WAP launches petition for Carnival to stop operating tours to the Cayman Turtle Centre
World Animal Protection (WAP) are launching today (25) a petition to one of the largest cruise companies in the world, Carnival cruise lines, to stop operating tours to the Cayman Turtle Centre. Carnival Cruise Lines are turning a blind eye to the appalling conditions that sea turtles experience by continuing to send endless streams of visitors to the centre.
In 2012, World Animal Protection 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 behaviours such as aggression and even cannibalism. The centre conditions are a far cry from the natural environment in which sea turtles normally live.
Here is the WAP petition:
Carnival Cruise Lines turns a blind eye to cruel sea turtle attraction
One of the world’s largest cruise line companies is failing to take action to protect endangered sea turtles from shocking conditions, despite repeated requests to stop operating tours to the Cayman Turtle Centre: Island Wildlife Encounter.
In the lead up to World Turtle Day next month (23 May), World Animal Protection has launched a petition urging Carnival Cruise Lines to put the welfare of endangered sea turtles ahead of profit and stop sending unwitting tourists to this cruel attraction in the Cayman Islands.
Tourists visiting the centre 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, which features in World Animal Protection’s top ten cruellest wildlife attractions.
In 2012, the charity 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 behaviours such as aggression and even cannibalism. The centre conditions are a far cry from the natural environment in which sea turtles normally live.
The centre also breeds turtles to provide turtle meat for people and restaurants across the island. 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 to work with them, Carnival Cruise Lines are turning a blind eye to the appalling conditions these sea turtles experience by continuing to send endless streams of visitors to the centre.
Since 2012, the international charity collated a body of evidence to persuade the Cayman Turtle Centre and the Cayman Government to transition to a genuine sea turtle and release facility but the welfare concerns of the turtles continue and they are still mishandled by tourists using them as photo props for holiday selfies.
Neil D’Cruze, Senior Wildlife Advisor at World Animal Protection, says:
“Despite years of bluster and sidestepping the issue it is abundantly clear that the Cayman Turtle Centre has no intention of addressing the ongoing cruelty at the facility in a meaningful manner. A cynical rebrand cannot cover the fact that turtles are still being mishandled for selfies and remain crammed into tanks with on-going injuries and disease.
D’Cruze added: “The Cayman Turtle Centre is one of a kind for a reason – it is a cruel attraction that represents an ongoing potential threat to sea turtle conservation and public health. We are convinced Carnival Cruise Line passengers would refuse to visit the Centre if only they knew the truth.
“We believe that there are more effective ways to conserve endangered sea turtles that do not involve this kind of unnecessary cruelty. We hope that the Centre will finally realise that it must make a transition to become a proper sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation facility.”
World Animal Protection is also concerned about possible health risks to turtles and people. In 2015 local media reports revealed that 1,268 turtles died due to Clostridium, the bacteria that can cause botulism, tetanus and other potentially serious health problems for people.
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WAP also have some video footage relating to the Cayman Turtle Centre on this link:
IMAGES: Supplied
