Alligator snapping turtles found thriving in Houston, TX
During a survey of other wildlife in the area, wildlife biologist Eric Munscher found them by accident in traps he’d set along the banks. Munscher works with the Turtle Survival Alliance and says it wasn’t a surprise that they were there.
“We just never thought that there was a successful population here,” he said.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
Philippines: Chevron volunteers clean up coastline, protect 4 olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) nests
India: first olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) makes appearance on Canacona beach after delay in usual timing
USA: Sea Turtle Inc. makes first trip to Mexico
Crime & Punishment
Pakistan: turtle smuggling seemingly driven by lack of penalties
Ecology
Australia: Port Stephens adopts new crabbing methods, sees 0 turtle deaths so far
India: lack of TEDs may be leading to more deaths of sea turtles prior to nesting
Health & Medical
USA: sea turtle horror story- turtle survives after eating eel, eel not quite dead
Did You Know…
The worm-like lure on the alligator snapping turtle’s tongue used to draw in prey is known as a vermiform appendage.
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Photo from Eric Munscher.