LI reptile museum update

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Posted by rowad on May 12, 2003 at 05:23:30:

(taken from WD mailing list)

Here's the latest update on the Long Island Reptile Museum,
that came this morning.
It sounds like they may also be giving up some WDs,
so if anyone knows local Wd rescue centres it might be worth
letting them know. I will keep everyone posted if I get any more info.

Turtle Homes had 3 goal when it came to the Long Island Reptile Museum.
One
was to get the animals that needed veterinary help out of there. We have
met
this goal. The second is to change the husbandry so that proper long term
care of each animal could be maintained. The third involves shutting down
the
museum if the two-first goals cannot be met.

Our primary goal was to get help to the animals that need it. During a
meeting with the Museum owner today Turtle Homes reached an agreement.
They
have and are going to continue giving up animals that are sick so that the
population on display is managable and healthy. Turtle Homes will go in 2
times a month. During that time the public will be allowed to bring in
their
animals so that the museum is not flooded with public drop offs. Will make
health assessments and get the animals to the proper place. It will be in
a
controled setting and proper records will be maintained.
In addition Turtle Homes will help design and maintain several new
(clean
and large) enclosures. The animals will be rotated so that they are
maintained outside most of the time. The box turtles used will be vet
checked
and certified healthy before entering the Museum and I will over see their
proper care. No animal will be on display longer than a 2 week rotation.
They will be given the opportunity to hibernate during the winter. We will
provide educational material to the public.
The museum is going to set up a new area where animals we are taking in
can
be properly quarantined. Animals who need veterinary help will be given it
by
two vets hired to come in once a week. If I feel an animal needs help they
will be pulled off display and maintained in a quaranteen area until a vet
can be brought in or we bring it to the vet.
In addition, the Museum agreed to give up several species of lizard
and
snake so that the enclosures can be maintained properly. No animals will
be
put on display sick.
They also agree to build an outdoor enclosure and grow graze for the
Aldabra and to decrease the number of large sulcata maintained with him. I
will be doing staff education on the proper feeding of each species.
As long as the Reptile Museum continues with what was promised I will
assist them to maintain the new standards.
We will also do staff education, nutritional counseling and help set
them
up so that each species receives the proper diet.

Please feel free to pass this along. I can't begin to say how happy I
am
with today's agreement. The owner signed over legal custody of all 30
animals
taken from the museum. This means they are free to be adopted.

This is going to be a peaceful resolution to a very large problem and
the
winner will be the animals.

THANK YOU to everyone who helped with this agreement and all the people
who have pledged to help fight with us for the welfare of these animals. I
consider this a big victory for everyone.

The area for the new box turtle enclosure is very spacious and has a
built
in misting system that actually works! It has a river running through it
and
the owner agreed to clean out all the old substrate and replace it with
new
substrate that I will mix up for them.

I will continue to work with them as long as necessary.

Lori Green
Director, Turtle Homes
Adoptions, NYTTS
Sarah Earland
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Burnaby Building
Burnaby Road
Portsmouth
HANTS
P01 3QL
Tel - 023 9284 6045
Fax - 023 9284 2244

Follow Ups:

LI reptile museum update grnbasilisk 05/12/03 (1)
- LI reptile museum update rowad 05/13/03 (0)