Sea Shepherd Investigates Galapagos Tortoise Killers

[Barrett808]

Source: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Sea Shepherd Investigates Galapagos Tortoise Killers
Sea Shepherd News
News Releases
07/10/2007

Eight magnificent and endangered Galapagos tortoises were brutally slaughtered last week on the island of Isabela in the Galapagos Islands. Rangers found the shells of the animals near the fishing village of Puerto Villamil. The tortoises apparently were killed for their meat, although the killings could be revenge slayings. The fishermen have killed tortoises in the past in retaliation for quota restrictions on lobster and sea cucumbers.

The killings followed the announcement by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) that the Galapagos is now designated as a World Heritage Site that is endangered.

These eight tortoises, three of which were nearly a century old, were cruelly tormented then killed. These ignorant poachers are consuming tortoise meat because they believe it will slow the aging process.

In a meeting in Quito on July 5th, Sea Shepherd Founder and President Captain Paul Watson and Sea Shepherd Galapagos Director Sean O’Hearn-Gimenez reviewed the facts of the case with Colonel Teresa Carransa, the head of the Federal Environmental Police. O’Hearn-Giminez will be working with the agency to insure that the investigation moves forward and will assist in any way possible.

Last year, the world mourned the passing of Harriet, a 175-year-old Galapagos tortoise that died in June 23rd, 2006, in an Australian zoo. “Yet here we have eight of these incredible creatures slaughtered illegally. The world should be outraged at the ignorance and brutality of this crime. We need to see these killers apprehended and given severe penalties,” said Captain Watson.

Presently, the Sea Shepherd ship Farley Mowat is in the Galapagos and last week seized and confiscated a 30-mile hooked and baited longline. “It is very strange,” said Captain Watson, “that these longlines are prohibited in the marine reserve, and yet every time our ship and crew arrives in the waters of Galapagos we find them immediately.”

“The problems are many, but the solutions are simple,” said O’Hearn-Giminez. “We simply need to see the Special Law of the Galapagos enforced. Dogs and cats should be removed from the islands; all illegal residents should be deported back to the mainland; and cars and trucks should be banned and replaced with electric cars. Additionally, institutional corruption needs to be investigated and enforcement operations placed into the hands of the Environmental Police and the National Park. These agencies should implement a system for monitoring and intercepting poaching operations. This can be done, we only need the political will to protect these unique islands, and if we have that, will we will find a way.”

Read more: http://seashepherd.org/news/media_070710_1.html

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You can make your tax-deductible donation to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society here: http://seashepherd.org/donate.html .

[leftchick]

1. &%$#(*&^@!!!!!!

:argh:

I will donate as much as I can again to help SS. This is beyond insane! :cry:

[MasonJar]

2. That is so cruel that I hated to even read it. That is right up there in

ignorance with the destruction by the Taliban of the centuries old Buddhas.

[Barrett808]

3. Just one more rec...do it for the wee turtles

"They were too big for me!"

[blondie58]

4. this makes me furious

killing them is bad enough- but they had to torture them first?

Bastards.

I will do something, also. It is a dream of mine to visit the Galapagos someday.

[Harper_is_Bush]

5. Sea Shepherd has no credibility. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

7. Link?

You wanna back those words up with a justification?

[Harper_is_Bush]

12. The comments by "captain" Watson about a Canadian MP's resignation were false

You can google it, easily.

[Canuckistanian]

15. That's it? Is that all you've got?

And I did Google it, extensively. I found no mention of a connection with a "Canadian MP" or Watson's supposed comment on the resignation of ANY Canadian MP.

And if this "event" was in any way controversial, I'm sure I would have found it right away. Watson obviously has his enemies.

Can you even provide a name for this "Canadian MP"?

Again, I ask you for a link.

[slowry]

9. Oh shut the hell up n/t

[Harper_is_Bush]

11. your response only bolsters my point.

[slowry]

13. Yes, you summarily dismiss their over 30 years of fighting against illegal whaling,

and other related crimes, and my telling you to "shut the hell up" bolsters your "point". I'll try another tactic:

Shut the hell up, please.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Barrett808]

16. Do you see anybody else removing illegal longlines from the Galapagos marine reserve?

Sea Shepherd Seizes Massive Illegal Longline in the Galapagos
http://seashepherd.org/news/media_070702_2.html

[Canuckistanian]

6. Jesus CHRIST%, these backwards people should be educated

Eating Galapagos turtles "slow the aging process"????

The Galapagos should have been evacuated decades ago.

And if not, then the inhabitants should be MANDATED to take courses in the local ecology.

[jberryhill]

8. Educated by whom?

By the "eating shark cartilage cures cancer" people?

[Canuckistanian]

10. Their own bloody government!

The Galapagos Islands are owned by the Ecuadorian Government. in fact, it's a separate province of Ecuador.

Now, maybe the funds aren't there to educate people, but at least the government should make a conscious effort to restrict emigration there.

There's been no such effort up to now.

[GliderGuider]

17. Good for the SSCS. I'm a tremendous admirer of Watson, for both his committment and his methods.

My partner's middle daughter has just been accepted as a volunteer by an NGO called "PRETOMA" in Costa Rica. She will be spending the next few months living on the Costa Rican beach working for the preservation and protection of sea turtles. Good for Watson and all the volunteers around the globe working to make the world a better place - antibodies in Gaia's bloodstream, all of them.