World Animal Protection calls on Carnival Cruise Lines to stop sending tourists to cruel sea turtle attraction

Tourists visiting the center via Carnival Cruise Lines for the opportunity to take a 'turtle selfie' are usually unaware of the abuse and suffering the turtles experience when they are being handled, an activity featured in World Animal Protection's top ten cruelest wildlife attractions.

In 2012, the organization exposed behind-the-scenes evidence of more than 5,000 endangered sea turtles in overcrowded, unhygienic conditions, fed on an unnatural diet, resulting in abnormal behaviors such as aggression and even cannibalism. The center's conditions are a far cry from the natural environment in which sea turtles normally live.

The center also breeds turtles to provide turtle meat for people and restaurants. The facility claims that turtle meat has high local demand; however, a recent report  funded by the UK government shows that only 1% of Caymanians eat turtle meat on a regular basis, calling into question the strength of the ongoing demand. 

Despite numerous attempts by World Animal Protection to work with the company, Carnival Cruise Lines is turning a blind eye to the appalling conditions these sea turtles experience by continuing to send endless streams of visitors to the center.

Neil D'Cruze, Senior Wildlife Advisor at World Animal Protection, says:

"The stress and injuries associated with the repeated handling of these wild sea turtles by tourists is just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the scenes, hundreds of sea turtles are crammed into overcrowded shallow tanks out of sight from the tourist view."

"It's really disappointing that Carnival Cruise Lines has failed to provide World Animal Protection with any meaningful action to help protect these sea turtles, which is why we're urging the public to sign a petition asking Carnival to stop fueling this unnecessary cruelty."

"Ultimately we want to see the farm operate as a genuine rehabilitation and education center, where endangered turtles are properly protected. These wild animals should not be handled by tourists or served up on a tourist plate as a novelty burger."

World Animal Protection is also concerned about possible health risks to turtles and people. In 2015, local media reports revealed that 1,268 turtles at the center died due to Clostridium, the bacteria that can cause botulism, tetanus and other potentially serious health problems for people.  

Notes to editors

• World Animal Protection has been working to help reduce cruelty to turtles at Cayman Turtle Centre, formerly known as the Cayman Turtle Farm (CTF), for many years. In 2012 we spent 12 months collecting evidence to persuade the farm that a transition to humane operations would benefit their business model economically and environmentally, while proving that the farm as it stands represents a potential threat to the health of its visitors.
  
  
• From 2013-2014, we ran a petition calling on CTF to stop farming turtles for meat and transition to a genuine rehabilitation and education center, which received more than 180,000 signatures. CTF has so far refused to take meaningful action to protect the turtles in its care.
  
  
• A recent report funded by the UK government shows that only 1% of Caymanians eat turtle meat on a regular basis: http://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/project/DPLUS019/
  
  
• Our campaign, Wildlife – not entertainers, is dedicated to ending the unnecessary suffering caused by the cruel wildlife entertainment industry.

SOURCE World Animal Protection

Related Links

http://www.worldanimalprotection.us.org