Summary:
According to Conservation International, over 280 of freshwater turtle species are endangered and being threatened for extinction. Turtle eggs are being used for food and turtles are very popular in pet trade which is a main cause for this. In China they are used for medicinal reasons and are on the market for a high price. These turtles live for about 50 years, and if they are killed before they reach 15, which is when they can have more turtles, then no more turtles will exist. Another problem is that their habitats are being ruined because of drilling for hydroelectricity and mining. Slowly, human activity is decreasing the amount of freshwater turtles.
Reflection:
I think that it's sad that freshwater turtles are close to becoming extinct, especially since it is being caused mainly by humans. If they put an age limit on how old the turtle is before it can be used, I think this problem will definitely be closer to being solved. For example, before they could be taken for pet use they would need to be 20 or older, so they can keep the turtle population going. I personally like pet turtles, and it would be sad if it reached a point where the wouldn't be allowed.
Questions:
1) What are your ideas on ways this problem can be solved?
2) Should using turtles as pets be banned?
3) Do you think people will care about this issue and try to help it, or will they brush it aside and concentrate on more "important" ones like they tend to be doing for other endangered animals?
Turtles in Trouble
No Particular Author
September 15th, 2010
Environmental News Network
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2167/t/5243/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=24053
I think that we should make a law that makes it illegal to eat the turtle's eggs, or we should have a certain amount of turtle's eggs that are allowed to be used as food. I don't realy think that we should banned them forever but at least make it banned until we can take care of the population. Once the population is back to normal I think that the turtles must be above the age of reproduction. I think that if people are told that the freshwater turtles are endangered then people would be willing to help protect them.
ReplyDeleteI also think that it is very sad that the turtles are endangered, and I hope there is a way we can solve this problem. One idea I have to help prevent the turtles from going extinct is by having special areas where people are not allowed to bother the turtles that live there. For example, in Hawaii I went to a beach that was known for its turtles. You would take one step into the water and giant sea turtles would literacy swim right to you. However, there were people working there who made sure you would not touch, harm, or feed the turtles. By doing this, many turtles are ensured safety. So I think there should be other beaches and areas where you are not allowed to touch the turtles that live there. I do not think that turtles as pets should be banned, because many people like having turtles as pets. Maybe just the endangered types of turtles should be illegal to have as pets. For example, I know most people have box turtles, so if box turtles are not endangered severely, then they should be allowed to be pets. I think that some people who love animals and are trying to help the earth become a better place will definitely try to solve this issue. However, other people who catch and sell turtles for a living will probably ignore the fact that they are endangered because all they care about is the money.
ReplyDeleteWhile it may seem sad that any animal is near extinction, I doubt people will do anything to solve this problem. People aren't going to just stop eating turtle eggs or getting turtles as pets simply because they are near extinction. For starters, most people likely aren't aware of the grave situation freshwater turtles are in. Simply banning the use of turtles wouldn't go over well. After all, if we ban the use of them to save them, what's the point of still having them?
ReplyDeleteHey Luke, I think the "purpose" of them is the food chain, not for us to have as pets. It is pretty important to keep them there.
ReplyDelete