Is it ok to hold a turtle by its neck?

[Earthling4469a]

Is it ok to hold a turtle by its neck? I googled it but found nothing, so thought I would ask here.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-24/turtle-diving/7196034

 

[i_am_snake]

its not really, you would never in a captive scenario. but these turtles would have been used as food. indigenous hunting techniques are brutal at times. but that's how they've done it for forever. speaking as a person from both worlds, there is no sympathy for a food source.

 

[Iguana]

Definitely not alright, as i_am_snake mentioned they would be handled roughly as they most likely are just considered to be food. Generally the way you hold a turtle is like a sandwich with the thumb under the body and fingers over the top of the shell, that's how I was taught anyway.

 

[Earthling4469a]

Thanks for the replies guys, I thought it might be animal cruelty but I wasn't sure.

I am surprised you both seem to be accepting/condoning the animal cruelty though. By you accepting the animal cruelty because "...used as food" or "...considered to be food" is in my mind accepting animal cruelty and actually defending animal cruelty. If a practice is 'traditional' or not or if the animal is considered food or not, if it is cruel to an animal it has no validity in the modern world.

I am going to follow this up with RSPCA and see where it leads. Thanks guys

 

[Burgo89]

It would be considered the same as indigenous practices like hunting sea turtle or dugongs

 

[GBWhite]

Thanks for the replies guys, I thought it might be animal cruelty but I wasn't sure.

I am surprised you both seem to be accepting/condoning the animal cruelty though. By you accepting the animal cruelty because "...used as food" or "...considered to be food" is in my mind accepting animal cruelty and actually defending animal cruelty. If a practice is 'traditional' or not or if the animal is considered food or not, if it is cruel to an animal it has no validity in the modern world.

I am going to follow this up with RSPCA and see where it leads. Thanks guys

You'll be wasting your time contacting the RSPCA.

I commend your concern for animal cruelty but have a good look at the video again. Like all animal docos like this it is staged. All the turtles being handled are already dead. I've done plenty of diving for turtles over the years and can guarantee you that you can't catch (or carry) a live turtle by the head, especially a short neck.

Cheers,

George.

 

[Bluetongue1]

Supporting any heavy bodied animal by the neck alone is not advisable. Think of it in terms of yourself. If you were lifted up by the neck, while it is unlikely to cause you any permanent damage, it is very likely to leave feeling you strained and sore for some considerable time thereafter. Now add in the fact that the animal is likely to struggle to escape. Just use simple commonsense in thinking about these sorts of issues and you can answer most of them for yourself.
[MENTION=42213]Earthling4469a[/MENTION] There is a big differnce between between causing discomfort or stress, to deliberately endeavouring to cause pain (cruelty). My dog carries on like a pork chop when he has his nails clipped by the vet. Should the vet be reported to the RSPCA? That aside, the posts with respect to how indigenous carry live turtles was a simple statement of the facts. I did not see either of them suggesting it was a good thing, just a reality of life that has been taking place for a long time. It is the same reality as lions tearing animals apart while they are still alive. Accepting the reality of it does not mean you have to like it.

 

[GBWhite]

Supporting any heavy bodied animal by the neck alone is not advisable. Think of it in terms of yourself. If you were lifted up by the neck, while it is unlikely to cause you any permanent damage, it is very likely to leave feeling you strained and sore for some considerable time thereafter. Now add in the fact that the animal is likely to struggle to escape. Just use simple commonsense in thinking about these sorts of issues and you can answer most of them for yourself.
@Earthling4469a There is a big differnce between between causing discomfort or stress, to deliberately endeavouring to cause pain (cruelty). My dog carries on like a pork chop when he has his nails clipped by the vet. Should the vet be reported to the RSPCA? That aside, the posts with respect to how indigenous carry live turtles was a simple statement of the facts. I did not see either of them suggesting it was a good thing, just a reality of life that has been taking place for a long time. It is the same reality as lions tearing animals apart while they are still alive. Accepting the reality of it does not mean you have to like it.

I don't think he needs a lecture Blue. From the nature of his post it appears pretty plain to me that he's already aware of the above facts. The point raised was his concern for the welfare of the animals.and the simple fact is the turtles that are being handled were dead before being handled in the footage. No issues for concern.

Cheers,

George.

 

[Bluetongue1]

George,

You evidently have an insight into this person that I lack. Otherwise why would I want to my time and effort telling people things they are ‘pretty plainly already aware off’?

 

[Earthling4469a]

I commend your concern for animal cruelty but have a good look at the video again. Like all animal docos like this it is staged. All the turtles being handled are already dead. I've done plenty of diving for turtles over the years and can guarantee you that you can't catch (or carry) a live turtle by the head, especially a short neck..

Thanks for replying, I hope your right. I would have thought a dead turtles legs would relax and protrude, not constrict towards the shell. Not saying you are lieing just looking for some 'proof' they are dead.

 

[Bluetongue1]

@Earthling4469a and GBWhite. The link was not showing when I initially read this thread. Don’t know what happened there. Was not able to post either – so maybe my end? I now see George’s “insight”. Sorry. My earlier post is out of context but I am unable to remove it.Observing the photo, most of the body weight appears to be supported by the palm of the hand once out of the water, so that grip would probably result in minimal strain on the neck. It would not be the same for a very large turtle – you’d need to use both hands. My only comment is if traditional hunting is practiced, then it should be done traditionally and without the use of modern equipment such as goggles.

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Another interesting inconsistency - I do the same cut and paste for for my posts but it comes up with different fonts at different times.