General Care Discussion :: People eating turtles

[sm02]

I live in south Louisiana, and I'm Cajun. Other Cajuns here eat turtle soup, but I don't know how they can live with themselves.

Not only do they eat RES, but also alligator snapping turtles, which last time I checked, was on the endangered species list. Ironically, Louisiana is the only state where they are not protected. I don't get it. They're protected in states where they don't even live, yet they are fair game here where they are native.

Once, I rescued a snapper. My dad caught it to give to a man who wanted to eat him. By its size, I'd say it was probably about 20+ years old. How do you eat an animal that is older than your own children????

He was keeping it in a tiny bucket where its shell from front to back was wedged in and he couldn't even turn around.

Without asking, I grabbed the bucket, walked over to the canal in the backyard, and tossed him in the water (that's where my dad caught him).

Too bad, no turtle soup for anyone as long as I know about it I'll always take the opportunity to throw a turtle back to where they came from regardless of how badly some sicko wanted to eat him.

I've seen men with gigantic snappers, as big as a bathtub, as old as their grandparents, in the back of their pickups trying to climb out. They were taking the turts home to eat them

I wish they'd pass a law to protect them here.

Just thought I'd share. It frustrates me to no end!

[TheComputerGremlin]

Are you a vegetarian?

So it's okay to eat your cow or chicken or deer, but other animals are bad? Humans are meant to eat both meat and plants, all of which are alive. And we kill them to continue to live. Do you go fishing? It's okay to eat a fish, but not a turtle?

I understand your frustration, but as long as we (as humans) can eat it, we will. And the more illegal, the more rare, the more desired. It's our very nature. My husband's family eats rabbits, wild turkeys, squirrel, groundhog, etc. Reptiles aren't anything more special.

I can understand your frustration, but just because you don't want to eat it doesn't mean other people don't enjoy it.

[sm02]

Yikes.

I didn't say I thought it was okay to eat other animals too. I don't eat cows, chickens, or deer. I don't go fishing either.

I'm not attacking anyone on the board over this. It's a personal decision, but seeing an endangered species being served in soup makes me sad.

By your reasoning, I could defend people who eat other people (because humans are animals too, and aren't any more important), but I'm not going to go there because I'd really get bashed. Again, it's a personal decision.

Are you defending people who break the law to eat a rare animal? But it's illegal for a reason. I don't understand.

Take it easy. I don't see how my OP warranted a personal attack on me.

This is a turtle forum. We are allowed to like turtles here right?

[xfueledbykatie]

i think its horrible hearing about people killing and eating such innocent animals.

i, myself am a vegetarian..i just can't bring myself to eat an animal.
and i also don't go fishing..

i agree with the laws. i think there should be more to protect more animals...or at least laws that force them to be killed humanely.


but i also see the other point of view and i understand where they're coming from. that's just my personal opinion.

[sm02]

Yes, I wish that animals killed for food were killed without feeling pain or knowing that they are about to die

Just because they can't speak our language doesn't mean they don't fear death just like we do. To me, it's no better than lining people up to go to the slaughterhouse so other people can eat them. What makes our fear of death or our ability to feel pain any stronger than theirs? Poor babies.

Thank you for being vegetarian. People tend to get defensive and talk negatively about vegetarians, but I don't see why. I've always admired them.

[xfueledbykatie]

yeah.

my car's back window is covered with vegetarian influenced bumper stickers. lol.
like theres one with a picture of a baby pig and it says "no i don't have any spare ribs" and i thought it was adroable. lol.

[sm02]

Man, stuff like that makes me want to cry....lol.

[spaceapple]

I'm vegetarian too. But like katie, I can see the other side of things as well. I feel strongly about my views on eating animals, but I don't think it's right to force them on anyone else. I feel vegetarianism has the most influence when it sets an example for others. Most people subconsciously become very jaded about the things they eat. If non-vegetarians really sat down and thought about what they were eating sometimes, I think they would be disgusted. I know I was.

[xfueledbykatie]

exactly.

like 4 years ago i remember sitting down to eat catfish for the first time and everytime i'd get it near my mouth i would start gagging from picturing a slimy looking big black fish swimming.

[sm02]

See, that's another reason I admire vegetarians.

They can see things from a meat-eater's perspective, yet most meat-eaters can't seem to see it from the vegetarian's perspective and can be vicious about it.

But really, this topic is mainly about how endangered alligator snapping turtles are protected in all other states, except for one. And since they are protected in states that don't even have turtles, it boggles my mind how they can still be eaten here legally.

Oh, that and the fact that everyone I know thinks I'm weird for loving turtles because they consider them to be useless creatures that are only good for making soup.

[xfueledbykatie]

oh wow they can eat endagered turtles?
that isn't right. you should bring that up with the local government or something.
get the word out.

[pariah]

My only problem with vocally aggressive vegetarians who avoid meat because of cruelty issues is that they are so often ignorant of just how many products (both food and non-food) come from animals and our dependence on them. For example, purified bone ash is used to refine sugar and animal fats may be used to control foam in making maple syrup. Gelatins are used to clarify beverages like fruit juices, beer and wine. Plastic, cardboard and paper containers, the cellophane and wax paper used to keep foods fresh and packages sealed, and the ink and glue used on the label, all involve animal products. Many personal care products either contain animal ingredients or involve animal products in the manufacturing process. These items include sunscreens, deodorants, soaps and shampoos, cosmetics, toothpastes and mouthwashes. For example, lanolin, an oil that is removed from sheep wool before it can be spun and dyed, is used in hand creams and make-up. Even pet food can contain the remains of other animals.
Which is why I had such a problem with the vegan on "Who Wants To Be a Superhero?" She ran around leveling hypocritical charges at people while she wore loads of make up, drank alcohol, and wore vinyl and faux leather clothing.

The original poster is on a computer, which contains plastic. It also contains precious metals that were mined, it uses electricity which probably comes from a dam, and there's lots more that just branch outward from there.

Not only that but to say "They can see things from a meat-eater's perspective, yet most meat-eaters can't seem to see it from the vegetarian's perspective and can be vicious about it. " is just plain ignorant.

I don't judge anyone for their choices, and I need no explanations...but I have been called a murderer for eating meat...I don't recall ever leveling charges like that at a vegetarian, nor do I ever remember a meat eater throwing anything at or assaulting a vegetarian. Not in my own experience nor in the news.

Sorry, if it's any way, the reality is that there are several fanatical vegetarians out there calling meat eaters "murderers." Not to say that there aren't insensitive people on both sides but from POV the fanatics are heavier on one side than the other.


There are four teeth in my mouth that are designed for ripping meat and my body requires animal protein to survive, the same way my turtle's does.
Therefore I eat meat. I try my best to buy locally and from small markets to avoid giving my money to large cattle mills. That is both for the treatment of animals, my own safety and for a better tasting cut of meat.

I have farm experience however and I have seen the circle of life first hand and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that a healthy existence for me is impossible without the death of an animal. Even a self sustained vegan farmer is going to need either an ox to plow his field or a tractor to do it. And neither one can be had without an animal dying.

Life feeds on life and that's just how it is. Calling others cruel for their choice to eat meat is just plain hypocritical and ignorant.

Live and let live, make your choices, and let others make their's but get the plank out of your own eye before you try to remove the spec from mine.

Thank you.

[sm02]

Sorry Pariah, you are confusing vegans with vegetarians. They are not the same thing. And this computer I'm on...it's a work computer, not mine. Even then, I'm not a vegan.

This thread isn't about being a vegetarian. It's about endangered turtle soup. I am not trying to convert anyone to vegetarianism. Why are you jumping to conclusions? This is another example of a meat-eater jumping into defensive mode when no one here means anything personal. Why can't vegetarians have a discussion in a forum without meat-eaters getting so offended?


And before calling me a hypocrite, eat human meat too. We're all animals.

I don't understand why I'm being bashed in a turtle forum for disliking the thought of endangered turtle soup. What on earth is wrong with this thread to push so many buttons?

If you want to defend others' taste for eating an endangered species, that's you. I think it's wrong.

[spaceapple]

I agree, there's no need to get defensive. And if we're still going with the whole vegetarianism thing (which I know was not your original intention, sm02!) I would like to say to pariah: you're right. There are a lot of vegetarians who don't know that many of the products they use every day are not cruelty-free. I don't think I could ever become vegan, because animal products are just everywhere, even in the most unsuspecting places. I would also like to commend you on trying to be knowledgeable about where the meat you eat comes from. In my eyes, non-vegetarians who make the effort to be conscientious of how their food got on their plate help to fight the system just as much as vegetarians.

[zoologist]

i am not a vegetarian and i never intend to be. love my chicken dinosaurs a tad too much to give them up.

i am 100% animal lover and yet i see nothing wrong with eating turtles, ESPECIALLY RES. i feel that they are over populated and if people want to eat them, go ahead! it is their custom and we need to back off and let them do their thing.


instead of complaining about it here and starting a soon to be arguement between everyone's opinions why don't you call your local DNR? get a petition? i'd be more then happy to sign it