The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said it saved as many as 354 red-eared sliders, a kind of semi-aquatic turtle that is popular as a pet in some parts of the world.
A citizen witnessed at about 10 am that a boat sailed near the Approach Beach area, throw a bag of fished and turtles into the sea between Tsing Lung Tau and Ting Kau areas.
It is believed that they were performing a ritual as followers of Taoism and Buddhism believe that freeing caged animals into the wild will bring good karma.
However, what they didn’t realize — or perhaps chose to ignore — was the fact that they endangered the lives of the turtles by releasing them into the sea.
The red-eared sliders are freshwater, not saltwater, creatures. Putting them into the ocean and exposing them to sea salt was tantamount to killing them.
After receiving a report from eyewitnesses, SPCA staff arrived at the beach and began a rescue operation. They sailed into the sea with several lifeguards to pick up the turtles, which were seen floating at the sea surface or clinging on to rocks. Some turtles were scooped up from the beach as the animals scrambled out of the salt water. All of the saved turtles were taken back to SPCA for examination by veterinarians.
Activists reminded people that release of red-eared sliders into the sea constitutes a breach of the law, as the action will put the turtles’ lives at risk.
Anyone who puts freshwater turtles into saltwater sea might violate the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance and could face a HK$200,000 fine and up to three years jail term once convicted, the SPCA said.
According to the group, many animals purchased at pet shops or in the markets are not suitable for being released into the wild. As some of the animals are foreign species, they will not be able to adapt to the environment.
This was the fourth of its kind in the past two months. In one case, 48 red-eared sliders were found and picked up at Approach Beach on Aug. 17.
Source: EJ Insight