Texas turtles ending up in China soup pots - Reuters

Source: Reuters

Texas turtles ending up in China soup pots
Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:58PM EDT

By Anna Driver

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Growing up in East Texas, Dian Avriett
loved to watch the turtles sunning on the banks of local
rivers and lakes. But now she says it's rare to see them on
those same waterways, and the reason is clear -- China's
taste for Texas turtle meat.

Hundreds of thousands have been sold to dealers who ship the
animals to Asia where the meat is considered a delicacy with
health benefits. Some also fetch high prices around the world
as pets.

"In Texas, anyone with a $50 dollar non-game permit can take
as many (turtles) as they want," said Avriett, who chairs the
Piney Woods group of the Sierra Club.

Global turtle populations are at risk, but conservationists said
the problem is growing acute in Texas where there are no limits
on the collection of unprotected varieties.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN1021710120070722

One of the most delicious things I have ever eaten was turtle steak grilled in coconut oil on Grand Cayman.

But nothing is so yummy that it is worth driving an animal into extinction.

Then again, I hear Republicans taste like pork.

do we need some kind of worldwide educational program to tell people that there are no special benefits to eating turtle and Rhino horn cannot cure impotence? When the only species of animal left are cattle, pigs, dogs, rats and cats, we're going to be sorry.

and kindness. But then, that's just me and my "crazy" life affirming philosophy.

I found it walking down the street of my housing development in California not far from the beach about 6 or 7 years ago. It must have been someone's pet that got away. It's a different breed from the local California desert tortoise. Anyway, it's practically my best friend. It is a very sweet animal and affectionate for a reptile. When I hold it, it sticks its neck out of its shell to be petted and scratched and seems to enjoy that. And it seems to recognize my voice and turns to me when I call it. It's unfortunate that people develop a taste for the meat of these wonderful and noble animals. Soon there will be no more.

He would roam the backyard during the day, but we brought him in at night and he slept in the kitchen.
He figured out how to open the pocket doors and escaped one day only to be found under our bed in the master bedroom at the end of the hall.

I looked under our bed and said, "Alex, what are you doing under here", to which he RAN out from under the bed, up the hall, to the living room sliding glass door, and out the door.

You had to have been there, but I was laughing hysterically.

Unfortunately, I moved back to the east coast and I knew that climate would be bad for him, so I gave him up to a tortoise rescue team.

I have this special affinity for turtles and tortoises, so it was difficult to give him up, but I did not want to jeopardize his health.

Felix and Oscarina - she was Oscar before she laid eggs. I have six of their hatchlings which I am raising in plastic pools on the Arizona desert. I was going to try to sell them but this post has made me change my mind.

I saw a news report from China not long ago with turles for sale in a market and thought "My, God that looks just like Oscarina."