I have heard that turtles are a pretty easy pet, but I had never heard of World Turtle Day (May 23rd) until yesterday when I was working on today’s post. I am all for preserving creatures until they have a chance to propagate themselves back to replacement numbers. Founders of the American Tortoise Rescue, Tellem and Thompson note that experts predict the complete disappearance of one of the world’s oldest creatures within the next 50 years. They are offering parents and kids some ways to help save turtles (and tortoises too) for years to come:
• Never buy a turtle or tortoise from a pet shop, as it increases demand from the wild.
• Never remove turtles or tortoises from the wild unless they are sick or injured.
• If a tortoise is crossing a street or highway, pick it up and send it in the same direction it was going – if you try to make it go back, it will turn right around again.
• Do not keep turtles and other reptiles in schools as they carry potentially fatal bacteria.
• Write letters to legislators asking them to keep sensitive habitat preserved or closed to off-road vehicles, and to prevent off shore drilling that can lead to more endangered sea turtle deaths.
• Report cruelty or illegal sales of turtles and tortoises to your local animal control shelter.
• Report the sale of any turtle or tortoise of any kind less than four inches. This is illegal everywhere in the U.S.
About American Tortoise Rescue
American Tortoise Rescue (http://www.tortoise.com), a nonprofit organization established in 1990 for the protection of all species of
tortoise and turtle, is sponsoring its 11th annual World Turtle Day on May 23rd. Featured in Chase’s Book of Annual Events, the day was created as an annual observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world.
