USVI-On-Line

Sorry to rain on anyone's parade. But I've noticed a lot of pictures on the forum lately of people reaching out to touch turtles. Guess what?? Soon they will disappear if they feel threatened or harrassed. Enjoy them and leave them alone or next trip they may be gone. Swimming with turtles is magic let's keep it that way.

Thanks for a good reminder.

There is also some danger to humans, especially from touching a turtle on land. Salmonella has been known to be transferred from turtles to humans from just a touch. Children are especially vulnerable to salmonella infection even if an adult touches a turtle and then the adult touches the child.

We, as humans, love to experience things by touching. When working at Sea World I had to be extra careful even approaching tanks. I had to soak my feet/shoes in disinfectant before walking around the whale tanks. Once I was safe, I could then touch the whales. Once animals are used to humans they love to be touched; they love attention. In the wild, they can then get abnormally attached to humans and that means getting too close to boats and propellers as well as viruses.

Great reminder.

I *think* that, in some of the pictures, the perspective might make it look as if people are touching the turtle when in fact they're a few feet away. I always found myself instinctively reaching out to them (but never touching), though some of my pics from last year look as if I'm touching a turtle.

I think that your reminder should actually apply to ALL sea life and coral.

By federal law it is illegal for a human to interfere with the progress or habitat of any sea creatures unless otherwise authorized by a permit to do so (e.g. commercial fishermen).

The reality is I don't want some stranger coming up to me and touching me, why would I do that to some other anonymous living thing?

Looky no touchy!!

Gromit wrote: Looky no touchy!!

I think that is the rule in the strip club too......

-Bert

I haven't posted the pic yet, but this weekend when looking at our pictures I noticed that one looked like I was trying to touch a turtle. Knowing, that I abide by the no touch rule, I knew that wasn't what I was actually trying to do. More thank likely, I had brought my arm up in front of me swimming right when my husband took the picture. I agree that it's not ok to touch the turtle, but some pictures are misleading.

Nicolle

Our rule has always been to just look and not touch. The oils from our skin can be harmful to the turtles and of course you should never touch or stand on the coral.

We did touch a Sea Egg this past trip but only because we were told it was ok to do so.

I always thought is was also ok to examine a Starfish as well.

Bert you're killing me!

Nic-- I suspect SnorkelQueen spotted one of the recent trip reports with photos and was reminding folks of what not to do.

I was just chiming in on general principle (I thought her comments were just a general reminder when I chimed in). I hadn't seen the aforemention TR.

It was only after doing my perusal of the new TR's that I saw why she was concerned and most likely why she spoke up (but that's just my guess).

I certainly don't want to start anything here and what's done is done.

But I ceratinly think that a reminder was in order so that we can be responsible visitors when in the water.

CariBert wrote:

Gromit wrote: Looky no touchy!!

I think that is the rule in the strip club too......

-Bert

You have to pay extra for that Bert

Salmonella? That's icky turles from the pet store, not critters in the wild. Doesn't matter, stay away. Stalking is more fun anyways.

Cheers, RickG

Salmonella can be found on turtles in the wild, on land. In the sea water it isn't an issue. But nesting or sunning turtles, yes.

Stalking, samonella and strip clubs. This has gotten way off track.

JIM

Gromit wrote:

By federal law it is illegal for a human to interfere with the progress or habitat of any sea creatures unless otherwise authorized by a permit to do so (e.g. commercial fishermen).

Gromit - Do Federal Laws apply in the Virgin Islands?