A Sea Turtle Adventure

Adapted from Siam Ocean World's 3D Sea Turtle Experience

"I want story! I want story!" The lil' turtle was tugging grandpa's shell and begging for a story.

"Alright alright, I will tell you an old story.. About how grandpa almost couldn't live to such ripe old age.." The elderly turtle finally relented to his grandson's request.

I had came from a very beautiful hometown. Beautiful corals, clear blue water, lovely sandy ground and colourful fishes as dance companion. I used to sing and dance with my friend, The Octopus.

One day, while we were in the midst of our happy time, suddenly the water turned blackish, the fishes started to swimmed away. The Octopus advised me to leave our hometown. But I refused.. initially. The situation got blacker and blacker and The Octopus forced me to pack up and go.

So I left my hometown of many years with a heavy heart. As I took a last look of my hometown polluted by oil, I wondered why would someone bear to make this place dirty.

This journey opened my eyes and brought me to many places. Places where I see human dirtying the sea. Places where I see human cleaning up the waters. Humans.. I really cannot fathom what they are thinking.

Which reminds me of an occassion where I was saved by human... accidentally. I was caught by an egret and carried all the way up to its nest high up the tree. I thought that would be the end of me too. Ironically the humans were deforesting that area and chop that very tree down. I fell back into the sea and quickly swam away.

Another occassion where I seen human's evil intentions was when I had just befriended a whale. As I drifted alongside with her, chit chatting under the sun, suddenly something flew past my shell. An arrow! The human were trying to shoot the whale down. My whale friend immediately dive into the sea instinctively. And I had no choice but to swim as fast as I could; away from the human.

That was my last close encounter with human. After that I found this haven and set up my family which now comprise of you guys. And I pray everyday sincerely that the human will never find this safe haven.

Lil' turtle had a sleepy grin after hearing grandpa's life story. As he tried to made his way back to bed, he had once again fumble. He had just started learning how to walk afterall. Grandpa kindly supported him and recounted that in life, the first step is always the hardest. But without it, goals will never be accomplished and miracles will never happen.

Alien Invader

Lately there has been a new tenant in the pond. It had introduced itself to Grass that it is a Red Ear Slider.

Red Ear Slider was a turtle pet for a young girl for the last 5 years. As the girl got older, her study load and other commitments increased. Slowly the girl found it increasingly harder to take care of Red Ear Slider (which in the first place has been a tedious husbandry task). After serious considerations, she decided to release the Red Ear Slider at the pond in her nearby park.

The first day Red Ear Slider joined the pond, it frantically slided off the rocks and went into hiding. Everything seemed foreign to it. And its master will not be around anymore to protect it from dangers. While hiding in its shell, Red Ear Slider suppressed the strong urge of crying and indulging in self-pity.

After a few days, Red Ear Slider acclimatise to the environment easily due to its innate ability. In fact due to its strong instincts of survival, Red Ear Slider came across as an aggressive tenant. Its arrival disrupted the natural food chain in the pond as it preyed on the local species. Afterall, it was never meant to belong in the pond.

In the end, Red Ear Slider was given a nickname, "Alien Invader" and was shunned off by the remaining local species. It had no choice but to lead a solitary life for its remaining days (which is long given the average lifespan is about 20 to 25 years).

Grass later shared with me that if one were to put the blame for Red Ear Slider's fate, it would be the girl's fault. First for not being able to commit for the pet's lifetime. And second, for carelessly disposing it to a nearby pond instead of contacting the relevant authorities to learn the best way to set the turtle free without harming other species.

That day, I learnt how serious the consequences could be when you set your pets free into the wild carelessly.

Image source: Wiki

Author's comment:
It's been a long time since I wrote my first short story about plastic bag. After that I did not have much creative juice in me. Until my docent mate shared with me the tale of the red ear slider. If not for her, I probably will not pay so much attention when RMBR guide was explaining why there is an Alien Invader section.

While writing this story, I did a little research and found out that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon was also sending a message to the public to tell them please do not throw your pet turtles in the sewage carelessly else they might mutate. I wonder how many knew the hidden meaning?

It is sad that because of man's fault, these pet turtles suffered such misunderstanding of being aggressive and invasive. Thus I wanted to write a story to show the other side of the sad tale. And I named it Alien Invader, giving due credits to my friend, RMBR and the rest of the society who had been involved in the research.

And I want to reiterate that if you want to owe a pet, remember to take care of it for its lifetime. And should you really become unable to do so, remember to contact the relevant authorities and not set it free carelessly into the wild.

Grass new friend - Plastic Bag

Grass has a new friend today. His name is Plastic Bag.

Plastic Bag has a gloomy look. He told Grass his sad story...

Plastic Bag was manufactured in a factory for an important mission, to help human being carry their stuff. He and all his family members left the factory packed together. Their aspiration was to be as helpful as possible. They wish to be with their mistress forever since they can be reuse due to their durability.

Plastic Bag first met his mistress in a convenience shop. His mistress has just bought a loaf of bread and his first mission was to hold the bread for his mistress. Plastic Bag was excited at his first mission. He was careful not to make any mistake.

Upon arriving his mistress’ house, Plastic Bag was folded in a triangle and kept nicely into a container. He fervently waited for his next mission.

One day, his mistress took him out to hold some books. The two of them went out to her intended destination. His mistress met a friend and passed the books (together with Plastic Bag) to the friend. Then she left. The friend took the books out and put them into her bag. Then she threw Plastic Bag carelessly on the grass patch.

Plastic Bag was shocked. He had become a litter to the environment. This is the fate that all plastic bags feared. To be abandoned and treated as litter or even killer as plastic bags can be life threatening to birds and marine life. Plastic Bag does not want this fate. But he is too light and helpless to overcome this situation.

Grass felt Plastic Bag’s hurt. He gave Plastic Bag a hug.