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Posted by TortoiseAid on July 20, 2001 at 04:49:25:
ACTION ALERT!
ADULT MALE GOPHER TORTOISE (FEDERALLY LISTED SPECIES) FOUND KILLED, HANGING FROM TORTOISE VOLUNTEER'S MAILBOX, LETTERS NEEDED!!
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One of our Gopher Tortoise Reserve (property has been signed up under the reserve program) members came home this afternoon to find an adult male gopher tortoise hanging from her mailbox. The tortoise was apparently killed at the site before it was strung up. The head was cut off as was the tail.
There has been a great fiasco in this subdivision. First, the developer was given a free pass by the Game Commission because from the aerial photos, it would appear that no tortoise population of any size would be present. It is. Several neighbors have attempted to get help from FFWCC to get individual land owners to obtain permits and move tortoises out of harms way.
We got involved when the landowner wanted someone to trap the tortoises. We volunteered to do this. However, the developer rep went to the FFWCC and got the permit to trap. This is despite several complaints by landowners that this guy was nuking tortoises. The trapping never happened and the tortoises were entombed. There was a warning issued to the land clearing company for nuking the tortoises. The law enforcement officers was new and did not know how to handle the situation. His superior said to issue a warning even though he saw the burrow destruction (as did 4 other people). Before the day was out the 10+ tortoises were nuked. Apparently the GTCI member is going to offer a $10,000 reward and put out a public announcement about this situation in various papers. Ray Ashton
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Holly Maro wrote to ask for our help.
Sunday, July 15, she returned to her Ocala, FL home to find an adult male gopher tortoise, decapitated and mutilated at its tail, tied up and hanging from her mail box. It was apparently killed at the site.
Holly Maro is a volunteer with Ray Ashton on the Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative. There have been major problems with local development of areas loaded with pods - not large developers but private individuals. The specific site is at Turning Hawk Development, south of Ocala in Marion County. FFWGC law enforcement is working hard on the animal cruelty case, and so is the local sheriff's dept. To increase the possibility of an arrest, Mr. & Mrs. Maro are offering a $10,000 reward for the conviction of the perpetrators. The Gainesville Sun newspaper were scheduled to interview them today to cover the story.
Holly wants others to know about this so they can realize the seriousness of the issues in Florida with the gopher tortoise.
Lisa Lowell
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Hello to all,
This is the letter we received earlier from the person who had a Florida Gopher Tortoise killed and left hanging from her mailbox. Warning, it is graphic. Annie Lancaster
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Any note,to Allen Egbert's office ,even 2 lines, will help. The poor soul that was tortured in such an incredibly cruel manner needs a voice.
Our officials need help to understand that these beautiful torts mean as much to people as furry, fuzzy, critters. Its amazing how reptiles always are on the end of everyones care list. The forensics have not been released, but speculation is the head was ripped off not cut, and the genital area was cut way down. He was then tied up in a gruesome fashion. I am sorry to detail this but I want as many people as possible to
realize how much hatred was expressed in this killing. FFWCC did take the remains to crime lab after I demanded it.
My husband and I want the sickos responsible for this that's why the reward is so high. Its alot of money for us but hopefully it will be alot for someone that knows something. This despicable act will not go unpunished. We, will work hard to keep this in their face.
I have watched beautiful torts, entombed in an upscale neighborhood by private individuals who knew better and didn't want to be bothered. I consistently asked for help from FFWCC and they ignored me. So, I documented,took pictures and made my presence known on every site this happened at. But no backing by those that wrote the laws. So, someone decided to stop me once and for all, well, boy were they wrong.
Thank you so very much for helping.
Holly
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Executive Director, Allen Egbert
620 So. Meridian St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
and
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Chairwoman Julie Morris
620 So. Meridian St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
It is URGENT that we ALL write letters. Please take 5 minutes and tell officals how you feel about the lack of protection for Gopher Tortoises living on land which is being built on in Florida.
Please copy letters to tortoiseaid@tortoiseaid.org
We will be forwarding copies of all letters received to Ray Ashton from the Ashton Biodiversity Research & Preservation Institute, Inc. in Florida. They really need our support on this!
Together, we CAN make a difference.
Thank you,
Annie Lancaster
Director-TortoiseAid http://tortoiseaid.org
Apple Valley, CA USA
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