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It is interesting to note that 5 severely damaged Florida turtles have been transported to Weymouth Sealife Park in Dorset to live out their days on display (http://www.zandavisitor.com/newsarticle-2881-Weymouth_Sea_Life_Park_Aquarium_Acquires_5_Disabled_Sea_Turtles). This may have stemmed from a recent move of a displaced turtle in the opposite direction (flown from Weymouth to Florida). The 5 turtles had reportedly been damaged by collisions with powerboats in Florida, often leading to a fracturing of their shells or even paraplegia. A number were unable to dive to obtain their food because of buoyancy problems and have been assisted in this action by the application of weights to their shells. The claimed reason for this exercise is that the turtles had outgrown their Florida tanks and would get a better quality of life in the specialist turtle attraction in Weymouth. The displayed turtles might well encourage UK visitors to financially support conservation of such reptiles in the wild. One has to balance this against the facts that the Florida turtles were transported by air and road to Weymouth, they are a foreign species, damage makes them unlikely to breed, they are unlikely to fully replicate the behaviour of undamaged animals (perhaps giving visitors an erroneous impression of the species) and that, by remaining in Florida, they might have encouraged responsible operation of powerboats. They will at least get to eat broccoli in Dorset!
4 comments:
You raise interesting points here. I am left wondering, though, whether their disabilities should be taken into account in the way you mention...
My jury is out on the transportation issue, but I think it is great that the injured creatures have been rehabilitated with quality of life. It is also good that their story is being told. Who knows: in the international waters of the blogoshphere, ripples of the tale may filter back to the power boaters after all...
I am undecided also. I certainly am more convinced by these beasts than by the previous inhabitants (Green turtles from a turtle farm that were said to be returned to the Caribbean to the turtle farm 'for release'). They will potentially live a long time in captivity (they could 'outlive' the aquarium!)
The whole question of what to do with injured birds was brought up when I was staying at Miranda Shorebird Centre recently. Some birds would be very miserable in captivity - eg large raptors, but it was generally agreed that, for the adaptable others, the PR and 'close encounter' message they give to visitors, especially children, would make them useful emissaries for their species, especially if endangered.
We made the presumption they would not survive outside captivity.
Another turtle story - brought closer to home as I look out towards Hartland & the north-west tip of Cornwall...
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