Dead Sea Turtles Near Oil Spill Site

According to this article, "at least 25 sea turtles have washed up dead on Mississippi beaches over the past few days, according to multiple media reports. So far, there is no evidence that the oil spill killed the turtles, but tests are ongoing."

The web page also has a video.

Blinded Turtle Finds New Home in Aquarium

I'm not posting this because of the rescue (which is a good thing), but because of HOW this turtle was blinded.

From the BBC...

The aquarium said it hoped Homer would help raise awareness about the plight of his species.

Dangers include fishermen deliberately blinding the animals to protect fishing equipment.

The Archelon rescue centre in Greece previously looking after Homer believes this is what happened to him.

Homer, who is about 40-years-old, could have another 60 years of life.

Fishermen in Greece deliberately blinding turtles? Barbaric.

All Sea Turtles Finally Protected in the Bahamas

About time. Five of the world’s seven sea turtle species inhabit the Bahamas, and previously it was legal to kill any sea turtle species found there except one, the hawksbill. Now, they are all protected.

Good.

Canadian Poacher Sentenced to Jail Time

I understand this is precedent-setting, but it still seems light punishment to me. The guy had 13 prior convictions....that's a lot!

From Eco-Worldly...

A man in Toronto with 13 prior wildlife crime convictions will serve time after being busted with “a plethora” of poached wildlife.

In a “precedent-setting” sentence, The Star has reported that Toronto-based Pak Sun Chung has been sentenced to 106 days plus an additional nine months in jail for two federal offenses under the Species at Risk Act. The judge also banned him from hunting or fishing in Ontario.

Repeat offender Chung was found this time with what is described as “a plethora of wildlife, alive, dead, and quartered.” He also reportedly has $27,000 in fines related to the 13 prior convictions. Chung was previously arrested twice for the same turtle poaching crime in less than six weeks during 2007.