Success! No More Sea Turtles Will Be Burned in Gulf

As the devastating reports of the BP oil spill and its harmful effects continue, a little good news reinforces some hope for a better future. Thanks to a lawsuit filed by The Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Institute – along with petitions and letters from the public — BP and the U.S. Coast Guard have agreed to stop allowing endangered sea turtles to be burned alive during surface-oil cleanup operations.

Concern was sparked when news spread that BP was using controlled fires as a method to clean up the oil via dragging together fire-resistant booms and then lighting the enclosed “burn box” on fire. It has been reported that as of July 01, 594 stranded sea turtles had been collected in the Gulf area since the oil spill. Of those, 441 were already dead when they were found.

The Care2 community was quick to react to the news — with over 12,000 signatures on two petitions demanding BP to stop the torching of sea turtles in the Gulf. A big thank you to all who continue to make efforts to help sea turtles and other victims of the BP oil tragedy. This burning ban will help prevent even more unnecessary deaths.

But it is important to remember that sea turtles are endangered and still need your help. Remember to sign these petitions to continue protecting threatened sea turtles around the world:

Also, stay up to date with the latest Care2 coverage of the BP oil spill.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Nino U.

4:47AM PST on Nov 21, 2011

Great!

send a green star

voicen l.

3:22AM PDT on Sep 7, 2010

they're our friends ,don't have to kill them

Linda S.

1:23AM PDT on Jul 27, 2010

VERY pleased, no more burning. hopefully there is a good team to do the good work of rescue and rehabilitation

Neycho T.

6:45AM PDT on Jul 22, 2010

Some years ago a guy named A. Hitler used controled gas emissions to restrain humans. I don't really know why my brain made the link!

Dia B.

10:26PM PDT on Jul 20, 2010

i don't trust these people. anyone who's able to, keep looking out for stuff like this.

Hans. T.

3:59PM PDT on Jul 20, 2010

Het Aantal Mensen op de Wereld Loopt de spuigaten Uit , waardoor talloze diersoorten onderspit delven Het

Helena V.

11:48AM PDT on Jul 20, 2010

I am a big fan of turtles, every week-end, in my free-time, I have the pleasure to take care of five wonderful turtles that were starving to death. I am very pleased because now they are big and no more blind ( they are in an artificial lake that was never cleaned before ) . Unfortunately in Portugal animals are things and they are not respected.
Maria Helena Veríssimo

Candilla B.

6:00AM PDT on Jul 19, 2010

this is great news, thank God we are able to save at least one species

Rhonda L.

1:34AM PDT on Jul 19, 2010

great news. hope that the oil spill keeps contained

KangHan W.

9:06PM PDT on Jul 18, 2010

good news!