Freedom for one

This wild-caught Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell turtle was kept inside an aquarium in the Visitor’s Center of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in far South Texas. She spent her days and nights clawing and pushing against the tank’s glass wall, trying to get out, clearly exhibiting signs of zoochosis, which is a mental illness that often sets into confined animals who are driven mad by captivity. (Zoochosis manifests itself by nervous pacing, endless, mindless pushing against the walls, deep depression, head rocking, and sometimes even self-mutilation. Polar bears are especially noted for this.) After insistent conversations with Refuge staff, especially Jody Mays, who is official Wildlife Biologist for Laguna Atascosa, upon my return home I received word a few weeks later that the Spiny Softshell was allowed to return to her native habitat and live out the rest of her life in the wild as fate, God and the turtle herself will have it. We should all thank Ms. Mays < EMAIL > for consideration of this turtle’s perspective. While the big picture is always most important, saving great swaths of native habitat for as many animals as possible, it’s ok to care about the individual too, especially when there is something so specific we can do to ease another’s pain. Our lives are not just for ourselves.

What you can do:
Make sure that National Wildlife Refuges are just that — refuges for wildlife. National Wildlife Refuges are places for people to ethically experience native wildlife on wildlife’s own terms, in the wild, in their own native habitats. If you see native wildlife being exhibited in captivity in a visitor center, ask why, and ask for their return to the wild. Often you will get defensive protests from staff, but if you dig deeper, most of their arguments do not hold water. NWR’s are supposed to be refuges, not zoos. It’s ok to speak up!! One person’s actions can make a huge positive difference in another’s life.

For more info on Laguna Atascosa click here
This 46,000 acre Refuge of remnant coastal prairie, ocelot thorn scrub, tidal flats, lomas and lagoons is one of my favorite places in the world.