From this morning she was on the road.

A young man who came by called the animal ambulance who indicated that she could stay there fine. He thought it was quite strange but believed the advice. He didn’t feel good about it and put her a bit further on the sidewalk so that she wouldn’t be hit.

In the afternoon the young man came by again, and still the turtle lay on the same spot where he had put it.
He called the animal ambulance again and this time he called us.

Meanwhile, he had hurried home to get a bucket to take her with him.
We arrived together. But no turtle.....

A car stopped and the driver said that he also found it so pathetic and had given the turtle to a building of Natural Monuments. They would take her to the shelter.

Relieved, I went on to the premises of Natuurmonumenten. There I was told by the gentlemen that they had driven to Alphen aan den Rijn and had discovered that the shelter was closed. That had neatly forwarded to us but they did not feel like it.
And what do you do when you work at Natuurmonumenten? Then why not just flicker an animal in the Zevenhuizerplas?

The gentlemen continued to drink their beer laughing and shouting all sorts of nonsense about their so-called knowledge about turtles.
I was just too late.

Five older, mature men who, I think, have to have worked for Natuurmonumenten for quite a few years, simply dump an invasive turtle in a pond where children swim and where everything is done to preserve nature.

"The water was nice and clear so she was fine."

Angry and full of disbelief, I drove to the Zevenhuizerplas against my will. It is so big that searching is impossible. An animal that lies somewhere for hours with this heat is SERIOUSLY SICK.

You would expect people working in nature conservation not to dump turtles. So, yes. Natuurmonumenten was already closed for telephone contact, so tomorrow they are the first.

(By: Annabel vd Horst, National coordinator found turtles, Stichting Schildpaddenopvang Nederland )