Funny discovery for a stroll near your home! While walking in Vaugrenier park (Alpes-Maritimes), a man comes across a macrochelys, a rare and dangerous species called “alligator snapping turtle”, part of the wild fauna.
The impressive creature later joined the turtle village of Carnoules, in the Var. She was installed this weekend in her personal aquarium, after a quarantine period.
“These 15 days allowed us to prepare his aquarium,” explains Stephane Gagno, assistant director at the turtle village. “It had to be emptied of its residents: nine Chelydra serpentina, another smaller dangerous species, from the same family, which we installed in an outdoor pool made this winter for this purpose.
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A personal aquarium of 8 cubic meters
For the arrival of the macrochelys, the indoor aquarium has been thoroughly cleaned and trout fish have been installed for its future meals. She was equipped with an electronic transponder by our veterinarian.
According to its trainers, the alligator snapping turtle has adapted very well to its new environment and quickly moved into the hunting position to capture its prey.
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Visitors are amazed by this species, remarks Stephane Gagno. It will help raise awareness by explaining that it has nothing to do in our French biotope and that it represents a danger for local fauna, including humans.
The specialist insists: “This is once again the illustration that exotic wildlife must be respected and must not be traded for pleasure.”
Stéphane Gagno recalls that “this alligator snapping turtle requires the presence of competent people and adequate facilities to avoid any accident and any escape. In captivity, the animal must be kept alone in order to avoid injuries between turtles”.
To arrive at her new place of residence, the impressive creature traveled in an iron box and every precaution was taken to free her.
“An important discovery”
“She was very aggressive. I had to take great precautions to grab her from the back. Her jaw is so strong that she can sever a finger immediately,” explains Patrick Villardry, ex-president of the Société de defense of animals.
Tuesday, April 28, he received a call from a man telling him that he had found “an unusual turtle” at the Vaugrenier departmental park, located between Antibes and Villeneuve-Loubet in the Alpes-Maritimes.
“It is a very rare, very dangerous species that dates from the dinosaurs. It is unknown in the Alpes-Maritimes. It had nothing to do there” – Patrick Villardy.
From his real name Macrochelys temminckii, “It is usually found in North America and Canada, it is an important discovery. It lives only in fresh water and goes out only once to lay eggs.” explains Patrick Villardy.
Stéphane Gagno, from turtle village of Carnoules, tells us more about this animal straight from Prehistory:
It presents a completely new adaptation in the world of chelonians. She has a worm-like appendage in her mouth. She places herself at the bottom of the water, mouth open and slowly shakes this lure. Fish are attracted and end up being caught in a fraction of a second.
Surely an abandonment
For Patrick Villardy, the track of abandonment is likely.
“This specimen of the alligator snapping turtle must have been abandoned by an individual. You could think that its owner left it at Vaugrenier park because the turtle was becoming too aggressive,” he explains.
“She is between 15 and 20 years old. But this kind of turtle can live 70 years, weigh 90 kg, and has no predators.”
Can we have this type of animal at home? The answer is yes. And it’s an aberration, protests Stéphane Gagno from turtle village.
Its detention requires a certificate of capacity because it is part of the wild fauna and is classified in the dangerous species (appendix of the decree of November 21, 1997 ).
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