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Press Room
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 | | Malibu resident Susan Tellem’s plans to celebrate World Turtle Day on May 23
are dampened somewhat by a decision by U.S. Fish and Game to reconsider a ban on importing nonnative turtles and frogs
for food. |
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 2:34 PM PDT Malibu resident,
who fights to save turtles and tortoises, was instrumental in obtaining the ban.
By Jonathan Friedman / Special
to The Malibu Times
Malibu turtle and tortoise activist Susan Tellem thought she would have reason to celebrate
this year's World Turtle Day on May 23 because of the recent decision by the California Fish and Game Commission to ban
the importation of non-native turtles and frogs for the purpose of human consumption. But the commission decided earlier
this month to reconsider the ban after hearing from Asian-Americans in the state Legislature and the seafood business
who oppose the action because of what they said would be devastating cultural and economic impacts on the Asian-American
community.
“After 16 years of trying to get this passed, we were finally thrilled,” said Tellem,
who was devastated by the news of the commission's decision to rehear the item.
Tellem said she has tried many
angles to get the ban implemented over the years, including, in her opinion, that the trade is inhumane and that most of
the imported animals carry diseases. She and her fellow activists finally won over the commission with the argument that
the imported species pose a threat to native animals if they are released into the wild. The Department of Fish and Game
requires those who import live frogs and turtles for human consumption to obtain permits on an annual basis. Under the
policy change, they would be allowed to continue to import the animals until their permits expire.
Earlier
this month, six Asian-American legislators sent a letter to the commission opposing the decision. They wrote that it “disproportionally
targets Asian-American businesses.”
“There are a number of dramatic effects that this decision will
have on seafood markets across the state,” the legislators wrote. “Turtles and frogs are a traditional cultural
cuisine for many Chinese and other Asian-American cultures. Many of the live food markets are owned and managed by first-generation
immigrants.”
The state leaders pointed to the fact the decision does not cover the importation of non-native
species to be sold as pets, so the threat of the animals being released into the wild was not eliminated in their opinion.
A number of Asian-Americans involved in the seafood business came to the commission meeting on May 5 in Stockton
to voice their opposition. Henry Chung, a seafood distributor from San Francisco, said he was not aware of anybody who
imports them for food releasing the species into the wild.
“It will have a great economic impact and many
jobs will be lost because the fish market restaurants hire lots of people to do the job,” he said.
Commission
President Jim Kellogg told the speakers that he would call for a hearing to reconsider the decision. But he and other
commissioners questioned why they had never previously heard from opponents. Nobody spoke in opposition to the measure during
the hearings when the item was being considered.
Tellem said the arguments against the ban that were presented
are the same ones she has heard throughout the years. She said they would still be able to sell the animal food products,
they just could not import live, nonnative ones. Also, she said the “race card” is used too often.
“I'm an animal person,” Tellem said. “I don't care who is doing it. I don't care if it's a Martian selling
them.”
Tellem and her husband, Marshall Thompson, founded World Turtle Day in 2000 as a day for people
to respect turtles and tortoises throughout the world. The couple has been involved in turtle and tortoise rescue efforts
for two decades. They founded American Tortoise Rescue in 1990 as an operation to rescue turtles and tortoises that were
in danger, and to adopt them out to responsible people. They are no longer involved in the rescue and adoption field,
and concentrate their efforts on legislation.
“They're becoming extinct,” said Tellem of turtles
and tortoises. “They predated the dinosaurs and they have survived all these millions of years. And in the past 50
years, we've pretty much decimated their habitat.”
Tellem said there are several ways people can help
to protect turtles and tortoises, with the most important being not to buy them. She said there are so many rescue groups
offering them for adoption that there is no excuse for buying one. There is a list of rescue places on the American Tortoise
Rescue's Web site at www.tortoise.com.
This Thursday's commission hearing will take place in Sacramento at 9:30
a.m. Public speakers can make comments through teleconference, but they must go to select locations to do this. The closest
one to Malibu is in Ontario at the Department of Fish and Game, Inland Deserts Region. The address is 3602 Inland Empire
Blvd., Suite C-220. As of Tuesday, the Department had not decided if it would Web stream a live audiocast of the meeting
at www.fgc.ca.gov. Contact 916.653.4899 for more information.
Copyright © 2010 - Malibu Times
 Sulcata Tortoises Overwhelm U. S. Rescues - Click to Read More
 American Tortoise Rescue Drowning" in Water Turtles Most
Frequently Dumped Turtle is Red Eared Slider Malibu, CA - June 1, 2006 -- American Tortoise
Rescue (ATR), Malibu, has more requests to take in water turtles than it can handle. ATR is asking for pond owners who would
love to have some turtles to step forward and offer their ponds to rehome these gentle creatures. Red eared sliders which
have a red stripe next to their eyes, are the most common turtles given up for adoption. The rescues also get soft shells,
pond turtles, cooters and other native and non-native species. Turtles can live comfortably with koi and eat the same food.
Susan Tellem, who founded the nonprofit ATR 20 years ago, says the best situation for sliders
is a private pond, real or artificial. Some people use with plastic horse troughs or plastic swimming pools, but the sides
have to be high enough so that the turtles cannot escape, and they need to be protected from predators like raccoons. Because
turtles can live 25 years or more, adoption is a true commitment. Tellem says, "Many of our sliders have names and are
very personable. It's wonderful to see them basking in the summer sun." During the winter, turtles hibernate under water
for four or five months, some coming out to bask on unseasonably warm days. "We recommend
homes without small children and dogs," says Tellem. "Children forget to wash their hands and turtles can carry
bacteria. Schools are an absolute no for this reason." Tellem says that dogs think turtles are chew toys, sometimes leading
to painful and debilitating injuries to the turtles. Tellem says that red eared sliders, the most
common water turtle at the rescue,
usually are dumped by their former owners because they just don't want them anymore,
they rescued from live food markets where they were slated to become the next unhappy meal and or sold at mercados or by roadside
vendors. "People get tiny green turtles in a plastic carrying case with an artificial palm
tree at street fairs, pet stores and as prizes at carnivals," said Tellem "Unfortunately, no one tells the potential
owner that these turtles grow to be anywhere from six to 12 inches long and live long lives, instead of staying that cute
little quarter size." Anywhere from 90 - 95 percent die within a year because owners are ill informed by sellers. Worse, Tellem adds, the people selling or giving these away are breaking a Federal law in place since 1974. The law
was enacted to prevent children from putting turtles in their mouths and exposing themselves to salmonella, which many of
the turtles carry. Since the law was enacted, it is illegal to sell any turtle or tortoise less than four inches in the U.S.,
but it is poorly enforced. Tellem encourages anyone who sees this illegal activity to report it to the police or to animal
control. To volunteer your private pond as a new home, contact ATR at info@tortoise.com. # # #
Bless Patrick McDonnell and MUTTS for remembering our special friends...
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This area is for reporters who are interested in covering turtles and tortoises and just need
more information.
 American Tortoise Rescue Celebrates World Turtle Day May 23rd California
Sanctuary Sponsors Day To Honor One of the World's Oldest Creatures Malibu, Calif.
- May 7, 2009 - American Tortoise Rescue (www.tortoise.com), a nonprofit organization established nearly
20 years ago for the protection of all species of tortoise and turtle, is sponsoring World Turtle Day on
May 23rd, 2009. Featured in Chase's Book of Annual Events, the day was created as an annual observance to
help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world. Susan Tellem
and Marshall Thompson, founders of ATR, advocate humane treatment of all animals, especially reptiles. "World
Turtle Day was launched to increase respect for and knowledge about one of the world's oldest creatures. These gentle
animals have been around for about 200 million years, yet they are rapidly disappearing as a result of the live food markets,
habitat destruction and the cruel pet trade," says Tellem. "We are seeing smaller and smaller turtles coming into
the rescue which means that older adults are disappearing from the wild, and the breeding stock is drastically reduced.
This is a very sad time for turtles and tortoises throughout the world." Tellem and Thompson note that experts
predict the complete disappearance of these creatures within the next 50 years. They recommend that adults and children
do a few important things that can help to save turtles and tortoises for the next generation. - Never buy a turtle
or tortoise as it increases demand from the wild. Adopt from a rescue.
- Don't take turtles or tortoises from the wild
unless they are sick or injured. If they are crossing a busy street, pick them up and send them in the same direction they
were going - if you try to make them go back, they will turn right around again.
- Write letters to legislators asking
them to keep sensitive habitat preserved or closed to off road vehicles.
- Report cruelty or illegal sales of turtles
and tortoises to your local animal control department, Fish & Game or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
- Report
any turtle or tortoise of any kind less than four inches being sold at pet stores or Mercados. This practice is illegal everywhere
in the U.S.
"Illegal street vendors at the beach, at downtown Mercados and at Asian live food markets throughout
the U.S. are a major problem for turtles, especially the ‘red eared slider' water turtles. These have an almost
100% mortality rate due to ignorance about their care," Tellem says. ATR currently houses about 100 injured,
abandoned and lost turtles and tortoises. These are too ill or abused for adoption. Since 1990, ATR has placed
more than 3,000 tortoises and turtles in caring homes. The founders no longer do adoption, but the web site is loaded
with referrals for people who want to place or adopt turtles. The founders have turned their attention to education.
"Our ultimate goal is to stop the illegal trade in turtles and tortoises around the world. But our first
job is here in the U.S. where pet stores and reptile shows sell illegal hatchling tortoises of all species," says Thompson.
"Turtles are often an impulse buy, and people who are unfamiliar with their proper care run a real risk of contracting
salmonella or causing deformities in the tortoises themselves. We are here to help prevent that." For answers
to questions and other information visit American Tortoise Rescue online at www.tortoise.com or by sending e-mail to info@tortoise.com.
# # # # # # 
Eagle Scouts earn their badges by helping build houses at ATR. Marshall is an Eagle Scout too.
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Note to Reporters: American Tortoise Rescue has been helping media report correct
information about turtles and tortoises for almost 20 years. Susan Tellem, the founder, is a public relations professional
and will help you get your story done quickly. Email her at info@tortoise.com or call 310-613-3504.
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The links below will take you to stories in the press about ATR and
about turtles...
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