Sea Turtle Vandals

                                           

 I heard something a few days ago, and found myself just.. horrified by the thought of what I was told. My father was telling me about a situation that happened on Navarre Beach, Florida. That's relatively close to home, and it hit close to home in my heart as well.


As some of you know, it's the breeding season for the sea turtle. All sea turtles, along with loggerhead sea turtles, are all endangered and on the protected species list. Which means they are protected by state and federal law. However that did little to help the nest that was on the patrol route of the volunteers walking the beach. Volunteers patrol the beach all the day and night, switching shifts in order to protect the sea turtle.


Only 1 in 1,000 sea turtles survive to maturity, and maturity means 20-30 years. Which means it's almost impossible to this animal to survive that long. It has a lot of predators, one of which being sharks. But then what about us human beings? We cause a lot of death to more than we even mean to. We pollute the ocean, causing many deaths, as if the ocean population needed our help destroying the animals.


But this time, it wasn't even pollution. A group of vandals went to one of the nests overnight, and the nightly patrol found it. Eggs had been destroyed, and scattered all over the pier, and along the public area of the beaches. A shovel was found within the perimeter, as they had foolishly left the tool behind. Some eggs had been torn apart with the shovel itself. 


The level of disgusting is just.. beyond comprehension. I'm glad to say that officials are on an active manhunt for the vandal, or vandals. They will be charged with a felony for tampering with the nest, and I hope they get the book thrown at them.


Tell me again, how we are the better species?