The so called notorious snapping turtle has been euthanized. The turtle had gained an infamous reputation early march when it had eaten a puppy but that wasn’t the reason for it being put down.
The snapping turtle was seized by the Idaho Department of Agriculture who put it down for humane reasons after an investigation that a teacher had allegedly fed it a terminally ill puppy in front of children in his class.
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It was on the complaint of a school official who heard about the incident and reported that Robert Crosland a biology teacher at Preston Junior High School fed the turtle alive terminally ill puppy which it promptly gobbled up much to the horror of stunned students who witnessed the act. But why was it euthanized after that.
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An investigation is now underway accusing Crosland of animal cruelty and the turtle promptly put down because it violated the Invasive Species Act and was thus put down for being a non native species which required a permit. If you are a foreign animal and without a permit, you get zapped.
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Invasive species are those animals with an aggressive nature prone to invading and surviving in other habitats which may result in extinction of animals in that particular habitat if the invasive animal is allowed to survive. European starlings, Burmese pythons, African bees are all examples of invasive species in the United States.
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The department issues a report saying that the snapping turtles can adapt to any environment and are one of the top predators in their habitat. It added that “the “The public is urged to avoid propagating invasive species or from bringing them into Idaho from other states and countries.”
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Many animal activists and locals were shocked at why the turtle had to pay for the act although the department stated that the snapping turtle fed a puppy wasn’t put down because of the incident per se. It was because of not having a permit and being an invasive species. Big deal??? Was it from another planet??
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@YamiKokennin. Here’s what some people tweeted “Well now whoever came up with this idea isn’t any better than the teacher…,” @DougLambert13. “A ridiculous reaction. Why punish the turtle?” @CMRyan48 “I guess I don’t understand why they had to kill the turtle,” they tweeted. “We humans are reckless. We screw up and we punish nature for our mistakes. It’s ridiculous.”
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The department said that relocating the animal is not an option because the process is complicated. It places undue stress on the animal. It also increases the risk of spreading disease to other species and livestock like pets and people. Enforcement officials have also placed security at three schools under the Preston district fearing a backlash after they received threats that were related to the incident of the turtle being euthanized.
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Idaho Humane Society has also offered assistance in the ongoing investigation as many in their constituency were disturbed by the incident where a puppy was allegedly mistreated in a classroom in front of students. The sick abandoned puppy was brought to Crosland who was considered popular for taking in sick animals. Now we know why he wanted them.
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There were only three students in the class during which Crosland fed the snapping turtle a live puppy. They watched as Crosland put the puppy into the tank which contained the turtle. The puppy first drowned and was then eaten by the turtle.
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The children having grown up on farms understood the process but a school official after hearing about the incident was enraged about it and reported to authorities. There was a severe backlash and uproar from local community groups, animal rights activists and the outraged parents.
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Crosland is still teaching in the school which has received violent threats online. Hence the security at the school which is in support of Crosland. But while the school was safe, the poor turtle came to the intention of the agricultural department of Idaho who promptly sent officers to confiscate the animal where the snapping turtle was euthanized.
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