Ninja turtle (who may be a teenager) climbs fence

June 29, 2011 10:37 AM

By Bailey Johnson

(CBS) - If you were to tell me, mere hours ago, that it was possible for a turtle to climb a fence, I would have said, "No, sir. Surely you jest. Isn't that why we build fences in the first place? To keep out pernicious turtles?"

And yet, here we are. Go, turtle, go!

This is definitely Chariots of Fire worthy. That snapping turtle is trying so hard to get to the pond. It's at the top, it can taste victory, it's going over... Oh, and it all comes crashing down! It's okay, turtle, you're still a winner (the person filming reveals in the YouTube description that eventually the turtle made it over.)

Though this clip does raise a few questions. Why didn't the cameraman help the turtle over? Do enough people know about the incredible climbing abilities of turtles? Why is that fence there in the first place? Is it just a turtle fence?

That reminds me of another clip about turtles. (This one featuring the lovely and talented CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.)

Link (inc vids): http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504784_162-20075373-10391705.html

Turtle Road Toll Mounting in Queensland, Australia (Via HerpDigest)

AAP, 12/24/10 Queensland, Hundreds of freshwater turtles have become roadkill in recent weeks as downpours filled lagoons and floodplains across Queensland.

Motorists should slow down and be on the lookout for turtles crossing roads to find their mates and nesting areas, Capricorn Conservation Council spokesman Michael McCabe said.

Mr McCabe told AAP he estimated the turtle road toll to be in the hundreds, particularly around Rockhampton in central Queensland.

''We are receiving reports of turtles being killed or badly injured by vehicles when they try to cross roads,'' he said.

He said some vulnerable Fitzroy River turtles had been killed along the Ridgelands Road, west of Rockhampton.

''This species is already under enormous pressure from dams, mining and agricultural water use, (hunting) by feral animals and trampling of nests by stock accessing the river,'' Mr McCabe said.

Turtle Road Toll Mounting in Queensland, Australia (Via HerpDigest)

AAP, 12/24/10 Queensland, Hundreds of freshwater turtles have become roadkill in recent weeks as downpours filled lagoons and floodplains across Queensland.

Motorists should slow down and be on the lookout for turtles crossing roads to find their mates and nesting areas, Capricorn Conservation Council spokesman Michael McCabe said.

Mr McCabe told AAP he estimated the turtle road toll to be in the hundreds, particularly around Rockhampton in central Queensland.

''We are receiving reports of turtles being killed or badly injured by vehicles when they try to cross roads,'' he said.

He said some vulnerable Fitzroy River turtles had been killed along the Ridgelands Road, west of Rockhampton.

''This species is already under enormous pressure from dams, mining and agricultural water use, (hunting) by feral animals and trampling of nests by stock accessing the river,'' Mr McCabe said.