turtle news stories on Newser

Vietnam Scrambles to Save Sacred Turtle

Nick McMaster — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:23:05 CST

Hanoi residents crowded around a lake today to witness the military's rescue attempt of a sacred animal: a giant freshwater turtle thought to be up to 100 years old. The Rafeteus swinhoej in Hoan Kiem Lake is one of only four specimens known to be alive, and its 6-foot-long body...

Why Did the Turtle Cross the Road?

Kevin Spak — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:43:00 CDT

A turtle trying to reach the safety of a riverbank literally stopped traffic yesterday in Boston, NBC affiliate WHDH reports . The elderly reptile strolled across a three-lane parkway at its own pace as some drivers stopped, some swerved, and two SUVs coasted right over the top of its shell. The...

Despite Oil, Sea Turtles Released in Gulf

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 05:52:50 CDT

Federal biologists are releasing thousands of endangered Kemp's ridley baby sea turtles into the western Gulf of Mexico, betting that by the time the silver dollar-sized swimmers make it to the oil-fouled waters of the eastern Gulf, BP will have cleaned up its goopy mess. Texas has not been significantly...

Massive Gulf Turtle Rescue Launched

Rob Quinn — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:40:00 CDT

Wildlife experts scrambling to save hatchlings from the Gulf oil spill have hatched the biggest turtle rescue effort in history. Tens of thousands of sea turtle eggs will be dug up from beaches along the Gulf coast and trucked to Florida's Atlantic coast, where they will be hatched in temperature-controlled...

Turtles Shut Down NYC Runway

Rob Quinn — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:18:03 CDT

Mating season came to a speedy end for some turtles who strayed onto a runway at New York's JFK airport yesterday, the New York Post reports. After a pilot told air control he had run over some turtles on his way to take-off, wildlife workers shut down the runway for...

Asian Appetites Threaten Florida Turtles

Rob Quinn — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:16:51 CST

Asia's insatiable appetite for turtles could be driving some US species to the brink of extinction, the Los Angeles Times reports. The region's newly affluent consumers are happy to shell out top dollar for the delicacy and with most native species already eaten, Florida's turtle exports are booming. Conservationists warn...

Name This Species—for a Fee

Matt Cantor — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:44:02 CST

Purdue University has some recently discovered bats and turtles to name, and you can be the one to do it—if you’re willing to pony up some cash, the Chicago Tribune reports. The university is auctioning off naming rights to a number of species, planning to use the money to...

Baby Turtles Go Out for Italian

Matt Cantor — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:34:01 CDT

Sixty baby turtles took Rome restaurant-goers by surprise when they showed up under a table, Reuters reports. The newly hatched creatures normally instinctively head toward the sea from their beach birthplace, but “they saw the artificial lights and took the wrong route,” said a wildlife conservator. “The diners were at...

Two-Wheeled Turtle Finds Love

Peter Fearon — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:31:25 CDT

A turtle that lost the use of her hind legs has come out of her shell since being fitted with a set of rear wheels, reports AP. The 55-pound turtle, Arava, has even begun mating with an amorous male. The 10-year-old spurred tortoise was fitted with a customized skateboard by...