Import STOP of found turtles. 

Unfortunately, we have to announce that as of today, July 22, 2024, we will hopefully introduce a temporary stop with newly found, usually dumped turtles. At the moment, we have almost insufficient space to handle all the animals and keep them with animal dignity. There are many sick animals coming in, which means that we have problems with capacity due to the enormous supply. This year alone, we have taken in 1100 turtles, bringing the total to more than 5000 turtles. There are still about 150 turtles on the way and then the summer has yet to come! As you understand the turtle dump problem has gone terribly out of hand in all those years. In addition, we must introduce this stop because we are also bound by legal requirements regarding the most important thing: Animal welfare!

Unfortunately, we cannot refer to colleagues because every shelter in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany is full of mainly (invasive) found aquatic turtles.  

The only thing that is regulated in the Netherlands are the following indications and there we will have to refer to our animal-worthy principles, inventors...This would be the solution; 

https://www.rvo.nl/onderwerpen/invasieve-exoten/algemene-regels/gevonden-dier

https://www.dierenbescherming.nl/diervriendelijk-leven/zorgen-voor-dieren/schildpadden

We would like to explain why.

We do it very much for the animals, but as long as we do not get only one-time financial aid from the government for a larger location (the turtle reserve) we can no longer try to solve this problem, it has gone very out of hand and the problem is part of the core of humanity it has become a habit for many. For years (since 1970) turtles have been released and when it turns out that these animals are starving in the wild, the conscience usually does not allow it to see otherwise and help. Almost everyone who brings his or her turtle here is already encouraged by the environment to release the animal somewhere. Because yes there and there are turtles for thirty years and they even have cubs so they are doing well and look good from a distance, I have seen the same turtle for twenty years.... But that in addition to our nature also goes to the lightning no one checks, they are not for nothing declared European invasive! 

We have a lot of work and unfortunately a lot of costs for found animals. They need expensive medication to fight various parasites, or other medications for lung and eye problems. This requires an expert veterinarian and we need a lot of heat, water and expensive food to get back on top. We want to give every animal a chance and not be an organization that just lets the animals die. We want to continue to focus on quality and not on quantity. After the rising energy and food prices, plus a population growth of about 1000 turtles per year, it is clear that a larger place is needed quickly and a ban on at least aquatic turtles. If we continue to collect, we will soon also have to deal with the enforcement side of the government and that we want to avoid of course! 

There is a huge network of volunteers active throughout the Netherlands, who between their own work and family are selflessly committed to all these turtles. This demands a lot of these people and we cannot go on indefinitely to always burden these people. Especially when the weather is nice and everyone wants to enjoy. On such days all the dumped turtles go for a walk and the phone is glowing red. 

We also have an enormous administrative pressure to register and process all those found animals, including all volunteers and organizations at a distance. In addition, there are all different laws and trainings that we have to comply with and also be monitored. It takes us a lot of time but also a lot of money, money from our donors that we also have to spend on such things. It is important, we understand that well, but make sure that you also reward all our efforts as a government. There are literally millions going to nature protection. For example, every turtle that we take out of nature eats thousands of frogfishes and eventually also adult frogs, salamanders and so on. That means millions of animals are lost in our own ecosystem, water bodies are drained and the turtle leaves for the next food-rich body. If this is looked at properly and expertly, then there are still funds to be made available for a reserve, i.e. a fenced area, where the animals can “extinct” free of danger, hunger and discomfort. Where the animals are kept as true to nature as possible with the exception of actual reproduction. 

For us because we are in the middle of it is all clear. Action is needed now to make all this happen. If not, then we really have to permanently stop with found turtles. In addition, as long as there is no position list for reptiles, we are literally mopping with the tap open. A ban would be a dot on the horizon that we can work towards, but if this takes too long again, we will be too late. 

For now, we continue to expand what we can, so that people who want to give up their own turtle can go to us. These are mainly turtles that are more often healthy, do not have nasty foreign native parasites and thus involve much less medical costs and work. In addition, there will always be found animals dripping in, but for the time being not with the waves that we now have to process. 

We will, of course, still collect the turtles currently being cared for by partner organisations and volunteers elsewhere. We do ask to communicate immediately that no more turtles will be picked up because there is no more space for them. 

I understand that all this is a thunderbolt for many, but at the same time we could never have imagined that so many turtles were found and brought in a short time. I have underestimated it and without external help from the government that allows this in the sale, it is mopping with the tap open! We are going to focus more on people who can decently dispose of their turtle, at the moment they have to wait months to bring the turtle, purely because all quarantines are full due to the abundance of dumped found turtles that need long-term care.  

I hope for everyone’s understanding and continue to hope together that the government will help us! 

Gerard van der Wijk

administrator