When At A Food Market, This Man Came Across Two Turtles. What He Did Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity…

Credit:
Credit: Arron Culling


One morning, while perusing vendors’ options in Papua New Guinea, a man named Arron Culling noticed two giant sea turtles for sale.

Knowing the turtles were facing death, he and a co-worker decided to purchase the wildlife for less than $40 USD, then drove 5 kilometers up the road to set them free.

The impromptu rescue was captured in a few Facebook posts, which have delighted animal rights activists around the world.

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Culling wrote on Facebook last Thursday:

“[F]ound these at the local market, got them for 50 bucks drove 5km up the road and let them go.”

And guess what? These aren’t the first turtles the men have set free. According to Culling, he and his co-worker have bought and released about 10 turtles.

Credit: Arron Culling
Credit: Arron Culling
Credit: Arron Culling
Credit: Arron Culling
Credit: Arron Culling
Credit: Arron Culling
Credit: Arron Culling
Credit: Arron Culling

Such activism is needed, for six out of seven sea turtles are presently classified as endangered or vulnerable. Regardless of this frightening fact, marine turtle fishing remains legal in many areas of the world – including Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Mexico.

It is not unusual for locals to seek out turtles to harvest them for their meat and shells. This is why the military has stepped in to protect the endangered turtles’ eggs in Mexico.

According to this estimate, over 42,000 sea turtles are legally killed each year, although hundreds of thousands more are thought to die after getting caught in the nets of commercial fisherman targeting other animals. 

You can be a voice for the sea creatures by sharing this article and supporting efforts by organizations like the Sea Turtle Conservancy. 

Comment your thoughts below and please share this news!


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