Latest news with #turtles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
TSA confiscates turtle pair from Florida woman's bra: See photos
Transportation Security Administration officials in Florida were "shell-shocked" to discover a pair of turtles in a passenger's undergarments. The woman, who was traveling out of Miami International Airport in April, was caught trying to sneak two turtles past the security checkpoint by stuffing them in her bra, the TSA said in a July 24 LinkedIn post. TSA's advanced imaging technology alerted officers to a possible item hidden in the passenger's chest area, according to a statement from the agency. The woman was taken aside for a private screening, during which two live turtles from an "alarming area" were discovered. Multiple agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, were called in to assist. "OK friends, please - and we cannot emphasize this enough - stop hiding animals in weird places on your body and then trying to sneak them through airport security," the post says. "No, really." One of the turtles that was stuffed in the woman's bra did not survive the ordeal, and the other was confiscated and turned over to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife. As a result of this incident, the second one in the last few months, TSA reminded travelers that they "want you to be able to travel with your pets, and you turtle-ly can, but please travel with them safely." "You can start by reaching out to your airline for their rules concerning pets on board flights," the agency said. "As far as TSA screening goes, small pets are allowed through our checkpoint but must be removed from any carriers and carried through the checkpoint (notice we said 'carried' and not 'hidden underneath your clothing ')." TSA discovers, confiscates another contraband turtle Earlier this year, TSA agents dealt with another case of turtle smuggling under clothes - this time in New Jersey. The Pennsylvania man, who was not identified by name, attempted to sneak a live red-ear slider turtle in the crotch area of his pants at Newark Liberty International Airport on March 7. The man was given a "pat-down" after tripping an alarm, where officers discovered he was hiding something in his groin area. When asked if he had anything hidden in his pants, the man retrieved a turtle wrapped in a blue towel from his trousers. Port Authority Police questioned the man and later confiscated the turtle. The man missed his flight and was escorted out of the security checkpoint by law enforcement. Contributing: Julia Gomez and Max Augugliaro, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TSA busts passenger with turtles in her bra: See pics Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Turtle meets grim fate after Florida woman attempts to smuggle creature through airport TSA inside her bra
A Florida woman attempted to smuggle turtles through airport security by hiding them inside her bra - leaving one of the creature to meet a grim and tragic fate. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Miami International Airport made the shocking discovery during a routine security screening where they found two live turtles stuffed inside a traveler's bra. The unnamed woman was allegedly attempting to fly out of Miami airport but she was caught red-handed when TSA agent cracked her shell of a plan. Tragically, one of the animals did not survive the ordeal. The surviving turtle was handed over to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife, which is now caring for the creature. In a now-viral Facebook post, TSA shared the unique story and reminded passengers that while pets are allowed to travel, there are strict guidelines in place. 'OK friends, please - and we cannot emphasize this enough - stop hiding animals in weird places on your body and then trying to sneak them through airport security,' TSA urged in the post. 'No, really,' the post continued. 'A Florida woman traveling out of Miami International Airport (MIA) recently attempted to take a pair of turtles through our checkpoint, and the turtles were stuffed inside… yes, you guessed it… her brassiere.' TSA Officials blasted the irresponsible pet owner for her reckless stunt in the pun-filled post. 'We want you to be able to travel with your pets, and you turtle-ly can, but please travel with them safely.' 'You can start by reaching out to your airline for their rules concerning pets on board flights.' The officials reminded passengers of basic rules when traveling with pets - emphasizing that all small pets must be carried through security checkpoint, not concealed under a shirt. 'As far as TSA screening goes, small pets are allowed through our checkpoint but must be removed from any carriers and carried through the checkpoint (notice we said 'carried' and not 'hidden underneath your clothing').' 'Sadly, for this MIA traveler, one of the turtles didn't survive. The surviving turtle was turned over to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife, and we're thankful for their partnership throughout this incident.' The TSA officials did not release the name of the passenger responsible, nor did they provide the the motive behind her actions. It's unclear at this point whether she will face any criminal charges. The post was met with mixed reactions - with some users outraged by the woman's mishandling of the animals and others shocked by the absurdity of the story. 'Hiding it her bra was not the first place I thought she would hid it. LOL,' one user commented. Another wrote: 'Only in Florida.' But others demanded that the woman face serious consequences. 'So what are her consequences? Any? Or does she just get told don't do that again,' one user commented. In a now-viral Facebook post, TSA shared the unique story and reminded passengers that while pets are allowed to travel, there are strict guidelines in place This isn't the first surprise for TSA agents - who regularly encounter wild smuggling attempts - sometimes involving much larger animals. In 2023, TSA agents in Florida found a four-foot boa constrictor in a woman's carry-on bag after her suitcase was passed through an X-ray machine. The woman told agents at Tampa International Airport that the snake was 'an emotional support pet,' a TSA spokesperson said at the time. The TSA released X-ray images of the snake on Friday. The images showed the animal curled up in the corner of a tray next to ordinary items such as sneakers, a belt, and a laptop. The agency says it notified the airline which confirmed that it would not allow the snake in the plane's cabin. The TSA said snakes are never allowed to travel in carry-on luggage and only on some airlines can they be checked-in.
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Florida woman caught trying to carry turtles through airport security in her bra, TSA says
A Florida woman was caught hiding two turtles in her bra while passing through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at the Miami International Airport, the TSA said Thursday. The woman, who was not identified, had the turtles wrapped in what appeared to be gauze and plastic wrap, according to photos posted on social media by the agency. The TSA did not identify the breed of turtles. One turtle died, the agency said. The surviving reptile was turned over to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife. "Friends, please - and we cannot emphasize this enough - stop hiding animals in weird places on your body and then trying to sneak them through airport security," the TSA said on social media. The TSA allows travelers to bring pets, including turtles, through security checkpoints. The animals must be removed from any carriers and carried through the checkpoint, the agency says on its website. The carrying case must be X-rayed as well. Airlines may have their own pet policies. "Notice we said 'carried' and not 'hidden underneath your clothing,'" the TSA remarked. Another traveler attempted to smuggle an invasive turtle through TSA security at Newark Liberty International Airport in March, CBS News previously reported. The man had hidden the reptile in the front of his pants. The reptile was not harmed, officials said. In 2024, the agency stopped a man from bringing a bag of snakes aboard a plane, and in 2023, Miami airport officials confiscated a bag of smuggled Amazon parrot eggs and live birds after hearing chirping coming from a duffel bag. The man carrying the bag had just arrived from Nicaragua and had a layover in Miami before traveling to Taiwan. He pleaded guilty to charges of smuggling birds.
CBC
17-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Slow and steady progress in decade-long project to save B.C.'s only native turtle
Menita Prasad knows that turtles don't get the same kind of attention from the public as a "cute, fluffy mammal." The director of animal care at the Greater Vancouver Zoo says that's one reason why British Columbia's endangered western painted turtles deserve special care. The zoo is part of a decade-long project to revive the fortunes of the province's only native freshwater turtle. "How can you not love a turtle?" asked Prasad, describing the western painted turtle's "beautiful, bright-red plastron," the underside of its shell. The zoo in Langley, B.C., is halfway through the project to collect western painted turtle eggs in the wild and hatch them, to increase their chances of survival when they are released. WATCH | Discarded pet turtles can pose threats to native ones: Discarded pet turtles crowding out native B.C. species 2 years ago Discarded pet turtles are thriving in lakes and ponds in B.C. threatening already endangered native turtles. Researchers found pet turtles not only encroach on habitat but expose native turtles to various diseases. Prasad said it's been a bumper year for the zoo, releasing over 550 of the turtles, more than double the annual average. But there's a long way to go to save the species. The 10-year project began in 2019, although Prasad said the zoo was releasing turtles before that and has freed around 3,000 of them over the past decade. She said she'd rather not reveal the exact release sites. "Believe it or not, people will take these animals to eat them," said Prasad. The turtle is listed as an endangered species by the federal government and red-listed in B.C., meaning they face the highest risk of extinction in the province. In addition to predators, both human and natural, the turtles face competition from invasive red-eared sliders, a turtle species that is larger, breeds more prolifically, and is popular in the pet trade. "When people don't want [red-eared sliders] as pets, they have released them into our lakes and ponds that contain western painted turtles," said Prasad, "Unfortunately, because the red-eared sliders are a bit more prolific, they are essentially outcompeting western painted turtles." 'That little extra boost in life' The recovery operation is a joint program with the Coastal Painted Turtle Project and the B.C. government. The juvenile turtles are released when they weigh around 50 grams, about the same weight as two double-A batteries. That's big enough to make them hard to eat for invasive predators, including largemouth bass and bullfrogs; when they hatch, the turtles are only about the size of a toonie, Prasad said. She said the project aims to give the turtles "that little extra boost in life to get over the tough times when they would normally be preyed upon." Biologist Aimee Mitchell, a project manager for the Coastal Painted Turtle Project, has been working with the zoo. A report authored by Mitchell says the project aims to recover 10 populations of the turtle and has "consistently met its objectives." But it says the work needs to be ongoing. "Due to the long-lived nature of western painted turtles and their slow reproductive rate, it will take further efforts to ensure self-sustaining, healthy populations with the viability to persist into the future," the report says. Prasad said people need to be mindful of the turtles and their nesting sites on freshwater beaches. She said the turtles have a range of personalities, and some seem reluctant to leave when they are released. "You put them in the water, or you put them on the shore, and they linger around for a little bit. It's not a quick dash to run and hide," she said.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Turtles rarely get cancer, new study finds
A global study of cancer in turtles and tortoises could lead to new ways to tackle the disease, researchers have analysis, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, showed only about 1% of the reptiles were affected, far less than in mammals or is more striking as turtles are often long-lived, meaning that in theory there are more chances of cells going aggressively could offer valuable clues for preventing or treating cancer in humans and are a promising model for studying healthy aging and cancer resistance, the team said. An additional characteristic was that even when cancers did appear, they almost never study, published in the journal BioScience, was led by Dr Ylenia Chiari from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, alongside Dr Scott Glaberman from the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with researchers from zoos across the US, UK, and team analysed medical records and autopsies from hundreds of zoo turtles, including individuals from Chester Zoo in the found one radiated tortoise at Chester Zoo, named Burt, that was born in 1945, while some Galapagos and Aldabra giant tortoises have lived beyond 150 years. Dr Chiari said: "Turtles, especially iconic species like Galapagos and Aldabra giant tortoises, are famous for living long lives and growing to tremendous sizes. "You'd expect that to mean more cancer, but our study, which combines decades of zoo records with previous research, shows how incredibly rare cancer is in these animals. "It highlights turtles as an untapped model for understanding cancer resistance and healthy aging."Dr Chiari felt areas for future research included strong defences against cell damage, slow metabolism reducing cellular stress, and unique genes protecting against cancer. Dr Glaberman said: "Biodiversity has so much to teach us about how the world works. While fascinating in their own right, extreme species like giant tortoises may have already solved many of the problems humans face, including those related to aging and cancer."That makes biodiversity doubly worthy of protection."Several species of turtles are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered by international experts due to multiple threats including pressure from climate change, habitat loss, and illegal pet trade, the team said.
