Friday, June 26 2009

THE EDITOR: I have learned of an extremely disturbing and neglectful case of animal cruelty and abuse against leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting in the insular Caribbean Sea nightly. The turtles are being harassed by crowds of people using flash lights and flash photography — both of which can disorient a nesting female or hatchlings. Some people are even carelessly climbing the turtles to take rides. There is also evidence that turtles are still being killed by poachers. As these types of occurrences become more and more common the only sensible thing to do is shut down the beaches completely during evening hours while the leatherbacks move in and out of the water to deliver their brood or any other action to protect this sea creature — And living history!

I am writing to request from you to take immediate action to protect these creatures as they are also our heritage from nature!

You have to do everything to protect them and to inform people that this is a crime.

I am hoping that you will take an unyielding position against animal cruelty charging as appropriate under the law. We need to teach our children that our society does not excuse, allow, or enable cruelty against animals or humans. We need to demonstrate in both word and action that the human essence of empathy does not exist to excuse maliciousness: it exists to provide compassion and justice to the brutalised and punishment to those who willingly deviate from this capacity. If we do not do our duty to provide this, we harm animals and invite injustice into our society.



JOANNA KARATSANEVA

Sofia, Bulgaria