Report abandoned turtles
Turtles can now be observed more often than usual: they catch the last warming rays of the sun. The animal protection foundation advises anyone who finds such an animal to seize the opportunity and report it to a nearby wild animal sanctuary or to the relevant public order office. In this way, the animal can be saved from the threat of frostbite.
The red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) from America in particular are considered a serious threat to native turtles in the wild. Although imports into the EU were already banned in 1997 for species protection reasons, new deposits are still being discovered locally that can be traced back to releases.
The wildlife station in Hamburg takes in around 50 found turtles every year. However, the number of unreported animals abandoned is many times higher. They are nursed back to health at the wildlife station, passed on to competent hands or find a new, species-appropriate home there.
Turtles have special requirements when it comes to keeping them in accordance with animal welfare. The animal welfare foundation supports the introduction of a positive list of animal species that are suitable for private pet keeping. In addition to animal welfare, such a list should also take species protection aspects and possible effects on human and animal health into account.