horsesrule
Well-Known Member
The turtle was similar to this one, also a wattle-necked soft-shelled species. (David Lee)
An Australian man's mission to save an endangered turtle from the serving plate of a Hong Kong restaurant has come to a happy ending — thanks to a Buddhist nun.
Craig Latta, president of the Australian Freshwater Turtle Conservation and Research Association, launched a rescue operation after ninemsn contacted him about a turtle that escaped a boiling pot of water at the Kuen Fat restaurant.
The wattle-necked soft shell species even left the restaurant chef with a broken toe after biting him during an attempted getaway.
"It's attempt to make an escape means it obviously has a will to survive — like all freshwater and marine turtles," Mr Latta said.
Despite the 50cm-long reptile's dash for freedom, the restaurant planned to cook the turtle today, ninemsn reported on Tuesday in an article that sparked 250 comments from concerned readers.
Mr Latta yesterday called his friend, Ernie Chan from pet product company Reptile One in Sydney, who then put his Hong Kong colleagues onto the case.
But the colleagues arrived at the restaurant in Hong Kong's Shau Kei Wan district only to find that the restaurant had already received three offers to save the turtle.
"A Buddhist nun in Hong Kong was the first person to contact the restaurant and has since purchased the turtle so that it may be freed," Mr Chan said.
Soft-shelled turtles, which are found in rivers in China and Vietnam, are a delicacy in Hong Kong and fetch hundred of dollars per dish. They are also believed to have strong medicinal powers.
But high demand for turtle meat in banquet-style dinners in China has put many species at risk including the wattle-necked soft shell turtle (Palea steindachneri), which is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of endangered species.
"This species is highly valuable in food trade," the list says.
"The future security of introduced populations in Mauritius and the United States is critical for the survival of the species."
Mr Latta said he was "relieved now justice has been served for the turtle".
"We're glad there are more people out there like us… [the turtle] deserves a fresh start," he said.
Mr Latta said his first thought was to jump on a plane to save the turtle — and it would not have been the first time.
In 2001, he flew to Borneo when he heard about the plight of seven Asaian and Malayan soft-shelled turtles (endangered species) for sale in a restaurant.
The Queensland-based turtle guru then filmed their release in a protected area where fishing was not allowed.
He has also saved turtles from a drying lake in Gatton, Queensland and is currently researching the impact that the Traveston Dam would have on turtle populations and habitats.
"When I hear there are turtles in danger, that's where I go," he said. "If we can save one, that means a lot."
I suppose it just depends on your culture what you regard as good eating.
