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Showing posts with label Turtle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turtle. Show all posts
Wax and polish: Sea turtle stops by underwater 'car wash' to get a clean and scrub from electric yellow fish
By COREY CHARLTON
The brightly coloured fish working on one of their customers before they finish up and move onto the next one
These brightly coloured fish have been photographed happily operating an underwater car wash to help clean passing sea turtles.
Photographer Masa Ushioda, 43, described the fish as working 'like a car wash' and said the electric yellow, purple and blue fish worked enthusiastically on each turtle that checked in for a scrub.
The busy crew operated 60ft underwater in the Pacific Ocean off the Kona coast of Hawaii, America, in an area known as Turtle Pinnacle.
The Green Sea Turtle is common in the area known as Turtle Pinnacle, off the coast of Hawaii
Mr Ushioda, who has two children and lives in Kona, said: 'A turtle cleaning station is like a car wash business - the turtles come in, get cleaned and go out.
'As soon as a new dirty turtle came into the cleaning station, all the fish abandoned the one they were on, and go for the newcomer.
After the clean is completed, many of the turtles find a nearby ledge or overhang where they rest for awhile
'Obviously the dirtier, the better. On a typical day, during a 60 minute dive, more than dozen a turtles come in and out.
'After the fish leave, many turtles find a ledge or overhang nearby and fall asleep for another 20 minutes or so.
'But some leave the station as soon as the cleaning gets done.
Read more at Dailymail.co.uk
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Tiny cute hero turtles: The newly hatched reptiles that experts hope can save their species
By ADAM SHERGOLD
Hello, world: This Western Pond Turtle hatches from his egg at Oregon Zoo, where a two-decade breeding programme is underway to help save the species
Peering nervously out of its shell for a first glimpse at the world, this turtle, not much bigger than a 50p piece, is part of a breeding programme that will hopefully help save its species.
Once common along the Pacific coast of North America, the Western Pond turtle has all but disappeared from Canada and is threatened in the United States and Mexico by river dams, invasive plants, draining of wetland and its natural predators.
But these latest additions, born at Oregon Zoo, give hope that their decline can be reversed.
Miniscule: This little turtle is barely bigger than a coin. Out in the wild, it would have been extremely vulnerable to predators at this size
They are the result of a 20-year breeding programme aimed at restoring the species to its previous levels. Although the turtles can live until the age of 70, they don't begin to breed until they're 10.
But with the turtles endangered in Washington state and threatened in Oregon - and populations greatly reduced and concentrated elsewhere - it can be hard to find a mate.
Endangered: Western Pond turtle populations on North America's Pacific coast have dwindled to just a few hundred in some areas
This little turtle measures just a few centimetres and weighs a few ounces but once fully grown, they can reach six to eight inches long and weigh up to 2.4 pounds.
Trouble is, they grow very slowly and so are extremely vulnerable to predators out in the wild.
But these turtles will be given a fighting chance as they'll be looked after at the zoo until the spring and then tracked by electronic transmitter.
Endangered: Western Pond turtle populations on North America's Pacific coast have dwindled to just a few hundred in some areas
The zoo has released 1,500 turtles over the past two decades, with encouraging results - the Columbia River Gorge turtle population rose from a low of 150 in 1990 to approximately 1,500 in 2011.
Experts predict that 95 per cent of those turtles released back into the Gorge have survived.
The Western Pond Turtle can prove very elusive as they rapidly dive from their basking sites into deep water when approached by humans.
They're often found hidden under submerged rocks and logs, in deep silt or in beaver borrows and lodges.
Tiny friends: The zoo's previous preservation efforts have been successful, with populations of other turtle species rising ten fold
These omnivores eat insects, crayfish and other aquatic invertebrates, as well as the occasional fish, tadpole or frog.
Females deposit clutches of 5-13 eggs once or twice a year and can travel as far as half a mile and up to 300ft above the nearest source of water for egg-laying.
The females spend a considerable amount of time covering up their nest and soil with vegetation to make it harder for predators to find the eggs.
Helping hand: Once big enough, the zoo will release the little turtles back into the wild. Some will be fitted with electronic trackers to monitor population levels
source: dailymail
Peering nervously out of its shell for a first glimpse at the world, this turtle, not much bigger than a 50p piece, is part of a breeding programme that will hopefully help save its species.
Once common along the Pacific coast of North America, the Western Pond turtle has all but disappeared from Canada and is threatened in the United States and Mexico by river dams, invasive plants, draining of wetland and its natural predators.
But these latest additions, born at Oregon Zoo, give hope that their decline can be reversed.
They are the result of a 20-year breeding programme aimed at restoring the species to its previous levels. Although the turtles can live until the age of 70, they don't begin to breed until they're 10.
But with the turtles endangered in Washington state and threatened in Oregon - and populations greatly reduced and concentrated elsewhere - it can be hard to find a mate.
This little turtle measures just a few centimetres and weighs a few ounces but once fully grown, they can reach six to eight inches long and weigh up to 2.4 pounds.
Trouble is, they grow very slowly and so are extremely vulnerable to predators out in the wild.
But these turtles will be given a fighting chance as they'll be looked after at the zoo until the spring and then tracked by electronic transmitter.
The zoo has released 1,500 turtles over the past two decades, with encouraging results - the Columbia River Gorge turtle population rose from a low of 150 in 1990 to approximately 1,500 in 2011.
Experts predict that 95 per cent of those turtles released back into the Gorge have survived.
The Western Pond Turtle can prove very elusive as they rapidly dive from their basking sites into deep water when approached by humans.
They're often found hidden under submerged rocks and logs, in deep silt or in beaver borrows and lodges.
These omnivores eat insects, crayfish and other aquatic invertebrates, as well as the occasional fish, tadpole or frog.
Females deposit clutches of 5-13 eggs once or twice a year and can travel as far as half a mile and up to 300ft above the nearest source of water for egg-laying.
The females spend a considerable amount of time covering up their nest and soil with vegetation to make it harder for predators to find the eggs.
source: dailymail
Workmen destroy more than 20,000 rare turtle eggs after bulldozers were driven on to beach
By PAUL THOMPSON
Rare occurrence: A leatherback sea turtle lays her eggs in daylight during 2011. The turtle can lay up to 85 eggs but only around one per cent survive to adulthood. The animals normally lay their eggs at night
A construction crew working on a Caribbean beach has inadvertently destroyed thousands of rare Leatherback turtle eggs and newly hatched turtles.
Bulldozers diverting a river that runs along a beach in Trinidad mistakenly exposed the eggs and newborn turtles by shifting too much sand.
As many as 20,000 eggs were crushed or eaten by vultures and stray dogs that descended on the area.
Tourists who had travelled to Trinidad to watch the sea turtles hatch could only look on helplessly as they were consumed.
Disaster: The leatherback turtle eggs can be seen lying on the sand next to the bulldozer than destroyed them in Trinidad
The thin strip of beach in Grand Riviere on the north coast of the island is widely regarded as the world’s densest nesting area for Leatherback turtles, the largest of the species which can grow to more than seven feet long, weigh over a ton and live up to 100 years.They are a globally protected species with females burying their eggs in sand.
While a female can lay up to 85 eggs only one per cent survive.Work crews using bulldozers and other heavy machinery had been asked to divert a river away from the hotel where tourists from all over the world had gathered to watch the turtle hatching.
Habitat: The beach is widely regarded as the world's densest nesting area for the biggest of all living sea turtles
The owner of the Mount Plaisir Estate Hotel said the Grand River needed to to be diverted as it was undermining the foundations of his building.
But hotelier Piero Guerrini said the workers turned up without the proper zoning maps and dug up thousands of the turtle eggs.
'For some reason they dug up the far end of the beach, absolutely encroaching into the good nesting areas. 'This could have been avoided with a much wiser approach. But it was done too late and it was done in the wrong way,' said Guerrini.
Mr Guerrini said his guests were horrified as the injured hatchlings died on the beach. Crushed eggs littered the beach while other baby turtles could be seen struggling to survive.
'This really put a lot of bad images in people’s minds,' Guerrini said.
A group of the turtles shortly after their birth. The largest of the species can grow up to be more than seven feet long, weigh over a ton and live for up to 100 years
Conservationist blamed the Trinidad Government for not coordinating the work and acting too slowly to divert the river.
Marc de Verteuil, of the Papa Bois Conservation organization, said: 'Their equipment was basically crushing a much, much larger part of the beach than made sense. It looked like a bit of a panic reaction and they didn’t follow procedure.
'It’s a failure of governance.'
A spokesman for the Trinidad Ministry of Works has refused to comment.
source: dailymail
Rare occurrence: A leatherback sea turtle lays her eggs in daylight during 2011. The turtle can lay up to 85 eggs but only around one per cent survive to adulthood. The animals normally lay their eggs at nightA construction crew working on a Caribbean beach has inadvertently destroyed thousands of rare Leatherback turtle eggs and newly hatched turtles.
Bulldozers diverting a river that runs along a beach in Trinidad mistakenly exposed the eggs and newborn turtles by shifting too much sand.
As many as 20,000 eggs were crushed or eaten by vultures and stray dogs that descended on the area.
Tourists who had travelled to Trinidad to watch the sea turtles hatch could only look on helplessly as they were consumed.
Disaster: The leatherback turtle eggs can be seen lying on the sand next to the bulldozer than destroyed them in TrinidadThe thin strip of beach in Grand Riviere on the north coast of the island is widely regarded as the world’s densest nesting area for Leatherback turtles, the largest of the species which can grow to more than seven feet long, weigh over a ton and live up to 100 years.They are a globally protected species with females burying their eggs in sand.
While a female can lay up to 85 eggs only one per cent survive.Work crews using bulldozers and other heavy machinery had been asked to divert a river away from the hotel where tourists from all over the world had gathered to watch the turtle hatching.
Habitat: The beach is widely regarded as the world's densest nesting area for the biggest of all living sea turtlesThe owner of the Mount Plaisir Estate Hotel said the Grand River needed to to be diverted as it was undermining the foundations of his building.
But hotelier Piero Guerrini said the workers turned up without the proper zoning maps and dug up thousands of the turtle eggs.
'For some reason they dug up the far end of the beach, absolutely encroaching into the good nesting areas. 'This could have been avoided with a much wiser approach. But it was done too late and it was done in the wrong way,' said Guerrini.
Mr Guerrini said his guests were horrified as the injured hatchlings died on the beach. Crushed eggs littered the beach while other baby turtles could be seen struggling to survive.
'This really put a lot of bad images in people’s minds,' Guerrini said.
A group of the turtles shortly after their birth. The largest of the species can grow up to be more than seven feet long, weigh over a ton and live for up to 100 yearsConservationist blamed the Trinidad Government for not coordinating the work and acting too slowly to divert the river.
Marc de Verteuil, of the Papa Bois Conservation organization, said: 'Their equipment was basically crushing a much, much larger part of the beach than made sense. It looked like a bit of a panic reaction and they didn’t follow procedure.
'It’s a failure of governance.'
A spokesman for the Trinidad Ministry of Works has refused to comment.
source: dailymail
Embracing for eternity: Scientists uncover turtles that died while having sex 50million years ago
Coupled together for eternity: Scientists uncovered turtles that died while having sex in the Messel Pit, near Darmstadt in GermanyIt is the first time fossils of vertebrates - animals with backbones that include ourselves - have been caught in the act!
Nine pairs of frisky fossils - the females identified by their shorter tails - were found in a the Messel Pit, near Darmstadt in Germany.
It is believed the copulating couples were overcome by poisonous gas at the bottom of a volcanic crater.
Dr Walter Joyce, of the University of Tuebingen, Germany, said the turtles belonged to an extinct species known as Allaeochelys crassesculpta.
Anatomical evidence revealed that each couple contained male and a female.
Their upper shell would have reached almost two feet in length and been more than a foot wide. Males had much longer tails protruding beyond the margin of the shell, whereas the females' were short enough to remain inside.
The shapes of the shells can bee seen in the images: The turtles were overcome by fumes from the volcano pitDr Joyce said: 'We demonstrate for the first time all couples contain one male and one female individual and the tails of some males are aligned with those of the female.'
It is believed volcanic gases were emitted from the lake from time to time and caused the death of many animals that lived in and around it which is why so many fossil vertebrates have been found in the sediment.
Dr Joyce, whose findings are published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters, said: 'The behaviour of fossil organisms can typically be inferred only indirectly, but rare fossil finds can provide surprising insights.
'Here, we report numerous pairs of the fossil turtle Allaeochelys crassesculpta that represent for the first time among fossil vertebrates couples that perished during copulation.
'In our opinion, it is implausible that the A. crassesculpta couples found at Messel would actively swim, court and finally mate in poisonous surface waters or ingest poisonous surface waters only while mating.
'We propose, instead, that the turtles initiated copulation in habitable surface waters, perished when their skin started to absorb poisons while sinking during their embrace into deeper portions of the lake made toxic from the build up of volcanic gases or decay of organic matter, and fully or partially separated once they reached the bottom of the lake.'
source: dailymail
Hello world! The magical moment rare Amazon river turtle hatches from egg in the palm of a hand
By SUZANNAH HILLS
Cracking open: The moment a yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle hatches from its egg after being bred in a special programme at New York's Rosamond Gifford Zoo
A rare turtle takes its first glimpse of the world as it emerges from its egg - becoming one of the first to hatch from a special breeding scheme in a bid to reverse diminishing numbers.
The yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle, named after the spots on the side of its head, is one of the largest river turtles in South America with its shell growing up to 20 inches long.
But the species, once on the endangered list, is still classed as vulnerable and is constantly under threat from over-hunting, the pet trade and climate change.
Although aggressive conservation and breeding programs in their native countries is helping to sustain the Amazon river turtle population.
This baby turtle is one of 27 hatched in a special breeding program at New York’s Rosamond Gifford Zoo, one of just 70 zoos worldwide to house them, and is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
Newborn: The baby yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle, named after the spots on the side of its head, currently fits in the palm of the hand but its shell will grow up to 20 inches long when it reaches adulthood
Zoo director Ted Fox said: 'Captive breeding programs are often critical in the survival of a species and this is a success story we are proud to tell.
'The hatching of these once-endangered species is exciting for us, as many of them will enhance the exhibits at other accredited zoos.'
Weighing up to 25 pounds, they are found mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco River drainages, large rivers, backwaters, lagoons and flooded forests, living for around 20 years. Spending most of their time in the water, they only come out to bask in the sun on logs or stones.
Vulnerable: The baby turtles are on exhibit at the New York's Rosamond Gifford Zoo but will eventually be transferred to zoos and aquariums around America
Females typically lay two clutches of eggs each year, each with up to 50 eggs in it.
They make their nests in sandy areas on the banks of rivers where the eggs will hatch two to three months after they are laid.
In the wild, eggs are laid at the peak of the dry season so the nest will not be washed away.
The baby turtles are on exhibit at the zoo for a limited time and will eventually be transferred to zoos and aquariums around the U.S.
source: dailymail
Cracking open: The moment a yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle hatches from its egg after being bred in a special programme at New York's Rosamond Gifford ZooA rare turtle takes its first glimpse of the world as it emerges from its egg - becoming one of the first to hatch from a special breeding scheme in a bid to reverse diminishing numbers.
The yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle, named after the spots on the side of its head, is one of the largest river turtles in South America with its shell growing up to 20 inches long.
But the species, once on the endangered list, is still classed as vulnerable and is constantly under threat from over-hunting, the pet trade and climate change.
Although aggressive conservation and breeding programs in their native countries is helping to sustain the Amazon river turtle population.
This baby turtle is one of 27 hatched in a special breeding program at New York’s Rosamond Gifford Zoo, one of just 70 zoos worldwide to house them, and is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
Newborn: The baby yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle, named after the spots on the side of its head, currently fits in the palm of the hand but its shell will grow up to 20 inches long when it reaches adulthoodZoo director Ted Fox said: 'Captive breeding programs are often critical in the survival of a species and this is a success story we are proud to tell.
'The hatching of these once-endangered species is exciting for us, as many of them will enhance the exhibits at other accredited zoos.'
Weighing up to 25 pounds, they are found mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco River drainages, large rivers, backwaters, lagoons and flooded forests, living for around 20 years. Spending most of their time in the water, they only come out to bask in the sun on logs or stones.
Vulnerable: The baby turtles are on exhibit at the New York's Rosamond Gifford Zoo but will eventually be transferred to zoos and aquariums around AmericaFemales typically lay two clutches of eggs each year, each with up to 50 eggs in it.
They make their nests in sandy areas on the banks of rivers where the eggs will hatch two to three months after they are laid.
In the wild, eggs are laid at the peak of the dry season so the nest will not be washed away.
The baby turtles are on exhibit at the zoo for a limited time and will eventually be transferred to zoos and aquariums around the U.S.
source: dailymail
By 'eck! It's Yorkshire's Robinson Crusoe: Brit who bought a cut-price island in the Seychelles 50 years ago... and still lives in blissful solitude w
-Sprightly 86-year-old bought Seychelles island for £8,000 in 1962
-When he bought Moyenne, it was overgrown with scrub so dense that coconuts could not fall to the ground
By SIMON REEVE
Real life Robinson Crusoe: Brendon has helped preserve the region's giant turtles. He paints them with identifying numbers and even names them
Surely it’s what many of us dream about while trudging into the office during another April downpour.
Why not escape the rat race and the grey skies to live on a sunny tropical island?
Brendon Grimshaw has done just that. In 1962, the Yorkshireman bought Moyenne - a small island just half a mile wide - in the Seychelles for the princely sum of £8,000, and he has been living there ever since.
The sprightly 86-year-old wakes to the sound of rustling palm trees and the Indian Ocean lapping against the shore.
He spends his days caring for the island’s tortoises and birds that also call it home. When he bought Moyenne, it was overgrown with scrub so dense that coconuts could not fall to the ground. But Brendon worked tirelessly to transform the island into his own little patch of heaven.
Life's a beach: Brendon Grimshaw on Moyenne, the Seychelles island he bought in 1962 for £8,000
Living in this unique wildlife reserve, he has survived tropical storms, sharks, ghosts, a coup d’etat in the Seychelles and a mercenary raid.
Scattered over a vast area of the Indian Ocean, the 115 islands of the Seychelles are among the most spectacular on the planet. There are just 85,000 inhabitants, but hundreds of secluded beaches.
I visited the Seychelles while filming my new BBC TV series, to find Somali pirates in the prisons and Dutch Special Forces training local troops to repel more attacks.
But it was a visit to Brendon’s island, and meeting the man himself, that caught my imagination.
Island: Moyenne was abandoned until Brendon purchased it 50 years ago
Just a hop away from the capital, Victoria, on the island of Mahe, and surrounded by azure and turquoise waters, the 22½ acres of Moyenne stand out from the neighbouring islands, which are owned by billionaires, Arab princes and Russian oligarchs, and include some of the most glorious holiday retreats in the world.
Surrounded by protective coral reef, Moyenne looked wild and uninhabited - until I caught a glimpse of a wooden building poking through the trees.
I was warmly greeted by Brendon in his T-shirt and shorts, standing on a picture-perfect beach.
Lithe, wiry and tanned, he still has his Dewsbury accent, which seems wildly out of place in such an exotic setting.
Together we climbed steps hewn out of the rock and past clusters of palm trees to where Brendon’s one-storey wooden house clings to the hillside.
Paradise: Brendon wakes to the sound of rustling palm trees and the Indian Ocean lapping against the shore
It’s where he looks after his 120 giant tortoises.
A whopper was sitting on the steps. Among the world’s longest living creatures, they have been known to survive for more than 180 years.
Giant tortoises are indigenous to the Seychelles, but have been killed off on most of the other islands.
Brendon has been gradually reintroducing them to his corner of the Indian Ocean, painting them with identifying numbers and giving them names such as Alice, Florita and Four Degrees South (the island’s latitude).
His house is eccentric and well-worn, a bit like its owner, and furnished with African souvenirs and curios that testify to Brendon’s years in the tropics.
Man Friday: Brendon recruited local Rene Lafortune to help him make Moyenne habitable
But it’s fair to say Brendon has never been motivated by money.
He could have taken the Saudi prince’s blank cheque many years ago and moved to a luxurious retirement home.
Instead he has worked tirelessly to transform and preserve Moyenne, ensuring that when he finally does leave the island it will be protected and passed to the people of the Seychelles as a protected national park.
‘Brendon is the modern Robinson Crusoe,’ says Joel Morgan, environment minister for the Seychelles. ‘He’s a naturalist, a conservationist and a damned hard worker.’
Moyenne Island National Park boasts a glorious array of wildlife, along with 40 species of palm trees, including the exotic bwa-bannann (known as the wood banana) and 13 coco de mer, or sea coconut.
Natural disguise: Surrounded by protective coral reef, Moyenne looks wild and uninhabited
New home: Brendon makes himself at home on Moyenne shortly after he 'moved in' in 1962
The island has been Brendon’s life, and as he has struggled and toiled to create a spectacular home, it has repaid him by giving him a tonic that no doctor can prescribe: a real sense of purpose and meaning.
Out in the Indian Ocean, Brendon Grimshaw, Dewsbury-born and Yorkshire proud, is still living the dream.
Indian Ocean on BBC2 is presented by Simon Reeve. He visits the Seychelles in next Sunday’s episode at 8pm.
Presenter: Simon Reeve visits the Seychelles in next Sunday's episode of Indian Ocean on BBC2
source: dailymail
-When he bought Moyenne, it was overgrown with scrub so dense that coconuts could not fall to the ground
By SIMON REEVE
Real life Robinson Crusoe: Brendon has helped preserve the region's giant turtles. He paints them with identifying numbers and even names themSurely it’s what many of us dream about while trudging into the office during another April downpour.
Why not escape the rat race and the grey skies to live on a sunny tropical island?
Brendon Grimshaw has done just that. In 1962, the Yorkshireman bought Moyenne - a small island just half a mile wide - in the Seychelles for the princely sum of £8,000, and he has been living there ever since.
The sprightly 86-year-old wakes to the sound of rustling palm trees and the Indian Ocean lapping against the shore.
He spends his days caring for the island’s tortoises and birds that also call it home. When he bought Moyenne, it was overgrown with scrub so dense that coconuts could not fall to the ground. But Brendon worked tirelessly to transform the island into his own little patch of heaven.
Life's a beach: Brendon Grimshaw on Moyenne, the Seychelles island he bought in 1962 for £8,000Living in this unique wildlife reserve, he has survived tropical storms, sharks, ghosts, a coup d’etat in the Seychelles and a mercenary raid.
Scattered over a vast area of the Indian Ocean, the 115 islands of the Seychelles are among the most spectacular on the planet. There are just 85,000 inhabitants, but hundreds of secluded beaches.
I visited the Seychelles while filming my new BBC TV series, to find Somali pirates in the prisons and Dutch Special Forces training local troops to repel more attacks.
But it was a visit to Brendon’s island, and meeting the man himself, that caught my imagination.
Island: Moyenne was abandoned until Brendon purchased it 50 years agoJust a hop away from the capital, Victoria, on the island of Mahe, and surrounded by azure and turquoise waters, the 22½ acres of Moyenne stand out from the neighbouring islands, which are owned by billionaires, Arab princes and Russian oligarchs, and include some of the most glorious holiday retreats in the world.
Surrounded by protective coral reef, Moyenne looked wild and uninhabited - until I caught a glimpse of a wooden building poking through the trees.
I was warmly greeted by Brendon in his T-shirt and shorts, standing on a picture-perfect beach.
Lithe, wiry and tanned, he still has his Dewsbury accent, which seems wildly out of place in such an exotic setting.
Together we climbed steps hewn out of the rock and past clusters of palm trees to where Brendon’s one-storey wooden house clings to the hillside.
Paradise: Brendon wakes to the sound of rustling palm trees and the Indian Ocean lapping against the shoreIt’s where he looks after his 120 giant tortoises.
A whopper was sitting on the steps. Among the world’s longest living creatures, they have been known to survive for more than 180 years.
Giant tortoises are indigenous to the Seychelles, but have been killed off on most of the other islands.
Brendon has been gradually reintroducing them to his corner of the Indian Ocean, painting them with identifying numbers and giving them names such as Alice, Florita and Four Degrees South (the island’s latitude).
His house is eccentric and well-worn, a bit like its owner, and furnished with African souvenirs and curios that testify to Brendon’s years in the tropics.
Man Friday: Brendon recruited local Rene Lafortune to help him make Moyenne habitableBut it’s fair to say Brendon has never been motivated by money.
He could have taken the Saudi prince’s blank cheque many years ago and moved to a luxurious retirement home.
Instead he has worked tirelessly to transform and preserve Moyenne, ensuring that when he finally does leave the island it will be protected and passed to the people of the Seychelles as a protected national park.
‘Brendon is the modern Robinson Crusoe,’ says Joel Morgan, environment minister for the Seychelles. ‘He’s a naturalist, a conservationist and a damned hard worker.’
Moyenne Island National Park boasts a glorious array of wildlife, along with 40 species of palm trees, including the exotic bwa-bannann (known as the wood banana) and 13 coco de mer, or sea coconut.
Natural disguise: Surrounded by protective coral reef, Moyenne looks wild and uninhabited
New home: Brendon makes himself at home on Moyenne shortly after he 'moved in' in 1962The island has been Brendon’s life, and as he has struggled and toiled to create a spectacular home, it has repaid him by giving him a tonic that no doctor can prescribe: a real sense of purpose and meaning.
Out in the Indian Ocean, Brendon Grimshaw, Dewsbury-born and Yorkshire proud, is still living the dream.
Indian Ocean on BBC2 is presented by Simon Reeve. He visits the Seychelles in next Sunday’s episode at 8pm.
Presenter: Simon Reeve visits the Seychelles in next Sunday's episode of Indian Ocean on BBC2
source: dailymail
Where's the lid on this thing? Tortoise won't come out of his shell to play with lions... which is why he escaped
By CHRIS BROOKE
Lions in need of a tin opener after being outwitted by a leopard tortoise
When an unfortunate tortoise wandered into a pride of lions there appeared to be only one possible outcome.
So the tortoise did what all tortoises do in such sticky situations…it went into its shell and awaited the inevitable.
But luckily the young lioness cubs were clearly puzzled by the strange shelled creature in their midst and didn’t know what to do next.
Trying to work out if it was a snack or an unusual toy, they licked it, pawed it, squashed it and attempted to eat it.
Nothing seemed to work and every time that hard shell got in the way.
And so having famously outwitted the speedy hare, the tortoise proved too smart for the king of the beasts.
Eventually the female lion cubs got bored of their plaything and moved on in search of a tastier meal.
Tourist Mike Cullis, 62, who took the amazing pictures, said the tortoise appeared to suffer no serious injury and survived its ordeal.
Mr Cullis, a former operations manager in the oil and gas industry from Tenby, Dyfed, snapped the scene whilst on safari in the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya last week.
Puzzle: A cub licks the tortoise in the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya
He said: 'They seemed to get bored with it after an hour or so and once the lions had gone I think the tortoise just wandered off. I should think it had a bit of a headache though.
'I am convinced they were playing with it like a toy. Let's face it, a tortoise is not much of a meal for a lion. They have much bigger meals than a tortoise would provide.
'The young female lions were about 18 months old and very playful. At one point as a lion played with it, another one came over and put its paw on the tortoise as if to say: "Let me have a go."
Bored: Interest begins to wane as the lions can't open the tortoise shell
'One of the very experienced guides who was with us said they had only ever seen lions playing with a tortoise like this once before. It was a rare sight and I felt very privileged to witness it.
'I don't actually think the lions would have been capable of carving the tortoise open because they have very thick shells and are incredibly well designed for defence.'
It was identified as a leopard tortoise - the fourth largest species of tortoise in the world. Adults typically reach 18 in in size and weigh 40lbs.
They defend themselves from predators by retracting their feet and head into their shell. This often results in a hissing sound, probably due to the squeezing of air from the lungs as the limbs and head are retracted.
They can move relatively fast and stay underwater for 10 minutes.
source: dailymail
Lions in need of a tin opener after being outwitted by a leopard tortoiseWhen an unfortunate tortoise wandered into a pride of lions there appeared to be only one possible outcome.
So the tortoise did what all tortoises do in such sticky situations…it went into its shell and awaited the inevitable.
But luckily the young lioness cubs were clearly puzzled by the strange shelled creature in their midst and didn’t know what to do next.
Trying to work out if it was a snack or an unusual toy, they licked it, pawed it, squashed it and attempted to eat it.
Nothing seemed to work and every time that hard shell got in the way.
And so having famously outwitted the speedy hare, the tortoise proved too smart for the king of the beasts.
Eventually the female lion cubs got bored of their plaything and moved on in search of a tastier meal.
Tourist Mike Cullis, 62, who took the amazing pictures, said the tortoise appeared to suffer no serious injury and survived its ordeal.
Mr Cullis, a former operations manager in the oil and gas industry from Tenby, Dyfed, snapped the scene whilst on safari in the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya last week.
Puzzle: A cub licks the tortoise in the Masai Mara game reserve in KenyaHe said: 'They seemed to get bored with it after an hour or so and once the lions had gone I think the tortoise just wandered off. I should think it had a bit of a headache though.
'I am convinced they were playing with it like a toy. Let's face it, a tortoise is not much of a meal for a lion. They have much bigger meals than a tortoise would provide.
'The young female lions were about 18 months old and very playful. At one point as a lion played with it, another one came over and put its paw on the tortoise as if to say: "Let me have a go."
Bored: Interest begins to wane as the lions can't open the tortoise shell'One of the very experienced guides who was with us said they had only ever seen lions playing with a tortoise like this once before. It was a rare sight and I felt very privileged to witness it.
'I don't actually think the lions would have been capable of carving the tortoise open because they have very thick shells and are incredibly well designed for defence.'
It was identified as a leopard tortoise - the fourth largest species of tortoise in the world. Adults typically reach 18 in in size and weigh 40lbs.
They defend themselves from predators by retracting their feet and head into their shell. This often results in a hissing sound, probably due to the squeezing of air from the lungs as the limbs and head are retracted.
They can move relatively fast and stay underwater for 10 minutes.
source: dailymail
S-s-seeing double: Rare albino snake with two heads bred in Florida
By TED THORNHILL
Rare: This albino milk snake was hatched at a wildlife centre in Florida, much to the staff's surprise
Often, the term albino refers to white colouring, but for snakes, it simply means a lack of dark pigmentation.
Here’s a snake with a split personality.
The odds of a two-headed, or bicephalic, snake being born are 10,000 to one, but nevertheless, this albino Honduran milk snake was recently hatched in the U.S.
Staff at conservation group Sunshine Serpents in Florida were incubating seven milk snake eggs, but got a huge shock when nine heads emerged, because as well as the two-headed snake, one egg contained twins.
Owner Daniel Parker, a University of Central Florida biologist, said: ‘I did a double take. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at.’
Biologist Parker says two-headed snakes have been documented to live as long as 20 years in captivity.
With two brains giving commands to a single body, he says the snake, which isn’t venomous, would have a difficult time surviving in the wild.
Risk: Biologist Daniel Parker says that the snake may have a hard time surviving in the wild
Milk snakes are said by some to suck milk from cows’ udders, but this is a myth. They do however favour living in barns, as they like cool dark environments, which may be the source of the misconception.
Their diet consists of insects, lizards, birds and small mammals.
Another two-headed creature that hit the headlines this year was an African Spurred Tortoise born in Slovakia.
It was given two names Madga (left head) and Lenka – and even had five feet (see picture below).
Food for thought: The milk snake likes to eat insects, small mammals and birds - but this one will want double portions
Double header: Magda (left) and Lenka make up a seven-week-old African Spurred Tortoise discovered in Slovakia
source: dailymail
Rare: This albino milk snake was hatched at a wildlife centre in Florida, much to the staff's surpriseOften, the term albino refers to white colouring, but for snakes, it simply means a lack of dark pigmentation.
Here’s a snake with a split personality.
The odds of a two-headed, or bicephalic, snake being born are 10,000 to one, but nevertheless, this albino Honduran milk snake was recently hatched in the U.S.
Staff at conservation group Sunshine Serpents in Florida were incubating seven milk snake eggs, but got a huge shock when nine heads emerged, because as well as the two-headed snake, one egg contained twins.
Owner Daniel Parker, a University of Central Florida biologist, said: ‘I did a double take. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at.’
Biologist Parker says two-headed snakes have been documented to live as long as 20 years in captivity.
With two brains giving commands to a single body, he says the snake, which isn’t venomous, would have a difficult time surviving in the wild.
Risk: Biologist Daniel Parker says that the snake may have a hard time surviving in the wildMilk snakes are said by some to suck milk from cows’ udders, but this is a myth. They do however favour living in barns, as they like cool dark environments, which may be the source of the misconception.
Their diet consists of insects, lizards, birds and small mammals.
Another two-headed creature that hit the headlines this year was an African Spurred Tortoise born in Slovakia.
It was given two names Madga (left head) and Lenka – and even had five feet (see picture below).
Food for thought: The milk snake likes to eat insects, small mammals and birds - but this one will want double portions
Double header: Magda (left) and Lenka make up a seven-week-old African Spurred Tortoise discovered in Slovakiasource: dailymail
How sweet is that? Baby turtle perches on top of succulent strawberry twice his size on fruit farm
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Sweet: 'Squirtle' the baby turtle perches on top of a strawberry at Gowinta Farms, near Brisbane, Australia
This baby turtle clearly has a sweet tooth - and eyes bigger than his stomach!
The tiny creature is captured perching on top of a strawberry at Gowinta Farms, near Brisbane, Australia.
I have to eat all of this? Just days old, the little turtle peeks out from his shell on top of the fruit
Just a few days old, 'Squirtle' and sister 'Myrtle' are surrounded by luscious fruit at their home.
The pair, along with other turtles, live in a pond at the farm site - the largest strawberry farm on Australia's Sunshine Coast.
Double act: Siblings 'Squirtle' and 'Myrtle' sidle up to the strawberry - perhaps they both have a sweet tooth?
source: dailymail
Sweet: 'Squirtle' the baby turtle perches on top of a strawberry at Gowinta Farms, near Brisbane, AustraliaThis baby turtle clearly has a sweet tooth - and eyes bigger than his stomach!
The tiny creature is captured perching on top of a strawberry at Gowinta Farms, near Brisbane, Australia.
I have to eat all of this? Just days old, the little turtle peeks out from his shell on top of the fruitJust a few days old, 'Squirtle' and sister 'Myrtle' are surrounded by luscious fruit at their home.
The pair, along with other turtles, live in a pond at the farm site - the largest strawberry farm on Australia's Sunshine Coast.
Double act: Siblings 'Squirtle' and 'Myrtle' sidle up to the strawberry - perhaps they both have a sweet tooth?source: dailymail
Siamese turtle owner fears operation to separate pets
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Siamese turtle owner fears operation to separate pets
The owner of two conjoined turtles is trying to decide whether to have the animals separated.
Todd Ray - owner of what is thought to be the world's largest collection of double headed animals - was given the turtle by a concerned California man, after it became listless and was hardly moving.
Speaking to the Huffington Post, owner Todd Ray said: 'I got a phone call from a kid near Compton whose grandfather has turtles.
'The man had two conjoined turtles and the boy wanted to try and save them.
'I told him how to hydrate them and told him to give them time to eat, because one head will claw the other one in front of him, not realizing they can't get away.'
The man was not sure what to do, and feared the turtles may die.
Mr Ray added: 'They weren't moving. They are very little, maybe about six weeks old, and when I first saw them, they were motionless. But I grabbed one of the legs and it pulled back.
'This is the very first time I have ever wanted to separate two animals.
'That would be a tough separation because they both need a plastron. It is not something that will grow back.'
source: dailymail
Siamese turtle owner fears operation to separate petsThe owner of two conjoined turtles is trying to decide whether to have the animals separated.
Todd Ray - owner of what is thought to be the world's largest collection of double headed animals - was given the turtle by a concerned California man, after it became listless and was hardly moving.
Speaking to the Huffington Post, owner Todd Ray said: 'I got a phone call from a kid near Compton whose grandfather has turtles.
'The man had two conjoined turtles and the boy wanted to try and save them.
'I told him how to hydrate them and told him to give them time to eat, because one head will claw the other one in front of him, not realizing they can't get away.'
The man was not sure what to do, and feared the turtles may die.
Mr Ray added: 'They weren't moving. They are very little, maybe about six weeks old, and when I first saw them, they were motionless. But I grabbed one of the legs and it pulled back.
'This is the very first time I have ever wanted to separate two animals.
'That would be a tough separation because they both need a plastron. It is not something that will grow back.'
source: dailymail
Pay for your bag AND help good causes: Simple plan to cut plastic and raise £50m
By SEAN POULTER
Victim: Sea turtles are among the endangered species killed by plastic bags
It is a beautifully simple plan in which everyone wins.
Shoppers are charged 5p each for plastic bags, raising £50million a year for charities and cutting the number of bags issued by 90 per cent.
Sadly, at the moment it is only going to happen in Wales. The scheme will be introduced on October 1 with the backing of all political parties.
Danger: A Pacific Green Turtle suffocating on a plastic bag after mistaking it for a jellyfish
The Government has been urged to roll out the idea across Britain and provide a lifeline for thousands of charities whose existence is threatened by savage funding cuts.
James Allen of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, which represents 8,500 charities, said: ‘We know that plastic bags create unnecessary waste.
Banish the bags: The Daily Mail's 'Banish the Bags' campaign, launched in 2008, has been pushing for efforts to tackle the waste
source: dailymail
Victim: Sea turtles are among the endangered species killed by plastic bagsIt is a beautifully simple plan in which everyone wins.
Shoppers are charged 5p each for plastic bags, raising £50million a year for charities and cutting the number of bags issued by 90 per cent.
Sadly, at the moment it is only going to happen in Wales. The scheme will be introduced on October 1 with the backing of all political parties.
Danger: A Pacific Green Turtle suffocating on a plastic bag after mistaking it for a jellyfishThe Government has been urged to roll out the idea across Britain and provide a lifeline for thousands of charities whose existence is threatened by savage funding cuts.
James Allen of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, which represents 8,500 charities, said: ‘We know that plastic bags create unnecessary waste.
Banish the bags: The Daily Mail's 'Banish the Bags' campaign, launched in 2008, has been pushing for efforts to tackle the wastesource: dailymail
'Humpty Dumpty' turtle put back together again after his broken shell is shattered by a motor boat
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Tough cookie: Andre, a 171-pound green sea turtle, is almost ready for his scheduled release
When Humpty Dumpty is said to have fallen off the wall, they couldn't put him together again.
But luckily it was a different story this turtle who had his shell pieced back together after it was shattered into tiny pieces.
Procedure: Humpty has his shell repaired by Mr Vargas at the Palm Beach Loggerhead Marine Life centre with a laser gun normally used on people's teeth
The turtle - who has been dubbed 'Humpty Dumpty - was found with massive cracks in his shell after being hit by a motor boat propeller. There was even a crab living inside one of the cavities.
Animal rescuers at the Palm Beach Loggerhead Marine Life Centre spent 13 months putting poor Humpty back together again.
The turtle is now fit and strong enough to return back to the wild after his thick shell was repaired with teeth braces in the first procedure of its kind.
Cracked: Dr. Nancy Mettee cleans Humpty's wounds before special materials are implanted into the shell for it to be reconstructed
Orthodontist Alberto Vargas - who had the bizarre job of reshaping Humpty's 171-pound shell - said the sea turtle was of the strangest patients he had ever dealt with.
'I'm not aware of this ever being done on a turtle before,' Mr Vargas told the Palm Beach Post.
'We changed the shape of his shell, just like we change the shape of a patient's jaw.'
The 12-stone turtle was found in June 2010 with two large life-threatening propeller holes gouged its shell.
Healed: Andre was found in June 2010 with two giant holes in his shell from two separate boat propellers
source: dailymail
Tough cookie: Andre, a 171-pound green sea turtle, is almost ready for his scheduled release When Humpty Dumpty is said to have fallen off the wall, they couldn't put him together again.
But luckily it was a different story this turtle who had his shell pieced back together after it was shattered into tiny pieces.
Procedure: Humpty has his shell repaired by Mr Vargas at the Palm Beach Loggerhead Marine Life centre with a laser gun normally used on people's teeth The turtle - who has been dubbed 'Humpty Dumpty - was found with massive cracks in his shell after being hit by a motor boat propeller. There was even a crab living inside one of the cavities.
Animal rescuers at the Palm Beach Loggerhead Marine Life Centre spent 13 months putting poor Humpty back together again.
The turtle is now fit and strong enough to return back to the wild after his thick shell was repaired with teeth braces in the first procedure of its kind.
Cracked: Dr. Nancy Mettee cleans Humpty's wounds before special materials are implanted into the shell for it to be reconstructedOrthodontist Alberto Vargas - who had the bizarre job of reshaping Humpty's 171-pound shell - said the sea turtle was of the strangest patients he had ever dealt with.
'I'm not aware of this ever being done on a turtle before,' Mr Vargas told the Palm Beach Post.
'We changed the shape of his shell, just like we change the shape of a patient's jaw.'
The 12-stone turtle was found in June 2010 with two large life-threatening propeller holes gouged its shell.
Healed: Andre was found in June 2010 with two giant holes in his shell from two separate boat propellerssource: dailymail
Epileptic loggerhead turtle transported 320 miles for brain scan
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Snorkel prepares for her session in an MRI scanner to see if she has a brain tumour
This is Snorkel, a Loggerhead Turtle, which made a 320-mile round trip for an MRI scan over fears that she has a brain tumour.
The sick reptile is a star attraction at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, but five after five years of suspected epileptic fits have raised questions over her health.
Sue Thornton, from the International Zoo Veterinary Group said scans at the Cobalt Centre, in Cheltenham, would help to determine whether or not Snorkel has a brain tumour.
Workers operate the machine as vets work to find out if she has epilepsy after five years of fitting
She is currently being given doses of anti-epilepsy medication twice a day to control her fits.
If a tumour was found, however, Mrs Thornton said some 'very difficult decisions' would have to be made dependent on the results of the scan.
'It is in her best interest to have this scan and we will do everything we can to reduce any stress that she will experience,' she said.
Star attraction: Snorkel is among the favourites of visitors to the National Marine Aquarium
James Wright, from the National Marine Aquarium, said she is a firm favourite with many visitors and they would do everything to keep her healthy and happy.
She was rescued in 1990 after having been found washed up in Sennen Cove, Cornwall.
Due to ill health she has spent the last 10 years being cared for at the National Marine Aquarium.
source : dailymail
Snorkel prepares for her session in an MRI scanner to see if she has a brain tumourThis is Snorkel, a Loggerhead Turtle, which made a 320-mile round trip for an MRI scan over fears that she has a brain tumour.
The sick reptile is a star attraction at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, but five after five years of suspected epileptic fits have raised questions over her health.
Sue Thornton, from the International Zoo Veterinary Group said scans at the Cobalt Centre, in Cheltenham, would help to determine whether or not Snorkel has a brain tumour.
Workers operate the machine as vets work to find out if she has epilepsy after five years of fittingShe is currently being given doses of anti-epilepsy medication twice a day to control her fits.
If a tumour was found, however, Mrs Thornton said some 'very difficult decisions' would have to be made dependent on the results of the scan.
'It is in her best interest to have this scan and we will do everything we can to reduce any stress that she will experience,' she said.
Star attraction: Snorkel is among the favourites of visitors to the National Marine AquariumJames Wright, from the National Marine Aquarium, said she is a firm favourite with many visitors and they would do everything to keep her healthy and happy.
She was rescued in 1990 after having been found washed up in Sennen Cove, Cornwall.
Due to ill health she has spent the last 10 years being cared for at the National Marine Aquarium.
source : dailymail
Sea Biscuit the tough turtle gets back in the swim of things after losing his flipper
By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE
Washed ashore: Sea Biscuit has learned to dive and swim like normal creatures after being rescued as a hatchling found on a beach in 2009
When Sea Biscuit lost her left flipper, it could have been a turtle disaster.
But thanks to her human friends at Oceanworld Manly in Sydney, the little battler is now diving and weaving gracefully through water.
The green sea turtle could fit in the palm of a hand when he was rescued after washing up on a beach as an exhausted hatchling in 2009.
On the crest of a wave: Flipperless green sea turtle Sea Biscuit is able to swim and dive again after a two-year rehabilitation programmed in Manly, Australia
Sea Biscuit’s infected flipper had to be amputated and it had taken him a long time to gain weight and strength.
'She had been through quite a big ordeal for such a small turtle,' said handler Marina Tsamoulos.
The turtle had to be painstakingly encouraged in her marine enclosure.
'We rehabilitate with the hope we can release them back into the wild,' Ms Tsamoulos said.
Restored to health: Sea Biscuit swims past handler Marina Tsamoulos in the tropical reef aquarium at Oceanworld Manly, north of Sydney
'Sea Biscuit has recovered but she is still growing ... she will stay in Oceanworld for now, but that will be reviewed in the future.'
Green sea turtles spend their formative years drifting on ocean currents, grow to four-and-half feet and weight more than 47 stones. They live an average 80 years in the wild.
source: dailymail
Washed ashore: Sea Biscuit has learned to dive and swim like normal creatures after being rescued as a hatchling found on a beach in 2009When Sea Biscuit lost her left flipper, it could have been a turtle disaster.
But thanks to her human friends at Oceanworld Manly in Sydney, the little battler is now diving and weaving gracefully through water.
The green sea turtle could fit in the palm of a hand when he was rescued after washing up on a beach as an exhausted hatchling in 2009.
On the crest of a wave: Flipperless green sea turtle Sea Biscuit is able to swim and dive again after a two-year rehabilitation programmed in Manly, AustraliaSea Biscuit’s infected flipper had to be amputated and it had taken him a long time to gain weight and strength.
'She had been through quite a big ordeal for such a small turtle,' said handler Marina Tsamoulos.
The turtle had to be painstakingly encouraged in her marine enclosure.
'We rehabilitate with the hope we can release them back into the wild,' Ms Tsamoulos said.
Restored to health: Sea Biscuit swims past handler Marina Tsamoulos in the tropical reef aquarium at Oceanworld Manly, north of Sydney
'Sea Biscuit has recovered but she is still growing ... she will stay in Oceanworld for now, but that will be reviewed in the future.'
Green sea turtles spend their formative years drifting on ocean currents, grow to four-and-half feet and weight more than 47 stones. They live an average 80 years in the wild.
source: dailymail
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