If you are the person who dumped eight large adult male fresh water red-eared sliders in the Zuma Beach lagoon last week, you are an idiot. This was also an illegal act. These poor turtles cannot survive in brackish or ocean water. They live in fresh water. I am guessing that you moved into a Malibu home with a pond and decided you did not want to keep these poor creatures. So instead of finding a suitable new home for them, you dumped them. If we find you, we will enforce the maximum penalty for dumping animals – $1,000 fine and jail time. By the way, one has already died in our hospital. Thanks a lot.
Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson
American Tortoise Rescue, Malibu