There has been an outpouring of outrage on social media over the ‘cruel and heartless’ killing of a nesting turtle on Vigie Beach after a video of the dead animal went viral.
Individuals off camera could be heard expressing their disgust.
Fisheries Biologist Yvonne Edwin told St. Lucia Times that National Conservation Authority (NCA) employees cleaning the beach and other individuals called the Fisheries Department voicing concern on Monday morning.
Edwin said it appeared a piece of wood was used to smash the hawksbill turtle’s head.
“The turtle was left for dead while it was nesting,” the Fisheries Biologist explained.
“There was evidence that the turtle dug a hole and was in the process of nesting when it was attacked and killed,” Edwin stated.
She told St. Lucia Times that something may have interrupted the perpetrator or perpetrators, causing them not to make off with the creature.
Ironically, the incident occurred on World Biodiversity Day, while Tuesday is World Turtle Day.
The Fisheries Act outlines conditions for the turtle fishery, violations of which could attract a maximum $5,000 fine.
Edwin told St. Lucia Times there are also conditions ensuring the protection of nesting turtles, their eggs, and hatchlings year-round.
“That means that no one should interfere with a turtle that is nesting, take their eggs or the baby turtles,” she explained.
In addition, she said when the fishery is open between October and December, there is a weight limit for adult turtles.
However, local conservationists have urged the government to ban hunting turtles completely.
They note that among 195 countries, Saint Lucia is only one of forty-two allowing turtle hunting.
Hawksbill turtles appear on the critically endangered Red list of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Four of the seven species of the creature visit the waters of Saint Lucia and the Caribbean.
Last year the Department of Fisheries launched a turtle fishery survey soliciting input and observations on strengthening and protecting the resource.
Who will the CRIMINALS attack next???
Where is the out rage over the homicide rate .
Why has violence reached out to defenseless creatures? There is a mindset for to steal to kill and to destroy. Our local society will have to get together if it has to survive; there seem to be violence in every location and of all places on the beach, a beach that I know so well from my early teens. The idiot if caught should be dealt with severely.
Shame on them! However, sadly, these types of people have no shame!
Lucian’s ain’t got no behavior. It’s just the culture of the place. You can’t change these people, no matter how much you try to educate them it never work. The behavior is embedded in the culture. Some things never change.
Where was the outrage when
The road contractor had piles of tar and road material on the beach.
Where was the outrage when they road contractor had heavy equipment and vehicles traversing and parking indiscriminately on the beach.
Where was the outrage when the heavy equipment was leaking oil on the beach.
No word from National Trust,
Fiaheries or NCA.
It seems these things only raise outcries when it is convenient.
We kill animals all the time. Why is this one so special?
@Awa perhaps you don’t read but there is plenty of outrage over the homicides, as there should be but this is a different matter and one more nail in the coffin for our endangered species. Humans who inflict that sort of violence on a defenceless animal about to give birth, are also capable of violence against fellow humans. I don’t know what is happening on this island, but it seems corruption, greed and violence against everyone and everything is gaining the upper hand. A very sad situation for all…
It was a Money man who had the Contract so ghats ok
heartless person or persons ….how can we not stop and think of the purpose of “life” to humans and animals …my Goodnes!
I agree with you Perry Mason……… but on a next note I honestly don’t share the outrage cause a turtle is food and people have to eat.
@Defenceless you have said it all. For those excusing this behaviour on a poor defenseless animal, you may be dealt with accordingly. People can reason, they can understand, animals are at our merc.y. crime against them is indefensible. I adore my pets. And some have accuse me of preferring them to others. But my pets can’t talk to me if someone harms them. If I have a baby I would hesitate to leave him/her with other people until he can talk. By then, he can tell me who did him what. I will make sure to tell him to tell me if they hit him and where.. But my poor cat is not able to tell me what happened to it. and neither can the turtles or the other animals. Don’t ever trust someone who hurts animals. It’s a gateway to criminal behaviour on others. If you see your child hurting a pet or animal around you. Better stop him and let him know you will not tolerate it beacuse the next person will likely be you or others.