The Case of the Abandoned Slider

She eyes me with bestial intelligence as I hover above her. She's anticipating. Her head begins to slowly inch out of her study olive brown shell stained with thick black ink drop markings. Her scaly green legs extend next - webbed feet equipped with tiny curled barb-like claws - stretching in search of a firm hold of the rock she's been lying sunbathing on. She knows why I'm standing there. It's breakfast. As I open the lid of her plastic domain she cocks her head to look directly at me.

"Where is it?" her look demands. "Hand it over."

"Yes maam," I oblige and tip the metal spoon to let drop her vegetarian pellets. She attacks the floating spheres with gusto.

***

Oscar has been living with me for more than four years now. Found abandoned by my father walking along the side of a main road, she was in immediate danger of being run over and therefore understandably very agitated. She snapped at everything; her grumpiness earning her her name. Even nipping off the skin from my right forearm when I stuck my arm into her new home to adjust the rocks. How's that for emphasis? I'm pissed. And here's the proof. Snap!...YEOW!

Deprivation of food, water and a peaceful place to retreat to brings about a troubled mind for many. When coupled with the continuous confrontation of the deafening cacophony of automobiles zooming past and a scorching sun overhead while she dragged herself onwards, each step causing her immense pain from the burning granite stones of the road that had soaked up the midday heat, the experience must have left her traumatized beyond comprehension. Had my dad not picked her up, Lord knows how many more days she would have to endure this pointless pilgrimage to nowhere. By chance she may have made it to a reservoir. In reality, she would probably have either died of dehydration or been run over and killed - a victim of her previous master's thoughtless behaviour.

A month later, Oscar was joined by another shell-bearing relative. I named him Grover. If it ain't obvious by now, I grew up with Sesame Street. As his name hints, he was lanky, timid and looked awkward. My dad - the turtle saviour - found him scurrying about in the carpark of a country club. Instinctually, I suggested Grover must have escaped from the golf course pond.

"There's no pond" was my dad's reply.

***

As you may have guessed, Oscar and Grover are two individuals from a species of turtles called red-earred sliders (RES). More commonly known as terrapins, RES get their name primarily from the distinguishing red-stripe that glides across both sides of their faces making them extremely easy to recognize. 

With our native species of turtles and tortoises either being labelled critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable, the RES is the only turtle and/or tortoise wisely allowed by Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to be sold at pet stores and to be kept as pets in Singapore. As such, about 40,000 RES are imported each month - making them the only species in Singapore with the conservation status: common. Yes, you read that right - 40,000 and imported.

Though successfully thriving in our local ponds and reservoirs, RES are not native to Singapore. An invasive species, they come all the way from North America. As they are more aggressive than our native species such as the spiny hill tortoise or the forest soft-shelled turtle, RES pose a danger of outcompeting the local species for food, habitat and other resources, even attacking them if crossed. This in turn increases the risk of us losing our local biodiversity of turtles and tortoises and in no way improves global conservation efforts. The abandonment of a pet RES further exacerbates the issue.

***

Ever so often we see television programs of lost pets being reunited with their owners and the joy felt by them. When we stumble upon advertisements in newspapers or printouts stuck onto lampposts notifying the public of a lost dog or cat, we feel sadden by the event. It is therefore hard to imagine anyone consciously choosing to abandon their pets. What kind of people must they be?

Perhaps one reason for the abandonment of pet RES is the ignorance of owners who do not understand the commitment or the nature of their pet. In most pet shops, RES are often seen as cute little cuddly green things with pouty shiny eyes and a thin smile clinging vulnerably to a dried wooden log stuck in a tank with an inch of water for recreation. Pestered furiously by their children, spouse or partner, the transaction takes place and the little green munchkin with the yellow underbelly is brought home - the only concern at the time of purchase being the food and how many times one needs to change the water. 

Fast forward a couple of years and what ambles about is a saucer-sized greedy minion with the capability to grow into a dinner-plate-sized behemoth all in good time. No one told them that.

The olive-shelled bumbling machine, scratchy claws, a messy eater and an even messier house-keeper far from looking anything as cute as their post-egg-hatch days. No one told them that.

A complicated blend of necessary living conditions - heat, sun, water, temperature - and a varied diet consisting of a mix of vegetables, shells and pellets for shell development and optimal digestion to avoid any medical issues. Keep this up for 50 to 70 years or hand it over to your children. Remember to include this in your will. No one told them that.

No one told them anything.

***

While it is easy to play the blame game, I believe the key to our efforts in conserving our local turtle and tortoise populations and maintaining our native biodiversity lie in education and legislation. 

Though there is no simple one-size-fits-all solution, one idea is to allow only licensed shopkeepers who have undergone certified training in RES care and conduct to sell RES to the public. These shopkeepers should be held responsible in ensuring that potential RES owners are equipped with the knowledge and are aware of the commitment before purchasing them as pets. Surprise spot checks conducted by the authority i.e. AVA or National Environmental Agency (NEA) will help to ensure compliance with penalties imposed should the shops sell the RES without educating the purchaser appropriately. 

An introduced species from abroad, red-earred sliders are beautiful and complex creatures that deserve far more respect than the thoughtless actions of abandonment that may lead to their tragic deaths or the demise of their native counterparts. Care, love, and life-long dedication of all pets should be encouraged. By enforcing responsible ownership and distribution as well as ensuring proper dissemination of RES education, this I feel, will help to reduce the number of abandonments which will indirectly lessen the impact on our native shell-bearing species.

We have only one chance at preserving what we have. Let us work together to keep it that way.

************************************************************************************************

Have you heard about people abandoning their pet turtles before? What are your thoughts on the subject of red-earred slider abandonment? What other ideas could help prevent such things from occurring? Do you have a pet turtle? Feel free to share your experience and opinions below.

And thanks a lot for reading.

Cheers,
~Kerry

References

1. Red-Earred Slider Abandonment - SPCA:
    http://www.spca.org.sg/redsliders.html

2. Native Flora & Fauna - NParks:
    http://florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg/Home.aspx

3. Red-Earred Slider Info & Care - Animal Planet:
    http://animal.discovery.com/guides/reptiles/turtles/slider.html

4. Singapore Red Data Book
5. Cadi A. and Joly P., 2003. Competition for basking places between the endangered European pond turtle (Emysorbicularis) and the introduced slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans). Canadian Journal of Zoology (81) pp. 1392 - 1398.