Are Poachers Nabbing Galapagos Tortoises?

Park Rangers Find Shells Of Eight Endangered Giant Tortoises

(AP)  Rangers found the shells of eight endangered giant tortoises believed to have been killed by poachers, Galapagos National Park officials said Tuesday.

Poachers sometimes kill the protected tortoises and use the meat for consumption or for sale on the black market.

Of the remains discovered, five were youth of up to 15 years old, and three were adult females — possibly older than 80 — the park said in a statement.

The park called their deaths a great loss, saying some had been hatched from artificially incubated eggs and raised for seven years by scientists before being released into their natural habitat.

Galapagos Islands authorities estimate there are about 7,000 of the giant tortoises left.

Some 625 miles off Ecuador's Pacific coast, the Galapagos are world renowned for their unique plant and animal life. Charles Darwin's observations of the islands' finches inspired his theory of evolution.

[sclaires]

Killing these turtles is as bad as a group in Germany wanting to kill Knut, the polar bear cub, because he was raised by a human. And, also in Germany they have taken baby gorillas toor NICUs in human hospitals since they are so much like humans.

China and the rest of the Far Eastern countries need to be educated that parts from animals are not sexua! stimulates or can cure diseases. But, it will take a lot of education to get it across since they have been using animal parts for centuries to try to cure diseases.

[martinab1]

This is so sick, to kill animals for what is conceived as "potions" for what ever. It is like the killing of elephants for their tusks, the large cats for their skins; it is a dispicable act.

[beadazzle]

I will never get a chance in my life time of 52 years to go to Galapagos to see them in the wild. We do have two at our zoo and they are believed to be between 150 to 200 years old.

I'm mad as hell when I find out that such a unique creature is being killed for some people who need to change their ways of thinking. When I found out a bull rider on the pro bulling riding tour went bear hunting that weekend,that made me mad to and i let him know it.

There is only certain circumstances when an animal,other than human should be killed. One for food. 2 If your attacked by an animal.

Those are the only two reasons as far as i'm concerned that we as humans earn the right to survive by either eating an animal we have killed,or one that has attacked us,provoked or unprovoked. If you provoke an animal into attacking you then you should be eaten.

This also makes me wonder what other animals on those islands are being killed,it need more looking into and more protection.

[Free Citizen]

One of the major problems, the Chinese have many many porblems, faced by the Chinese govrenment is to eliminate superstitions and false beliefs. We live in a demon haunted world and in this is more true in China than anywhere else. Such beliefs are very destructive not only to nature but soociety itself. It would have been worse if there was no strong leadership. But this is only part of Galapagos problem. This tragedy also shows that Ecuador is not capable of protecting this world heritage. WWF and UN should step in.

[Free Citizen]

One of the major problems, the Chinese have many many porblems, faced by the Chinese govrenment is to eliminate superstitions and false beliefs. We live in a demon haunted world and in this is more true in China than anywhere else. Such beliefs are very destructive not only to nature but soociety itself. It would have been worse if there was no strong leadership. But this is only part of Galapagos problem. This tragedy also shows that Ecuador is not capable of protecting this world heritage. WWF and UN should step in.

[michellem99-2009]

Game hunters are no better. I hate the idea a hunter kills just for the sake of it or the sport of it. All life has the right to live. We are the thinking,talking animals.Yes we are human animals.

[rheola-2009]

Mullie54

Any person who does not agree, could only be a very psychiatrically sick person.

You are very correct.

[mullie54]

You have to admit that killing an animal, mammal, what ever, just so you can get off is not right. They have just as much right to live on this earth as you and I. They are not here to die for our pleasue. Does anyone else agree with me???

[mullie54]

didn't say the "***" word. Oops I did. I am sorry.

[mullie54]

yeah!!
anything to enhance your ***!! SICK!!!!!!!