Buddhists chanted prayers to bless more than 600 baby turtles that were seized by the state Department of Environmental Conservation after a smuggler tried to transport them into Chinatown. The “red eared sliders” are not native to the area and could destabilize the local ecosystems and possibly spread disease, according to a local TV report.
Upper West Sider Lorri Cramer has been taking care of the animals for the past few weeks — they are in plastic buckets in her apartment — but they are likely to be released soon. Humane Society International is arranging their travel to secure sanctuaries. Cramer says the turtles are “stressed out,” though not as much as when they first got to her house.
They will probably be euthanized. They just say that they will send them to a sanctuary. Also, they are already an invasive species in the northeast…I see them everywhere I go hiking.
I understand they are frequent carriers of salmonella. I wonder how the Building feels about this? https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048151.htm
don’t forget house flies! they also carry salmonella in addition to typhoid, cholera and dysentry. cysts of protozoa, and TB. it gets worse! read the Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housefly
The Dept of Environmental Conservation and myself do not want to euthanize this hatchlings as freezing them to death is painful and inhumane. It is not their fault that some wholesaler smuggled them into NY.
We are very aware that the Red eared Slider is an invasive species and in fact is on the Top 100 List of Invasive Species in the World. So we have been looking for people with large enclosed private pieces of land and man made ponds that have no outlet to other water sources. Here the turtle will be able to live out their natural lives.
The Buddhist Groups that came to perform the Blessing Ceremony prayed that the turtles can live a full life and that they can find sanctuary where they will not harm native species and the environment.
As far as salmonella goes. All animals including ourselves carry it in their digestive track. With turtles when they are stressed out, the salmonella could become active. As long as someone washes their hands after touching the turtle, they will be alright. I also recommend that before touching this tiny creature one wash their hands to keep from infecting the turtle with other infections.
Thank you for your hard work, Lorri! I hope they find a good home. I wish I knew of enclosed ponds, but all I can think of are the restaurants that have koi areas, such as Kouzan.
Thank you so much for your support and for caring about these tiny turtles.
My wife is going to Florida on Tuesday. Her parents have a private small man-made pond, fenced in land. What’s the possibility of taking some of these guys there? Plane? Restrictions?
Thanks for your offer, but Florida has very strict rules about the import into the state of red eared sliders. One needs to apply for permits and it is also illegal to release turtles.
Also planes will not let you carry any reptiles aboard or check them as luggage. When a friend moved to the west coast, we had to hold the turtle here and send it out FedEx Overnight once she was settled.
i figured there were issues. I hope you find good homes for these guys. thank you for all your hard work. blessings to you.
If I’m not mistaken, at one time it was legal to buy these cute little turtles in NYC. I had a few as a kid but sadly, had no idea how to properly care for them and they always died young. I never got salmonella poisoning from them but if you practice proper hygiene it shouldn’t be an issue. Just hope they are able to find good homes for them. I was wondering if some of the enclosed ponds in Central Park or some of the other parks wouldn’t make good homes for some of them? PS I love the Buddhist chants. That was kinda lovely.
You are correct. My first turtle was named Pokey. He lived in a plastic pond with a palm tree. He died early, maybe 5 months.We bought him in Woolworth’s and I got to grab him out of a giant bowl of turtles. In those times no one knew how to properly care for turtles.The food they gave us was ant eggs.and we didn’t know that they needed heat and sunlight and a much better diet.
I take care of the turtles in Central Park. Most of the turtles in the Turtle Pond, the Meer and the Lake are all red eared sliders that were someone’s pet at one time. But for every pet that is able to survive, 3 die.
The turtle pond is so overcrowded that most of the pet turtles released die of starvation. It is illegal to feed the turtles in the park but some folks still do and when they throw in food, the turtles go into a feeding frenzy and injure one another. The native turtles that are still in the pond are smaller and slower and they have taken the worst beaten. It is so sad.
This spring more than 70 dead bodies floated to the surface. They were all turtles who had gone into brumation or hibernation but didn’t have enough calories stored to get them through this hard winter.
And it all goes back to people buying tiny turtles on a whim and not being responsible to care for them when they grow full size.
Laws need to be changed to protect these tiny turtles from exploitation.
Thanks for caring. I really appreciate your support.
Hi Miriam, public ponds are not safe for turtle’s. They are exposed to predators, toxic runoff from pesticides, pet waste, fertilizers and lack of natural dietary needs. Fowl&fish dirty the water. Causing toxic algae blooms that sicken&kill the pond creatures:(. When people know better they hopefully do better. Thank you for caring. Eden Wildlife turtle warrior’s:)
Thank you for rescuing the turtle’s!Outlaw eating turtle’s and their abduction from the wild. Educate everyone about the cruel deaths they face when dumped. Sadly some state’s will kill any non-native turtle found or rescued from the wild. Only we few safe natural habitats are able to step up when allowed, to give turtles a happy safe life. Our Llama herd protects them. If U keep turtle’s in small often toxic plastic pools, it’s only a matter of time before they get eaten. End pet shops selling turtle’s unless from private breeders. Abduction trade will never end. Turn in ethnic shops and restaurants who cook innocent turtle’s (alive),after being treated horribly. Post”Turtle Crossing” signs&help turtles crossing roads to get across the road safely! God bless all who help turtle’s and all creatures great and small! Sheena of Eden¤
I just read the post’s. Instead of incorrectly maligning innocent turtles.Learn the facts@turtle’s place on this planet!Endless expense,effort,pond science&labor are needed 24/7! No day off, no funding, no mercy! To criticize the awesome rescuer or the monk’s kindness&saving turtles is sad! Bless U Lori!:)
Thank you so much for your work and for your support
Here here!
Learn the facts@turtle’s place on this planet!Endless expense, effort,pond science&labor are needed 24/7! No day off, no funding, no mercy! Unlike the world’s rivers&oceans, we work to keep our natural ponds healthy. Step up&be part of the solution. Clean up, end pesticides&chemical run off&support eco warriors who do the work U dare to criticize. Thank U Lori of NY:)
Love this story. I once helped smuggle a baby Red Slider onto a plane so that it could go live in a private lotus pond in Hawaii. (This was way before 9/11, BTW.) We put him in a water-bag, tucked the bag into a large pocket of some cargo pants, and once onboard discreetly transferred him into a small aquarium.
Thanks to Lorri and the Dept of Enviro Conservation for seizing these little guys. Thanks to the Buddhist groups for their blessings. WSR: Maybe you can let us know in a few weeks how the turtles are doing?
Will do! WSR
I hope this story has a happy ending. These poor innocent turtles should not have to die because of heartless and greedy individuals.
Any time I’m in Chinatown, I see these little guys for sale in buckets outside stores. . No one is cracking down?
Good lord, I came to see cute little turtles – did not expect to have my heart broken. Thank you commenters for the quick education about the plight of this innocent species. And thank especially to Lorri Cramer especially for opening her home and heart to 600 defenseless creatures in need… I often wonder how animal caregivers find the emotional energy to keep going in the face of such terrible realities, and then I immediately thank the cosmos that people like you are able and willing to do what you do. Keeping my fingers crossed for these little guys and hoping the poster who suggests any stories of sanctuary are fictional is just wrong.
Thanks to Lorri, Humane Society International,
the Dept of Environmental Conservation and the
Buddhist monks for helping these scared,
tiny victims of trafficking.
may the turtles reach their sanctuary, soon.
and many thanks to
Eden Wildlife Habitat & Rescue in Calif
for the caring work that they do…