Article By: Mary Ormsby
Date of publication: 2/18/2012
Article: Ontario snapping turtle endangered yet hunted
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1133454--ontario-snapping-turtle-endangered-yet-hunted
Summary: While people have been focusing on the endangered polar bears in the arctic, we have to remember there are other endangered species. In Ontario,Canada the Ontario snapping turtle has been endangered for a while. The problem arises when these turtles are being hunted and sold on the black market.In Ontario there are some restrictions as to how, when and where to hunt turtles.But,when people go in to hunt these turtles, there is no one to watch them,and sometimes they take more turtles than they are supposed.Poachers look for the older turtles, and these are the turtles that the other turtles look to for off-springs. Some turtles are even giving birth after one hundred years.Hunting these older turtles can affect the future of hatch lings very severely. There is some environmental value for the snapping turtle, they borrow holes that other animals such as small frogs,small reptiles,and fish use. In addition to that snapping turtles are also environment "cleaners", as they eat dead fishes and weeds. Snapping turtles are important to the environment,and should not be hunted anymore.
Opinion/Reflection: I did not think that snapping turtles were an endangered species in Ontario. It is obvious from this article these species should no longer be hunted. They are certainly a big part of their ecosystem as they help give small animals shelter,and are environmental "cleaners".It was interesting how they had conducted the experiment on the old turtle, and that it is still reproducing,even after a hundred years.Lately there have been many different cases of endangered animals all over the world, so we should do our best to try to stop it right away. Some species that are endangered are the polar bears in the North pole, Panda bears in Asia, and even gorillas in Africa, are all endangered.
Date of publication: 2/18/2012
Article: Ontario snapping turtle endangered yet hunted
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1133454--ontario-snapping-turtle-endangered-yet-hunted
Summary: While people have been focusing on the endangered polar bears in the arctic, we have to remember there are other endangered species. In Ontario,Canada the Ontario snapping turtle has been endangered for a while. The problem arises when these turtles are being hunted and sold on the black market.In Ontario there are some restrictions as to how, when and where to hunt turtles.But,when people go in to hunt these turtles, there is no one to watch them,and sometimes they take more turtles than they are supposed.Poachers look for the older turtles, and these are the turtles that the other turtles look to for off-springs. Some turtles are even giving birth after one hundred years.Hunting these older turtles can affect the future of hatch lings very severely. There is some environmental value for the snapping turtle, they borrow holes that other animals such as small frogs,small reptiles,and fish use. In addition to that snapping turtles are also environment "cleaners", as they eat dead fishes and weeds. Snapping turtles are important to the environment,and should not be hunted anymore.
Picture: Snapping Turtles like this one are sold in China and Canada.Sometimes even bigger ones too.
Opinion/Reflection: I did not think that snapping turtles were an endangered species in Ontario. It is obvious from this article these species should no longer be hunted. They are certainly a big part of their ecosystem as they help give small animals shelter,and are environmental "cleaners".It was interesting how they had conducted the experiment on the old turtle, and that it is still reproducing,even after a hundred years.Lately there have been many different cases of endangered animals all over the world, so we should do our best to try to stop it right away. Some species that are endangered are the polar bears in the North pole, Panda bears in Asia, and even gorillas in Africa, are all endangered.
Questions:
1.How can I, as an average citizen,stop the endangerment of snapping turtles?
2.What is happening with the snapping turtles in the U.S.?
3.Why haven't the officials in Ontario keep tabs on the amount of snapping turtles being hunted?
Poaching of endangered animal is a very serious crime and the government should enforce the law to ban poaching me severely. The snapping turtle is important to the entire biome because it gives more genetic and species biodiversity. I know that pandas are also endangered and are poached illegally in china. And to answer question number 1; I could donate money to help improve the protecting of endangered snapping turtles.
ReplyDeletePoaching endangered species is illegal and immoral. While the government is trying to preserve these animals, it's rather difficult because despite laws, people are going to do it anyway; and they can't watch every turtle every minute of every day. In response to Q3, The officials probably aren't keeping track because A) too costly B) they could be being bribed and/or C) they don't think it's important enough to do
ReplyDeleteP.S.: The poor grammar, it's killing me!!!
It is wrong to hunt endangered species. It could make species go extinct unnecessarily. That could have devastating effects on many ecosystems. The population of frogs and fish could go down for example since they lacked hiding places found in the holes for snapping turtles. With a lack of food, the upper level consumers could also feel an unwelcomed drop in population.
ReplyDeleteHunting is also part of a culture. In America, we tend to hunt deer. The deer is an animal which is over producing off spring and could over consume producers undermining some not very diverse ecosystems. In that case it is beneficial to hunt. I can understand why people also like it as well. I did do some fishing over the summer, but returned them to the pond. If people are going to continue to hunt this turtle it will die out. I think the US is showing diligence compared to Canada. Minnesota for example made new laws restricting the number of traps that could be used, making it harder to obtain a hunting license, and making sure people record the amount they hunted.
The link is to a site that talks about Minnesota’s and its efforts at protecting snapping turtles.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rsg/profile.html?action=elementDetail&selectedElement=ARAAB01010#
By: Ryan Marinelli
I cannot begin to fathom what would possess people to further endanger any animal, to ruin any ecosystem this way. Without these turtles, entire populations would lose their shelters, causing further damage on many, if not all, trophic levels. I suppose officials cannot keep watch upon these things as closely as they would like. This is how it seems to be for most illegal activities. Also, perhaps they simply do not know of the effects this may have on ecosystems. The only thing I could do, it seems, is raise awareness about the importance of snapping turtles as a species and a member of an ecosystem. Their role as "cleaners" is also not one to be overlooked. I am shocked and horrified to know that these creatures are hunted.
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