Turtle lands in museum instead of the soup

Officials will try to return eight other terrapins confiscated from market to their native habitat

By COLIN McDONALD, Staff writer
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First published: Friday, January 6, 2006

TROY -- One of the nine diamondback terrapins confiscated from an Asian market last week by the state Department of Environmental Conservation found a home Thursday at the Children's Museum of Science and Technology.

The female turtle, now part of the museum's Hudson River exhibit, will be able to spend her days swimming and basking in the glow of a heat lamp in a 225-gallon tank along with six male terrapins.

"She's in there with the guys," said Jessica Antalek, who manages the aquariums at the museum. "They have all found her very interesting. She has her little groupies now."

Mature female terrapins are larger than males, and the museum newcomer is more than twice the size of her tank mates -- two adults and four juveniles.

Technically, the turtle is on loan from a DEC lab in Delmar, which was holding the diamondbacks pending resolution of the case in Albany City Court. But state wildlife pathologist Ward Stone said he did not expect to ask for the turtle's return anytime soon, citing the its new educational role.

It is illegal in New York to harvest terrapins during their spring and early summer nesting season or to sell any individual animal shorter than four inches or longer than seven. The turtles taken from the market a week ago were all well over seven inches.

Since the turtles were seized from the Asian Food Market on Colvin Avenue in Albany, DEC officers have been checking other local markets for diamondback terrapins, which are classified as a "species of concern" in New York. The terrapin population is still recovering after being decimated in the 19th century by New Yorkers for whom the turtles' meat was a delicacy.

During the winter, the coastal creatures hibernate, making them relatively easy to gather, said Marguerite Whilden, co-founder of Terrapin Institute in Maryland, where the nonprofit research group tags and tracks the sale of terrapins. The turtles have been found in markets as far away as Toronto and Ohio.

One of the managers at the Asian Food Market, who declined to be named, said the turtles were bought in a large crate at a fish market in New York City where the seller said the sale of the turtles was legal.

The DEC issued a ticket to Nam Siu, citing him for selling terrapins over the size limit. The violation is subject to a maximum fine of $250 and up to 15 days in jail.

In recent years, the turtles have become popular among Chinese-Americans for use in soup. According to traditional Chinese beliefs, the consumption of turtles can help rid the body of toxins and promote a long life.

The manager said the store would no longer sell terrapins.

Stone said he would be visiting other local stores to see what turtles are being sold to gain a better understanding of where they came from and the market for live reptiles.

"We really need to take a hard look at turtle sales in this country and see what is being exported and what pressure that is putting on the populations," Stone said.

As for the eight turtles still at the pathology lab, three have been identified from tags on their shells as coming from the Chesapeake Bay. After contacting state officials in Maryland, it is likely the three will be returned to their native waters in a matter of weeks, Stone said.

He hopes blood tests will identify the origins of the other turtles. If they cannot be returned, they will be lent to zoos or universities for educational purposes. It is illegal to keep the turtles as pets in New York.

The Children's Museum of Science and Technology is at 250 Jordan Road in Troy at the technology park and is open Thursday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on school holidays.

Colin McDonald can be reached at 454-5441 or by e-mail at cmcdonald@timesunion.com.