the attention of both children and adults alike.

Prosser emphasizes that there are regulations in place to protect these creatures. According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), it is prohibited to take any turtle measuring less than 4 inches. These regulations aim to ensure the turtles' well-being and their ability to thrive in their natural environment.

Within the encampment at Walden's Puddle Wildlife Center, there are several turtles that were once pets but are no longer wanted by their owners.

Among them is Kenny, a lively turtle that keeps the staff entertained. Due to being raised as a pet without receiving the proper nutrition, Kenny's shell didn't form correctly, preventing him from fully closing up inside his shell. He's the only box turtle the facility keeps in a tank.

Prosser highlights the specific needs of these turtles, including their diet, lighting, and heating requirements. Taking an animal into one's care without the confidence and knowledge to meet these specific needs can be detrimental to the animal's health.

Furthermore, turtles can carry salmonella, a contagious bacteria that poses health risks to humans. These factor reinforce the importance of appreciating wild box turtles from a safe distance and leaving them in their natural habitat, according to Prosser.

Releasing box turtles into new environments is also not advisable due to their strong homing instinct. Debbie Sykes, the Director of Nashville Wildlife Conservation, explains that releasing them in unfamiliar areas may cause them to spend more time attempting to find their way back home.

This behavior exposes them to various dangers such as car collisions and encounters with railroad tracks, ultimately jeopardizing their survival.

Prosser acknowledges the declining population of box turtles across the United States, primarily due to habitat destruction, fragmentation, and the spread of diseases. In fact she says, they're a a species of critical concern.

Recognizing the vital role these turtles play in the ecosystem, she urges people to help them thrive, ensuring their existence for future generations.

To coexist peacefully with turtles, activists recommend adopting a few measures. If you plan to have a box turtle as a pet, consider obtaining one that was born or raised in captivity, reducing the demand for wild turtles.

Additionally, before mowing your lawn, check for turtles and other wildlife, such as bunny nests, to prevent unintentional harm. If you encounter a turtle crossing the road, when it is safe to do so, assist the turtle by carefully helping it cross in the direction it was heading.

If you do happen to see one that is injured, gently place it in a box (use gloves if you have some), give Walden's a call, and leave a voicemail at 615-559-9453.

Walden's Puddle is currently in the process of raising money to expand their box turtle encampment. If you would like to help, find out more information, here.

A Farmer Who Fell In An Enclosure Of 40 Crocodiles Was 'pounced' Upon By The Reptiles And Devoured, Report Says

Crocodiles rest at a reptile farm in Siem Reap on May 26, 2023, after a 72-year-old man was killed by the animals in the enclosure.Rohany Isa/AFP via Getty Images

A Cambodian farmer was devoured after he fell into an enclosure of 40 crocodiles.

The victim was using a stick to move a crocodile that had just laid eggs when the reptile grabbed it.

The 70-year-old farmer's family said they had urged him to stop raising the animals.

A Cambodian farmer was torn to pieces by his crocodiles after he tried to move one of them that was guarding its eggs, police said.

The victim, Luan Nam, 72, fell into the crocodile enclosure in Siem Reap while trying to use a stick to move a crocodile that had just laid eggs, according to AFP.

The reptile grabbed the stick and pulled him in, and about 40 crocodiles attacked him and left the enclosure drenched in blood.

"While he was chasing a crocodile out of an egg-laying cage, the crocodile attacked the stick, causing him to fall into the enclosure," Mey Savry, police chief of Siem Reap commune, told AFP.

"Then other crocodiles pounced, attacking him until he was dead," he said.

The victim's body bore numerous bite marks, and one of his arms had been bitten off and swallowed by one of the crocodiles, he said.

Photos from the scene show the crocodiles in the bloody enclosure, according to The Telegraph. One image reportedly shows the reptiles surrounding the farmer's body, and one photo shows one of the crocodiles chewing on a shoe.

Nam, who was the president of the local crocodile farmers' association, had been urged by his family to stop raising the animals, commune chief May Sameth told AFP.

Crocodiles are bred in several farms around Siem Reap, the town where the famous Angkor Wat ruins are, and the reptiles' eggs, skins, and meat are harvested to sell and make leather and other products.

Nam's family said that they might now sell his stock, Sameth told AFP.

This is not the first time someone has come to a tragic death at a crocodile farm, a two-year-old girl was killed by crocodiles in 2019 at her family's reptile farm in the same Po Banteay Chey village, the police chief said.

Read the original article on Insider

Turtle Collection Donated To Reptile Sanctuary

A Susquehanna Valley reptile sanctuary just received a donation of more than 1,900 turtles.

But they're not real turtles. They're stuffed and decorative.

The family of Nadine Sheldon, also known as the Turtle Lady, donated her collection to Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary after her death.

She was from Brownstown, Lancaster County.

Her family hopes her love of turtles will live on through Forgotten Friend's mission of giving reptiles a chance.

Many of the turtles will go into the group's turtle garden.

Some will be sold as a fundraiser, and others will be given away as prizes at shows.

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