Chinese Market Update

As you know, we have been fighting the live market battle for years and are almost no farther along at this point then we were when we started. We are amazed that because we love turtles and want to protect them from the inhumane conditions at the markets.

Your letters and calls do help so please keep them coming and check here frequently to see what is happening to stop this cruel practice. There is an amazing story about every last turtle being vacuumed out of Asia to satisfy the Chinese hunger for turtles. See http://nytts.org/asianturtlecrisis.html

Thanks to Assemblywoman now Senator Shiela Kuehl, we have a new law that was passed January 1, 2001 that is supposed to protect the quality of life for all animals in the live market. Here's what it says:

AB 2479 by Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl. Live Animal Markets. Support
Requires that animals in live animal markets be held under humane conditions to prevent "injury, starvation, dehydration, or suffocation," and that "no animal will be dismembered, flayed, cut open, or have its skin, scales, feathers, or shell removed while the animal is still alive." See also AB238.

Here is the tragedy we are dealing with - dead and dying turtles waiting for the soup pot.
 

What You Can Do

Immediately write letters to the Commission. Even if you have written before, please send another letter. Letters are coming in at a fast pace and virtually all are in favor of a ban. Please send us a copy as well.

Emphasize the impact on the indigenous turtle and frog population from "turtle dumping," and the displacement of native species; disease and parasites that can infect humans and other animals; illegal sales (it is currently illegal to sell them now!) and the fact that turtles eat baby ducks and fish and other creatures.

Some additional facts that you need to know:

None of the turtles at the markets are indigenous to California. Turtles from the eastern U.S. are being yanked from the wild to fill the market orders. Judging from the sizes we see in the markets, most of these are breeding age turtles and many of the females are carrying eggs. Even worse, map turtles and Western pond turtles have turned up recently!

Here is the address that you need to make your voice heard:

California Fish & Game Commission
1416 Ninth Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-653-4899/FAX 916-653-5040

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