Poachers smash police car, escape with nesting turtle
Tracks in the sand made as the turtle was dragged away by poachers (Photo courtesy DoE)
(CNS): The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has confirmed that one of their patrol vehicles was damaged in a collision with suspected turtle poachers early Tuesday morning, after they were called to a report of a turtle in distress at Barkers. Police said the call came into them around 6am, and when a patrol car in the area arrived at the scene, the officers signalled to a Honda, believed to be the poacher’s getaway vehicle. But instead of stopping, the suspects hit the police car and made their escape. It appears that staff employed by the Cayman Turtle Centre to patrol the West Bay shoreline alerted the police.
Other reports on social media suggest that the poachers had threatened the CTC’s watchman with a knife.
Meanwhile, speaking with Cayman 27 about the incident, CTC Director Tim Adam said poachers and the people who assist or buy from them are “parasites in our community, sucking the very life blood out of a very important element of her tourism industry”.
Adam said the annual impact of one adult nesting turtle to Cayman’s economy is in the neighbourhood of $25,000 and more than $1.5 million over the lifetime of the animal. “Butchering it and selling it, the most that you’re going to make is a few hundred dollars, and then it is done,” Adam told the TV station.
Disturbing, molesting, or taking turtles without a licence is an offence under the National Conservation Law, with a maximum fine of up to $500,000 or four years in jail on conviction.
Police are now investigating this incident but are interested in hearing from members of the public who may have seen a turtle being taken from the water on Tuesday morning in West Bay. They can also submit tips via the RCIPS website.
Category: Crime, Marine Environment, Police, Science & Nature
Officer in WB told me dat only got 5 doe Officer. Madness, wat doe bosses doing to help these guys and out wildlife?
This bad and dangerous, wake up doe boss.
Killing turtles. Broom handling ponies. Cock fighting rings. A really cultured and sophisticated island to present to investors.
Having been seen by the police, and having damage from hitting the police vehicle, would it be too difficult to find the poacher’s vehicle. Don’t they have licencing information on all vehicles……… like make, color, owner, address, etc?
Ridiculous.
This had nothing to do with hunger and everything to do with greed and stupidity. Utter cretins.
Don’t we have a farm to provide the meat necessary to fulfill our cultural obligations? Heavily funded by the taxpayer.
Stop buying illegal turtle meat from these idiots!
Yes, 8:55.l pm. Can imagine all those law-abiding, Sunday-keeping sanctimonious saints chomping down on their cheap turtle stew.
Don’t buy from these wicked peddlers. That makes you an accessory after the fact, in the same way that buying hot jewelry is.
If you want turtle stew go to the Turtle Farm.
You people just watch too much nemo, so every time I go out to look a turtle I use the code name, finding nemo.
Pathetic. All for your turtle stew. #turds
Total disrespect for the police among your underclasses, feels like England.
seems like you meant to say feels like any country in the western world since the formalized institution of policing has existed
In what circumstances do criminals breaking the law tend to simply give up at the sight of police (in any country)
It’s not very common in my mind
No, I pretty much meant it. In my country criminals often give up at the sight of police because they prefer not to be shot.
That explains why the US is a crime free paradise
Oh wait
Where are you from? How does the crime rate there compare to the crime rate in the Cayman Islands. Just curious.
Not england hanki pank. GO back home. First mistake.
Can’t make me! thhhsppp….
Whats happening to repopulate the sea generate and give license to catch all mouths shall be fed must eat or starve to death cause the rich get richer and they keep surviving from the politics
In English please
Third World mentality!
This country appears to be cursed. The Cayman triangle of swirling dark energies.
Caymankind
Why didn’t the police car follow the poachers?
I hope they at least got a thorough description and the license plate number.
wondering the same thing??
Unable to pursue a vehicle that crashed into theirs; or dispatch a colleague to intercept; nor are they able to get that plate number or seemingly, or put out an APB on a white Honda with damage to front right quarter.
SBecause you are not to leave the scene of an accident!
Hey!
Dem hungry Caymanians ya know! :||
Oh well…keep starving the people. Your house is next clown.
WestBayers poach more turtles than eggs, not to mention lobster and conch over the limit and/or out of season.
Yep and you can see the remnants of discarded shells all over in Barkers.
Dont worry the new and larger marine parks will fix everything.
Its a cultural miss-understanding ………….
Sure would like to see the return of the LOL button.
My ancestors ran slaves. How far would I get using the ‘cultural heritage’ argument if I kept one? This is plain and simple law-breaking for profit in a form that undermines ALL Caymanians. They can’t afford to eat? How come they can afford to run their car then?
All the Hondas that have been stolen are used to move turtles.