Wednesday, January 21st
Our January meeting will feature the club's annual Photo Contest, and Board Elections.
If you'd like to enter the contest, simply come to the meeting with a photo of a reptile or amphibian that YOU have taken. You can enter as many as you'd like. Winners will receive a year's membership.
Meetings start promptly at 8pm in the Alumni Room of Medaille College.
End Turtle Trade in Bali
A recent investigation funded by the World Society for the Protection of Animals has revealed that about 27,000 turtles are illegally hunted and killed each year in Indonesia. The endangered reptiles — mostly green turtles and some hawksbills — are sold live to traders in Bali; most are still conscious as their flesh is cut away from the shell. The meat is sold in restaurants and street stalls. And although all trade in turtles and turtle meat is banned, the Bali government secured a loophole in the law, allowing an annual quota of 5,000 animals to be hunted. But, says a WSPA spokesperson, "The law is not strictly enforced and, on the whole, traders are left free to hunt as they please. Those campaigning against the hunting have received death threats."
Letters calling for an end to the hunting and sale of turtles in Bali should be sent to:
Governor of Bali
Jl. Niti Mandala Renon
Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
and
Chairman of DPRD Renon
Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Help further herpetology research and education by donating to the Marvin R. Aures Herpetological Grant