Tortoises - Please help save the Desert Tortoise!

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#1773366

Scaly
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Please help save the Desert Tortoise!

Here in Southern California the California desert tortoise is federally protected, I have one that I adopted, and I have a permit from the department of fish and game to legally keep him. But, here in the desert at Fort Irwin which is an army base where desert training is done they are moving 700 tortoises over 10 miles away from their federally protected area because they want to expand their area where that drive the tanks and practice maneuvers! They are breaking a state and federal law and re locating these torts which is sadly resulting in injuries, sickness, and death! They are spending a whopping 8.5 million dollars to do this, just think of all that tax-payers money going to help the army break the law and result in the death of all these wonderful tortoises! Many are mysteriously getting to the new site with their radio tracking devices removed! Two that made it there with their transmitters still on have made the 10+ mile hike back to Fort Irwin and were right back in their own burrows! I want to reach out to all you tortoise,animal lovers and ask you to go on line and sign a petition to stop this, they need 10,000 signatures and as of today we have like 930! You can help no matter where you live, please help this cause, and pass it along to all your animal loving friends! Go to ( http://tortoise-aid.org/desert_tortoise_survival_alliance.html ) Thank You and God Bless!!!

06/25/08 04:09pm

#1773404

RepticTay
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Message To: Scaly In reference to Message Id: 1773366

Please help save the Desert Tortoise!

Personally if the whatever army base got permission of the Federal Law to do it, then whats the big deal?

Ok, i mean it is highly sad but theres not exactly alot we can do i dont think.

06/25/08 04:33pm

#1773444

Scaly
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Message To: RepticTay In reference to Message Id: 1773404

Please help save the Desert Tortoise!

Whats the big deal? How old are you? This is an animal that is listed as a federally protected, threatened species! This species is supposed to be protected by the state of California and the federal endangered species act, the threats to its survival are numerous! There will be a lawsuit suing the united states army and the company hired to relocate these tortoises. They did not get permission, and they broke a state and federal laws, and that is a very big deal my friend. We have to care and take care of the earth and the animals in it, I assume all members here are here because they care about animals and their proper care.

06/25/08 05:10pm

#1774050

RepticTay
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Message To: Scaly In reference to Message Id: 1773444

Please help save the Desert Tortoise!

I am 15, not that it has anything to do with it.

I completely understand what your saying, but all im saying is if they army base got permission off the federal laws to expand their base, and move the tortoises to another area then theres nothing you, nor i or anyone else can do to prevent such events.

Do you know for a fact the amry base did NOT get permission to do so?
if you know that for a fact then fair enough, it is entirely wrong and out of order and something should be done.

But if you dont know that for a fact, i guess i rest my case.

06/26/08 07:19am

#1774249

Scaly
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Message To: RepticTay In reference to Message Id: 1774050

Please help save the Desert Tortoise!

Tay, I asked your age because your "whats the big deal" comment seemed immature, especially for someone who owns torts. Maby its because you don’t live in the U.S. that makes it hard for you to understand, my 14 year old son understands it just fine. I saw your other posts after I asked you that, and I knew you were a child when I saw that you live with your grandparents. The signatures on that petition will be used to complement the lawsuit, the army has violated a state and federal law, and violated the endangered species act, the army, the fish and wildlife services, etc. are going to be sued. The center for biological diversity attempted to stop this, but the army went ahead and started re-locating them before it could get to federal court. Many tortoises have been attacked by coyotes and dogs and others have perished due to the harsh conditions. Many are attempting to make their way home (over 10 miles) and getting run over by off road vehicles and cars. The army insisted on doing this even though biologist tried to tell them how bad it was,we need to stop this to preserve those few (less than 30%) of wild desert tortoises left. Think about it like this sweetie, if army tanks decided they wanted to go through your grandparent garden and run your tortoises over, that is terribly wrong. And, if they decided they would gather them up and dump them off where there is no wild source of food and no shelter, then that is terribly wrong. It would be a big deal, right? These laws were set in place to protect these tortoises and their natural habitat for a reason, and not even the army should be allowed to just break such laws at the expense of these noble creatures lives. I say again, they did not get permission, you don’t get permission to break federal laws.

06/26/08 11:46am

#1774299

RepticTay
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Message To: Scaly In reference to Message Id: 1774249

Please help save the Desert Tortoise!

Quote:
Tay, I asked your age because your "whats the big deal" comment seemed immature

Thats what i just hate about online forums, no vocals involved, which makes things sound immature and so on. Sorry.

Quote:
Maby its because you don’t live in the U.S. that makes it hard for you to understand

Possibly, dont see how but maybe thats true.

Quote:
I saw your other posts after I asked you that, and I knew you were a child when I saw that you live with your grandparents

Correction - i do not live with my grandparents, i may spend most of my days with them but i do not live with them. I live with my parents, 2 brothers, neice and animals.

Quote:
I say again, they did not get permission, you don’t get permission to break federal laws.

Ok, i’ll put it like this whoever is incharge of it all, may have given permission...if you know for a fact they did not get permission for anything then fair enough!

I admit it is a horrible thing to do, and yes putting them at risk i am not by far denying that. I wanted the answer of do you know that for a fact they was told they can not do this.

i am not trying to cause an argument or havock here, i am just stating my self-opinion.

06/26/08 12:37pm