Comments on: Leatherback Turtle found strangled

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:52:01 +0000

I found the turtle’s manner of death disturbing and the photograph compelling.

I’m surprised no other media picked up on it. Maybe it’s because the turtle was found 5km from a road?

It’s extremely unusual for those turtles to be found in southern waters. A very sad photo indeed.

By: Retarius

Retarius — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:06:35 +0000

Here we see what looks like nylon rope and styrene floats.

One of the great scourges of the oceans now is all the plastic floating in them. This doesn’t receive remotely as much coverage as oil spills. However, crude oil is a naturally occurring organic compound and will degrade and disappear over time in oceanic waters. It makes for spectacular horror shows when slicks hit beaches but the overall effect on species is trivial.

Plastic is a much more serious threat because of its durability and by virtue of accumulation in the environment is a real threat to some species of marine creatures. Here we see what looks like nylon rope and styrene floats.

By: headsteadi

headsteadi — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:15:23 +0000

oh dear, poor turtle

By: Vanilla Bear

Vanilla Bear — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:31:48 +0000

Ooh no… poor turtle !
six feet is about two meters isn’t it ? wow !!
I used to have a 4.6 cm long one..!

Very well done to the cadet barefoot walker journalist,
the pictures are great !

By: delmer

delmer — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:07:39 +0000

Nice work on the cub reporter’s part … 10K is a nice walk. (I realize it’s nothing for Australians … I’ve seen the Dundee movies.)

Several years ago I started a walk on a beach and half-way to my destination (a toilet) noticed the sand was terribly hot. I had Sammo with me … at the time about five … and ended up having to carry him. I burned my feet so badly on the sand that a giant blister formed on the bottoms of both feet.

I’m happy to see the cadet didn’t suffer the same fate. (Of course, maybe he’s just tougher and not one to complain.)