The Cold Blooded News

The Newsletter of the Colorado Herpetological Society

Volume 28, Number 3; March, 2001

The City Drain Monster

Reprinted from the Maine Herpetological Society Newsletter, Vol.8, No.12, January 2001.
Originally from The Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, November 28, 2000.
Found online.

A rare American turtle, capable of biting off fingers, has been found in an inner-Sydney drain. Experts say a family of the endangered alligator snapping turtles could be living under the city. The adult turtle is believed to be one of eight babies stolen from a reptile park 21 years ago. Council workers stumbled on the surly creature "which can snap a broomstick in half with its beak-like jaws" in Alexandria at the weekend. Reptile rescuer Brad McDonald said it had probably been living in nearby canals and wetlands for years, feeding on rats and cats. "I reckon there's probably quite a few of them down there," he said. Recent heavy rains had probably flushed out the large mate, nicknamed 'Cowabunga' after the catchcry of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It took six men and a wheelbarrow to haul the turtle from the drain. The possible link to the 1979 theft of the baby turtles emerged when Mr. McDonald drove the creature to the Australian Reptile Park. The park has one other alligator snapper, a female. Its mate was lost in a fire at the park in July. The turtles are native to the United States and are listed as one of the world's most endangered animals. Numbers have dwindled because of pollution and loss of habitat. Trappers are also known to sell their meat for soup. Mr McDonald said he did not believe it was an alligator snapper at first. "I thought they were having me on. It's the weirdest beast I've been called to save," he said. "It's good to see there's life in the drains of Sydney." The rescued turtle was about the right age to be one of the stolen animals, he said. "Whoever took them probably had enough of them and dumped them . . . they'd be pretty hard to handle," he said. Australian Reptile Park spokeswoman Mary Rayner said the rescued turtle was resting in a pond. "We haven't introduced him to our female yet, but we will," she said. "And hopefully there'll be romance." the end

| Next Article: Turtles And Fish Together? |
| Previous Article: Snake Venom: The Pain and Potential of Poison |
| Return to Cold Blooded News Page | Return to CHS Home Page |