Rare Turtle found dead in UK fishing nets

[Scubanut]

I found this news on the bbc website just, it ain't nice to see a creature of the deep go like this. Especially when it's a visitor to these shores. Very sad indeed

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/4747761.stm


A sad and unhappy Scubanut

Extremely sad news.
They say they're not sure if the fishing nets caused it's death.
Let's hope it died of natural courses, and didn't suffer

Corinne

[recurve]

Indeed very sad.

It's a pity that the story contradicted itself by stating that the animal had been cauht in nets, and then in lobster pot ropes.

[rickles23]

I hate the sight of such a magnificent creature dying that way. Here in Port Macquarie (Aus) there are turtles of four different species in the river at various times of the year.

Leatherbacks are often seen eating the jellyfish just off the continental shelf.
(Dermochelys coriacea). The largest living turtle, the leatherback can reach a total length of 2.1 m with a weight of 365 kg.

The Leatherback turtle is a sea turtle so unique that it has its own family. All other sea turtles belong to the Cheloniidae family. Leatherback turtles are the sole members of the Dermochelyidae family.

I do disagree with the report stating "The turtle, which is the largest reptile in the world".

If memory serves that would be the Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), they can grow to be over 23' in length. Even the Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) regularly exceeds 20' in length.

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by rickles23

I hate the sight of such a magnificent creature dying that way. Here in Port Macquarie (Aus) there are turtles of four different species in the river at various times of the year.

Leatherbacks are often seen eating the jellyfish just off the continental shelf.
(Dermochelys coriacea). The largest living turtle, the leatherback can reach a total length of 2.1 m with a weight of 365 kg.

The Leatherback turtle is a sea turtle so unique that it has its own family. All other sea turtles belong to the Cheloniidae family. Leatherback turtles are the sole members of the Dermochelyidae family.

I do disagree with the report stating "The turtle, which is the largest reptile in the world".

If memory serves that would be the Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), they can grow to be over 23' in length. Even the Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) regularly exceeds 20' in length.

Definition of largest I suppose? Length/Mass etc. Although I too was under the impression that the salt crocs could be heavy too.

Sad either way.

Adrian

[rickles23]

saltwater crocodile—up to 2,000 pounds (908 kilograms) average is 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms). They are a tad longer and bite.....

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by rickles23

saltwater crocodile—up to 2,000 pounds (908 kilograms) average is 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms). They are a tad longer and bite.....

Yep that would get my vote for largest.

Thankfully we don't get em here, although... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4748335.stm

[Midnight]

Originally Posted by Adrian Kelland

Yep that would get my vote for largest.

Thankfully we don't get em here, although... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4748335.stm

That Croc was probably one of the huge family of them living in the London waste water system that has escaped to lead a new life away from all that smoke!!!

BTW horriffic way for one of the masters of the sea to end its days.

Although a part of me is a bit excited at the possibility of seing a turtle in local waters, is it not a bit worrying to see that they are now reaching UK shores? Is it not a sign of the global warming and consequent environmental change we have partially caused.

Academics please correct and inform me.

Regards
Midnight

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by Midnight

That Croc was probably one of the huge family of them living in the London waste water system that has escaped to lead a new life away from all that smoke!!!

BTW horriffic way for one of the masters of the sea to end its days.

Although a part of me is a bit excited at the possibility of seing a turtle in local waters, is it not a bit worrying to see that they are now reaching UK shores? Is it not a sign of the global warming and consequent environmental change we have partially caused.

Academics please correct and inform me.

Regards
Midnight

Regarding the croc in the sewer network, I'm not sure they are that tough! Sounds like something from the Sunday Sport

Leatherbacks in Britsh waters are not new, just rarely seen. The Welsh coast has many reports over decades. They come for the numbers of huge jelly fish.

Perhaps not a global warming issue in this case.

Adrian

[sch]

Originally Posted by Midnight

Although a part of me is a bit excited at the possibility of seing a turtle in local waters, is it not a bit worrying to see that they are now reaching UK shores? Is it not a sign of the global warming and consequent environmental change we have partially caused.

Apparently nothing to do with global warming - now I know they're not exactly an academic source, but they had a segment on the Leatherback's on last week's BBC Coast program.

It seems the turtles follow the Gulf Stream upto the UK to feed on jellyfish and this has been going on for ages

Simon