Hoping that the coronavirus pandemic will bring an end to the cruelty to turtles, tortoises and all other animals in live animal meat markets.
American Tortoise Rescue co-founder Susan Tellem of Malibu poses for a
photo with Tank the tortoise, practicing social distancing while still
advocating for tortoises and turtles.
Article by Suzanne Guldimann, Freelance Reporter, Malibu Surside News
May 1, 2020
Longtime Malibu residents and animal activists Susan Tellem and Marshall
Thompson are hoping that the coronavirus pandemic will bring an end to the
cruelty and health hazards generated by live animal meat markets, also known
as “wet” markets.
The Thompsons are co-founders of American Tortoise Rescue. For 30 years, the
husband-and-wife team have rescued and advocated for tortoises and turtles.
The rescue suffered devastating losses in 2018, when the Thompsons’ Malibu
home, which is also home to dozens of rescued animals, burned in the Woolsey
Fire. Fortunately, the tortoise enclosures were fireproof, and many of the
animals survived.
They are still in the process of rebuilding, but they aren’t letting the
fire or the coronavirus pandemic get in the way of their campaign to save
turtles and tortoises, and raise awareness of the challenges these
increasing threatened species face. They see the coronavirus disaster as an
opportunity to fight for change and new protections.
COVID-19 is thought to have originated in the wet markets of Wuhan, China,
where live animals of all kinds are sold for human consumption, including
wildlife and exotic and endangered species. China, however, isn’t the only
place were live animal meat markets flourish.
“Most people don’t realize that live markets exist throughout the United
States, killing thousands of turtles,” Susan Tellem told the Malibu Surfside
News.
There is a global push to end the trade in wildlife that is thought to have
caused the coronavirus pandemic to spread from animal species to humans. A
bipartisan group of nearly 70 United States congressional leaders recently
signed a letter calling for an end to the trade and consumption of wild
animals. Activists like the Thompsons want to see domestic live animal meat
markets shut down as well.
California State Senator Henry Stern has been working on legislation to end
the sale of wild animals at California’s live animal food markets.
“We need to stop the brutal trade in exotic and endangered wildlife once and for all,” Stern said.
“Whether it’s a pangolin being sold for faulty
medicine, a white Bengal tiger being enslaved for entertainment, or a black
rhino “trophy” used to satisfy some misguided hunter‘s ego, California must
put an end to wildlife trafficking.”
Stern is sponsoring SB 1175, which would ban imports and sales of live wild
animals that pose zoonotic disease transmission risk, as occurred in the
Wuhan wet markets, as well as “trophy hunted” endangered species like lions,
elephants, and rhinos.
Tellem points out that wildlife isn’t the only problem at the markets, which
in California, sell sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, pigeons,
quail, turtles, frogs and other animals.
“Turtles and other animals for sale are treated cruelly and butchered
horribly,” Tellem told the Surfside News. “Many diseases have started with
humans eating these animals. Diseases such as E. coli, salmonella and
pasturella — all potentially fatal in humans, plus cases of giardia, blood
parasites, and even one case of malaria have been revealed [in market animal
necropsies], as well as other diseases transmittable to humans.”
Tellem said that turtles are stacked four and five deep without food or
water at the markets, and are butchered while fully conscious.
“It breaks our hearts to see them suffer like this,” she said.
Tellem is asking the community to take part in the campaign to ban the
trade. The American Tortoise Rescue has a petition and is raising funds for
a matching grant to push for change. It is one of dozens of animal
protection and legislation advocacy organizations adding their voices to the
push for change, the list include including PETA, Social Compassion in
Legislation, the Humane Society, and more.
“Out of the negative, positive change can come,” Tellem said.
It is World Turtle Day on May 23, and American Tortoise Rescue is raising
funds with a special commemorative T-shirt this year.
“Donations are welcome,” Tellem said.
In addition to funds to keep the nonprofit going, the resident turtles and
tortoises at the rescue are happy to accept donations of fruit and
vegetables — foods like lettuce, cucumbers, squash and bananas are always
welcome. Paper towels are also needed.
Return to: Animal Rights/Vegan Activist Strategies
Read more at COVID-19/Coronavirus Articles Directory