Fri May 4, 2012, 02:44 PM

Boy carves initials on turtle in 1965. Dad finds turtle alive 47 years later

Last edited Fri May 4, 2012, 02:45 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Turtle With Boy’s Initials Turns Up Alive 47 Years Later

It was 1965 when a boy in Washington County carved his initials in a turtle’s shell and then let it go.

Now, 47 years later, the turtle is still alive and has been found by the boy’s dad.

Holland Cokeley, 85, of South Strabane, Washington County, was walking in the woods of his backyard with his neighbor’s dog, Zack.

Zack began poking around at something and Cokeley realized it was a turtle. He didn’t think much of it, until he gave it a closer look.

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Jeff Cokeley now lives in New York State, but began laughing when his dad sent him pictures of the turtle.

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Holland Cokeley kept it for a couple days and then released it, so it can wander for perhaps many more years.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/05/04/turtle-with-boys-initials-turns-up-47-years-later-alive/

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70 replies	Author	Time	Post
Boy carves initials on turtle in 1965. Dad finds turtle alive 47 years later (Original post)	Liberal_in_LA	May 2012	OP
Turtle vandalism?	Rambis	May 2012	#1
turtle graffiti	Liberal_in_LA	May 2012	#3
Turtle torture. Contrary to popular belief, a turtle shell isn't like our hair.	BlueCaliDem	May 2012	#23
Too bad it wasn't a snapping turtle.	girl gone mad	May 2012	#33
Exactly my first thought: poor turtle, how excruciatingly painful that must have been. :(	Butterbean	May 2012	#35
Since it was on his plastron (underside) it was very painful.	BlueCaliDem	May 2012	#57
I never knew the shells had pain nerves	Marrah_G	May 2012	#47
Reaction to touch means that shells have pressure receptors, but not necessarily pain receptors.	GaYellowDawg	May 2012	#55
Had he carved his initials on the top shell	Seedersandleechers	May 2012	#51
You don't have enough data to make that assertion.	GaYellowDawg	May 2012	#54
There IS enough data out there, and I'm correct, according to the San Diego Zoo's	BlueCaliDem	May 2012	#56
No, you haven't established yourself as correct.	GaYellowDawg	May 2012	#59
But he DID penetrate the plastron surface and cut INto the shell. How else would his initials	BlueCaliDem	May 2012	#63
Well, now that I've seen the pictures, I definitely have to change my position and agree with you.	GaYellowDawg	May 2012	#64
I'm surprised it survived it, too. Poor turtle.	BlueCaliDem	May 2012	#65
imagine being a turtle for 47 years	Enrique	May 2012	#2
awww.	Liberal_in_LA	May 2012	#4
just a joke	Enrique	May 2012	#8
.	Liberal_in_LA	May 2012	#25
Not for one person	sakabatou	May 2012	#6
rofl! nt	treestar	May 2012	#10
Some turtles can live to be 200.	backscatter712	May 2012	#38
Dad finds turtle alive 47 years later	Whisp	May 2012	#5
Good for the turtle!	joeybee12	May 2012	#7
My husband's comment:	a la izquierda	May 2012	#24
That's a heckuva spry 85 y/o guy.	MerryBlooms	May 2012	#9
A heart-warming tale of a boy and his animal mutilation.	SirRevolutionary	May 2012	#11
I'm not advocating it, but the turtle didn't feel a thing	nolabear	May 2012	#13
The "animal mutilation" took place before the beginning of the Beatles' psychedelic period.	Warren DeMontague	May 2012	#31
They should check the son's basement for hitch-hiker and hooker bodies.	Hassin Bin Sober	May 2012	#43
George W. Bush used to torture frogs.	Warren DeMontague	May 2012	#44
Is doing that safe for the turtle?	joeybee12	May 2012	#12
Not advisable but if shallow not generally harmful.	nolabear	May 2012	#15
I'm glad the kid went shallow...	joeybee12	May 2012	#41
I think this story is cool......I wish I cold find the cat with the cans tied to its tail I had when	NavyDavy	May 2012	#14
Turtles maybe slow, but he's back and he's pissed. nt	Javaman	May 2012	#16
lol	Luciferous	May 2012	#34
I have a desert tortoise that's nearly 40	aint_no_life_nowhere	May 2012	#17
really? can it distinguish you from other people?	zazen	May 2012	#19
It very much recognizes me	aint_no_life_nowhere	May 2012	#21
A friend of mine had a couple of desert tortoises they raised from	enlightenment	May 2012	#27
awwwww. . . that just makes me smile n/t	zazen	May 2012	#46
Our turtles will scratch at the sliding glass door to come inside	JCMach1	May 2012	#53
that is really cool!	Marrah_G	May 2012	#61
umm one question.....	Marrah_G	May 2012	#62
Just for short times inside. the AC is too cold for them... makes them lethargic.	JCMach1	May 2012	#66
It usually poops at the same time every day - early in the morning	aint_no_life_nowhere	May 2012	#68
Sounds like a very cool animal to have around	Marrah_G	May 2012	#69
cool!	Liberal_in_LA	May 2012	#26
When I was a kid	Politicalboi	May 2012	#29
Wow!	Marrah_G	May 2012	#48
Calling ASPCA!	longship	May 2012	#18
Maybe you could browse the other posts before blowing a gasket.	randome	May 2012	#22
Maybe I did	longship	May 2012	#30
I hear ya.	randome	May 2012	#32
So what did you end up doing to that first crush you had	snooper2	May 2012	#52
And THAT is why most people don't like ASPCA!!	Logical	May 2012	#37
I think people who attempt to justify carving ones initials on an animal are dispicible.	longship	May 2012	#42
bye	Logical	May 2012	#45
Well, NOW the turtle KNOWS where the kid lives and,,	benld74	May 2012	#20
lol. Long walk to NY	Liberal_in_LA	May 2012	#28
He's in no hurry. nm	rhett o rick	May 2012	#36
Just because tattoos are popular,	B Calm	May 2012	#39
going to have to report my local SPCA then...	belcffub	May 2012	#49
This message was self-deleted by its author	seabeyond	May 2012	#40
Could you imagine if some religious nut-job found the turtle	LynneSin	May 2012	#50
Is there a list of animals that it's OK to carve your initials on? (nt)	Nye Bevan	May 2012	#58
lol...no.	Liberal_in_LA	May 2012	#60
Must have been Rush Limbaugh	NoGOPZone	May 2012	#67
That is very cool to find the same turtle, alive.	uppityperson	May 2012	#70

Response to Liberal_in_LA (Original post)

Fri May 4, 2012, 02:47 PM

Rambis (7,585 posts)

Boy carves initials on turtle in 1965. Dad finds turtle alive 47 years later

1. Turtle vandalism?

3. turtle graffiti

23. Turtle torture. Contrary to popular belief, a turtle shell isn't like our hair.

33. Too bad it wasn't a snapping turtle.

35. Exactly my first thought: poor turtle, how excruciatingly painful that must have been. :(

57. Since it was on his plastron (underside) it was very painful.

47. I never knew the shells had pain nerves

55. Reaction to touch means that shells have pressure receptors, but not necessarily pain receptors.

51. Had he carved his initials on the top shell

54. You don't have enough data to make that assertion.

56. There IS enough data out there, and I'm correct, according to the San Diego Zoo's

59. No, you haven't established yourself as correct.

63. But he DID penetrate the plastron surface and cut INto the shell. How else would his initials

64. Well, now that I've seen the pictures, I definitely have to change my position and agree with you.

65. I'm surprised it survived it, too. Poor turtle.

2. imagine being a turtle for 47 years

4. awww.

8. just a joke

25. .

6. Not for one person

10. rofl! nt

38. Some turtles can live to be 200.

5. Dad finds turtle alive 47 years later

7. Good for the turtle!

24. My husband's comment:

9. That's a heckuva spry 85 y/o guy.

11. A heart-warming tale of a boy and his animal mutilation.

13. I'm not advocating it, but the turtle didn't feel a thing

31. The "animal mutilation" took place before the beginning of the Beatles' psychedelic period.

43. They should check the son's basement for hitch-hiker and hooker bodies.

44. George W. Bush used to torture frogs.

12. Is doing that safe for the turtle?

15. Not advisable but if shallow not generally harmful.

41. I'm glad the kid went shallow...

14. I think this story is cool......I wish I cold find the cat with the cans tied to its tail I had when

16. Turtles maybe slow, but he's back and he's pissed. nt

34. lol

17. I have a desert tortoise that's nearly 40

19. really? can it distinguish you from other people?

21. It very much recognizes me

27. A friend of mine had a couple of desert tortoises they raised from

46. awwwww. . . that just makes me smile n/t

53. Our turtles will scratch at the sliding glass door to come inside

61. that is really cool!

62. umm one question.....

66. Just for short times inside. the AC is too cold for them... makes them lethargic.

68. It usually poops at the same time every day - early in the morning

69. Sounds like a very cool animal to have around

26. cool!

29. When I was a kid

48. Wow!

18. Calling ASPCA!

22. Maybe you could browse the other posts before blowing a gasket.

30. Maybe I did

32. I hear ya.

52. So what did you end up doing to that first crush you had

37. And THAT is why most people don't like ASPCA!!

42. I think people who attempt to justify carving ones initials on an animal are dispicible.

45. bye

20. Well, NOW the turtle KNOWS where the kid lives and,,

28. lol. Long walk to NY

36. He's in no hurry. nm

39. Just because tattoos are popular,

49. going to have to report my local SPCA then...

50. Could you imagine if some religious nut-job found the turtle

58. Is there a list of animals that it's OK to carve your initials on? (nt)

60. lol...no.

67. Must have been Rush Limbaugh

70. That is very cool to find the same turtle, alive.