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Buddhists looking to increase their spiritual merit by rescuing soup-bound turtles, those turtles' rescuers, and the natural ecosystem of Central Park are all coming into conflict in New York. The New York Sun reported yesterday on the practice of fangsheng, which is a Buddhist practice dating back to the 6th century and involves setting turtles or other animals free and supposedly improves the circumstances of one's rebirth. Unfortunately, the species of turtle most frequently purchased in Chinatown and then released in the East River by Buddhists is the red-eared slider, a type of turtle not fit for survival in the briney New York harbor.
So many turtles are released into the East River that some amateur conservationists have taken to rescuing them along the water's edge. The Sun followed Neal Seigel on one of his daily walks along the river between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. He collects turtles in distress he finds and nurses them back to health before setting them free in Turtle Pond in Central Park. A gardener for the park says that the red-eared sliders are beginning to be a problem due to the number of them in the pond.
This practice, and the fact that other New Yorkers may be getting rid of pet turtles in Central Park, has led to a proliferation of red-eared sliders, according to Maria Hernandez, the gardener in charge of the pond."They are basically a problem because there is so many of them," Mr. Hernandez said. "We try and discourage it because it is not a native species."
Some Buddhist temples are encouraging their members to make monetary donations to environmental and animal welfare organizations rather than releasing turtles and other species in habitats where they probably won't thrive or could possibly harm the ecosystem.
(turtles, by ...neene... at flickr)
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First the Muslims, now the Buddhists. Who's next on the terror alert list?
How many turtles do I have to either free or rescue to meet those 20 virgins in the bardo?
People are idiots. One, the people setting these turtles free in Central Park, and Two, the assholes who illegally sell turtles down on Canal Street. Why doesn't the law crack down on those Canal Street peddlers?
I think it's a rather interesting practice.
just as interesting as mr. seigel who is 50 yrs old and has a Chinese girlfriend who's 29.
I don't think these turtles are the tourist turtles being sold but the full grown one's used for soup. Unless this 50 year old guy has great vision.
Turtles also commonly harbor harmful salmonella bacteria.
For more info:
http://www.anapsid.org/salm3.html
true but according to survivorman les stroud, thems turtles be good eatin. but then all the survival foods he's eaten are good eatin.
last night's amazon jungle episode was rough. He drank local water and developed a foot fungus with a jaguar following him.
I guess you don't have to be terribly bright to be a Buddhist: buying the turtles pays the people who breed them, so they can breed more. Duh! A smart Buddhist would shut down the practice.
If you want your karma: steal the turtles! (then take them somewhere other than the East River or Central Park)
Who is going to save the wee turtles?
G. Willie
the first guest who commented..."First the Muslims, now the Buddhists. Who's next on the terror alert list?" talk about ignorance...or more like stupidity...
i like turtles.
I'm number one and I will defend my observation that Buddhists are taking over the turtle industry and poisoning our water supply with big earred green slimey turtle piss. How much more proof do you need?
Shouldn't they move back to the Himalaya's and yoddel or do what ever they do in orange robes?
No.11, talk about ignorance, all you did was prove no.9's point. There are plenty of native species in the ocean, and do you not swim because of it? Besides, New York doesn't get it's water from the East River or Central Park's ponds. Even with purification, the salinity would kill you, not to mention the pollution. Ever hear of the USS Indianapolis? But, stupid is as stupid does, do us a favor and go drink a glass.