Mayor and council of the Municipality of Amsterdam welcomes animal suffering in the city!

Zita Pels, who became an Amsterdam alderperson on 1 June, appears to dismiss the turtle issue in just a few sentences by claiming that turtles living in the wild do not suffer. This follows a report by AT5, and also national coverage, including (https://www.nu.nl/.../college-geen-sprake-van-langzame...)

She and her colleagues state that the turtles in the various Amsterdam parks survive fine, that they have been there since 1990 and that they are the same turtles.... Without any form of counter-hearing, by us as Schildpaddenopvang Nederland but also other sources such as Reptile shelter Zwanenburg and RAVON this conclusion. She states that there are about 80 turtles living in Amsterdam and that there is enough food and the climate would be fine for these animals.

Apparently, the college ignores all information and scientific evidence, purely to maintain this form of animal suffering. They forget, however, that turtles are dumped in the parks every year, making it seem that the animals are doing fine. We have information from archives that the turtles problem was especially big in Amsterdam, about 60 to 70 years this whole problem lasts already, there lived at the time thousands of released turtles in Amsterdam, canals and parks full of turtles. These animals have just as now slowly died by living in a climate that is totally unsuitable for these animals. And what the mayor obviously does not know is that there are hundreds of turtles in Amsterdam.

We have now received dozens of turtles from Amsterdam, all very emaciated sick animals, with eye infections, full of parasites. Two of the animals had severe sepsis (blood poisoning) and are unlikely to survive. Sepsis occurs mainly when parasites attack and pierce the stomach and intestinal wall. Parasites thrive in the warm periods to enormous numbers (huge infection), especially when the animal is weakened by lack of food and heat. When a turtle goes to rest in the colder period, the parasites continue and eventually the animal will often die from sepsis. Often underwater so that dead turtles are almost never seen. In addition, other turtles in a foodless environment will eat carcasses, with the result that they are also infected. This often explains the sudden death of large groups in confined areas.

Not to mention, our nature and biodiversity. It suffers from invasive exotic species. There is no reason why a European regulation has been drawn up for invasive exotic species that also includes the common turtles, this legislation is active since 2016!! We can not understand that our government in the form of the Municipality of Amsterdam completely ignores this legislation. In our view, this must be followed by sanctions. When we do something illegal, we are also being tapped on the fingers.

This animal suffering is all unnecessary if we joined hands, the dumping of turtles must just stop, society must understand that it is not normal to release any pet in nature at all! We are afraid that this stubborn issue will continue for years to come. This is mainly caused by misinformation that is now again spread by the mayor of Amsterdam. And in addition, many always know better, the result is, laugh and point and the one who is well-intentioned is caught by the nose, has the fault and is literally put in front of the pole. For the sake of the turtles, we will never accept this!

The municipality of Amsterdam will receive an official complaint from us, in addition we will demand a rectification! Such forms primarily damages the animals, but also our good name and especially our good intentions, we do not catch for nothing with heart and soul about 600 deadly sick turtles per year!

NB: Our government has asked nature organization Ravon to do independent research on the turtles that live in our nature. The result is as we have been calling for years! Turtles seek a slow death in our changing climate! See also: https://www.nu.nl/.../meer-dan-duizend-schildpadden...

RAVON - Party for Animals Amsterdam - Party for Animals - Hotline 144 - NU.nl - De Telegraaf - Heart of the Netherlands - AT5 - About NH News