Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just want to say that this is in no way intended to disrespect the Asian people or their culture. I just have some questions.

I have recently seen pics of both large and small turtles being butchered alive in an Asian market -- WARNING!!! These are VERY graphic pics!!!

I barely even got past the first one cuz I was just overcome with tears.
I was so devastated. Does anyone know if this goes on in the US? And what can we possibly do to educate people about a HUMANE way of slaughtering these animals? I understand that turtles are used for food and medicine, and I am by no means a vegan, but many of these turtles are endangered and butchering them while they're still alive is barbaric. There just has to be a better way. If anyone has any info, please reply to this post. I just want to get the message out there about conservation and so that others can be educated. All comments are appreciated!
Giant Malaysian Turtle

Yes I am sure they do. And you are right, it is sick and wrong! As far as stopping it, that could be pretty tricky....

Believe me... I am trying to learn everything I can and reach as many people as I can. I would love to go to these markets here in the US and save turtles but I could see myself easily getting in over my head! I guess the best thing to do at this point is to support organizations that are already working to save these turtles. But still it feels like taking a just a spoonfull of sand out of the ocean... so sad...

i was considering contacting PETA regarding this. I'm sure they would agree to assist in saving the turtles. further, they have extensive support from various famous and wealthy individuals. It might be worth looking into

Okay no offense to all of you. But stop complaining. Okay, people have to eat. Oh boo hoo for the turtles, with how many are born each year, I doubt the population is gonna be wiped out. Okay and if they are doing it while the turtle is alive, well sure that may be be mean, But it could be the way they live and that might be how its been done in their culture for years. Plus well... Turtle tastes good, and is good for you.

I think you are missing the point Tony. It is not turtles that are farmed raised for the purpose of being eaten that are the problem here (or even turtles like our native snapper in the USA which is very abundant).

It these endangered species that are being harvested from the wild at alarming rates that is the problem. These animals are in danger of becoming extinct and yet they are being harvested from the wild for the food trade.

In this country the diamondback terrapins are being harvested in huge numbers and many times the restrictions on what can be taken out of the wild are ignored. This could seriously affect some of the wild populations of these animals over time.

Yes -- meat is meat and no one has the right to criticize someone for chowing down on a turtle while they sit back and eat a chicken leg. But chickens are raised for the purpose of being eaten and many of these turtles are pulled from a finite population in the wild.

As for turtle being good for you -- I question that idea --
I did buy a diamondback terrapin from Chinatown and have been rehabbing her for over 9 months now. I got her and she had fungus, shellrot, SCUD (ulcers under her skin), pinworms and whole host of other things going on. Is it really healthy to eat an animal that is caught from the wild and put threw so much stress that it is literally rotting from the inside out by the time you get it to your table?

Steve

i agree with the unhealthy part of eating turtles. Last year i bought 2 spiny softshells from an asian meatmarket. one was so sick it died ( the other is doing great). Also, i think the cruelty here is a big problem, especially for snapping turtles. They pull there heads out far enough with pliers and also because the turtles are very old, simple dinosaur-esque they require so little oxygen to the brain that they can stay alive for around 8 hours with no heads! Cruel, Awful!! --And they also ship these turtles in burlap bags. thanks for posting the first of this, i definitely feel the same way