Oddball turtle's fate up to nature
Scientists say they rarely rescue such animals
A two-headed loggerhead crawls toward the ocean at Kiawah Island on Saturday.
Past stories
Rare turtle caught off Edisto; 1-year-old Kemp's ridley survives surgery to remove steel fishhook, published 07/06/08
Sea turtle numbers drop as dangers increase, published 09/25/07
Loggerhead threat status questioned; Groups want turtles on endangered list, published 12/18/07
KIAWAH ISLAND — The last turtle from the hatch caught the eye of onlookers as its struggled its way to the ocean. It had two heads.
Kiawah Island turtle patrol volunteers watched as the tiny, deformed loggerhead floundered in the beach wash, pushed back with each wave. A volunteer picked it up and took it to deeper water to release. That didn't seem right to Will Barrett, one of the onlookers. The turtle didn't stand a chance out there. If rescued, it could be an educational exhibit, maybe even used for research.
"Give it a chance to live," he thought.
If only it were that simple.
Loggerhead turtles are a threatened species, not a freak show, biologists say. Most of the palm-sized hatchlings that made their way to the water on Saturday will end up as food for predators. The thinking is, if this guy ends up as food, maybe a healthier turtle survives.
"This animal can't survive, even in captivity. There's no sense in keeping it in captivity. It's not fair to the animal and I don't think it's a good message for people," said Charlotte Hope, S.C. Natural Resources biologist. "It's just best to let nature take its course."
The loggerhead is a long-lived giant sea turtle that crawls ashore in the spring and summer to lay eggs in the dunes. Its nest numbers appear to be declining across the Southeast. Concern for the species spurred a review that's now under way of its "threatened" status.
Environmental groups hope they see it re-declared an endangered species and given more protection.
Among the thousands of loggerheads hatched each year in South Carolina, a few turn up with deformities that can be as slight as a pinned flipper to as extreme as split shells or albino flesh.
Two heads "is pretty rare, but it's not unheard of," said Andrew DiMatteo, a Duke University research associate at the school's marine lab.
Not enough research has been done on the turtles that studying a deformed animal would have much value, he said. The consensus in the field is not to interfere, to let natural selection occur.
Told that, Barrett had to agree.
Keeping a doomed animal alive purely as a freak show "is not terribly humane," he said. "But it's sad either way. It really doesn't have much of a chance."
Reach Bo Petersen at 745-5852 or bpetersen@ postandcourier.com.
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Comments
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
sweet, tripsa... now go into the corner...
:)
August 20, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Awww, it's soooo cute!!!
Tripsa, corner. Leave the Franzia box with DoaMM.
August 20, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
LOL
August 20, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
Before you known it will sprout a thrid and fourth head
August 20, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
"Keeping a doomed animal alive purely as a freak show "is not terribly humane," he said. "But it's sad either way. It really doesn't have much of a chance.""
Are they talking about the people who wear baggy pants around their knees? Politicians maybe? My ex-wife possibly? Why can't humans perform "natural selection"? That would be cool...hehe...
August 20, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
Teenaged Mutant Coastal Turtles
August 20, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MissPriss (anonymous) says...
Good Morning Everyone!
Aww that poor turtle. . .the only thing that came to mind was the theme song to teenage mutant ninja turtles.....
turtles in a half shell!
LoL @ tripsa!
August 20, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
Good morning all. I feel this little fellow should be on his way and let nature take its course. The turtle that is not arch although arch is trying
August 20, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
guided: funny! I immediately starting humming the theme song.
August 20, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Granny! Welcome back!! Hope all is well.
I still say the lil thing is adorable!
August 20, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
512c (anonymous) says...
can you say" Nuclear Reactor Sand? "
August 20, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MissPriss (anonymous) says...
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
Heroes in a half shell
Turtle power.
There the world's most fearsome fighting team,
(we're really hip)
they're heroes in a half shell and they're green.
(hey get a grip)
When the evil Shredder attacks,
Those turtle boys don't cut 'em no slack.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
Splinter taught them to be ninja team,
(he's a radical rat)
Leonardo lead's, Donatello does machines.
(that's a fact jack)
Rapheal is cool but crude,
Rapheal: (give me a break)
Michaelangelo is a party dude.
Michaelangelo: (party)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,
Heroes in a half shell
Turtle power.
August 20, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
Thanks Tammie. I will know more on Monday when I see my cardiologist. I am scared I will be back in the hospital, but I will email and let you know anyway he is cute but I have a feeling this little guy will be ok we may see him back next year if they leave him be let him do what it is turtles do in the wild.
August 20, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
MissPriss, surely you didn't just put that together from your memory...You GOTTA have a video of them or something!
If you did that from memory, kudos to you! I'm impressed...
August 20, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
DoaMM, that's her ringtone...lol
August 20, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MissPriss (anonymous) says...
No DoaMM I looked it up just to make sure I was right!
Tammie maybe it is my ringtone.....lol
I remember back in the day Chef Boyardee had TMNT shapes and I loved it! Along with Sonic the hedgehog ones!
CB that Turt light is some good stuff!
August 20, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldglory (anonymous) says...
grannyofseven_2, feel better soon.
August 20, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Prissylicious, I worry about you...lol
August 20, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MissPriss (anonymous) says...
I'm just playing Tammie..my ringtone is "I'm Me" by Lil Wayne...my favorite rapper of all time!
And I worry about me sometimes too.......
August 20, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BerkeleyCo_Mom_of_3 (anonymous) says...
ColdBeer? You give way too much thought to this stuff...especially the turtle sex...but you make very good arguments.
August 20, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LocalTruth (anonymous) says...
If we only cared about humans as much as we do for animals. Enough about the fate of this bridge dimming turtle! I went to the Animal Planet expo/festivel/show or whatever you want to call it last weekend, and it was obvious that these people believe animals are more important than humans. It was VERY hot and humid and they had a circular water distribution system in place for all of the dogs people brought with them to the show. This was a good idea and it made everyone feel good that all dogs were going to be ok in this terrible heat. TOO BAD MOST OF US HAD TO LEAVE EARLY BECAUSE THERE WERE NO VENDORS PRESENT!!!! NO WATER ANYWHERE FOR US TO PURCHASE. KIDS WERE ROASTING,SWEATING,AND CRYING TO GO HOME. IT TURNED INTO A MISERABLE NAG FEST WITH PEOPLE COMPLAINING AND LEAVING. THE ONLY ANIMALS I SAW WERE THE ONES PEOPLE BROUGHT WITH THEM. I COULD HAVE SEEN THE SAME THING AT PETSMART AND BEEN IN THE A/C!!! BE CAREFUL IF ITS FREE FOLKS!! THESE PEOPLE NEED TO DO NEXT YEARS SHOW RSVP OR THEY MIGHT FIND THEMSELVES ALONE IN THE DOGHOUSE.
August 20, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Like Clint Eastwood told the nunn in the old oater, "Buzzards gotta eat."
August 20, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoaMM (anonymous) says...
theronce, that was The Legend of Josey Wales. He was talking to his partner (who was dying of a gunshot wound) who had said they should bury the folks he just killed. Clint Eastwood said, "To h*ll with them fellas...Buzzards gotta eat...same as the worms."
Fantastic movie, one of my favorites. And while CB may want it, there was no FTS in that film. HOWEVER, I did see 2 Galaupagos turtles get it on in a zoo once. It was, umm, different...
August 20, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
I had the immense good fortune to spend many summers living on Kiawah before it was sold to the Kuwaitees & developed.
It was like living on Gilligan's Island. No paved roads. No locked doors. I could walk alone on the beach at any time day or night & be safe...from harm from another human...the wild animals were another story.
It really was like living on a deserted island. I think there were only about 15-20 houses on the entire Island.
One of our big hobbies was to walk the beach at night looking for turtle tracks.
We had to be careful not to disturb the turtle before she started laying her eggs. Once she began that process she would not stop, but if there was too much activity as she emerged from the water & made her way into the dunes, or even if she'd just begun digging the nest hole, she'd turn around & head back into the water.
So, it always was a game--how quiet & still can we stay so she does not turn around.
Very fond memories.
August 20, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Oh, & BTW the houses then were true beach houses...rustic with mix match furniture.
The phone service was a "party line".
Kiawah was considered to be out in the "boonies"..that is, for the few who had even heard of it. (we did have indoor plumbing, however!)
Trips to town were planned carefully(& begrudgingly).
The summer thunderstorms rarely hit Kiawah. We would sit on the beach & watch the storms roll on toward town & bypass us almost every time.
Amazing how a picture of that little Kiawah wonder can trigger memories of such a wonderful experience.
August 20, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
Well Tripsa, I think you were only somewhat correct on this, it now appears one head was Arch, the other is Sofa_Fart_Cushion
August 20, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jeff61 (anonymous) says...
Posted by abitskeptical on August 20, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That does sound like it would have been fun. Off topic but something I miss is the lightning bugs..use have many back home,,I have not noticed any down here????
August 20, 2008 at 8:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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