Red-eared Slider In The River Thames?!

[Genesis]

Last weekend, me and my parents were on our boat cruising up the river Thames just north of Oxford.
As I looked over the side of the boat I saw a turtle sitting on a log floating in the river!

He looked fine, just chillin' on his log but I am quite concerned for his wellbeing.
After a little research on Google I've found out he was/is a Red-eared slider.
Do you think he's alright in the river? He didn't look unhealthy!



P.S. - sorry if this is the wrong forum, I couldn't think where else to put it!

 

[guppy_man]

The local fishing lake that i fish has had aload of them dumped in there over a 10 year period (unwanted pets), these have survived and thrived in this lake, so he should be fine.

This could get out of control in the future though, which the environment agency will have to deal with.

 

[Shrimper]

I used to live next to the Grand Union Canal in Leicester, there was a red ear living in there for a few years that somebody must of released. It survived a few winters and was got bigger as time went on so he can't of been doing too badly. I'm sure the water in the Thames above Oxford is a a lot cleaner than the Canal was too.

I don't think they can breed here yet, it gets too cold for the eggs.

 

[tangokitty]

It really is sad that people can't take responsibility for the pets that they get!! I built my Red ear her own pond it's not as big as a river, but at least it is cared for!

 

[Genesis]

Well at least s/he isn't in any particular danger

 

[nigsy]

We have a couple of Terrapins in a lake near where I live (north devon), they seem happy, the enviroment agency have been monitoring them, but as of yet not tried to remove them.
At the moment they cant breed in England because of the temps, but with global warming and the lifespans of terrapins who knows.....

 

[Hawkins]

We have a couple of Terrapins in a lake near where I live (north devon), they seem happy, the enviroment agency have been monitoring them, but as of yet not tried to remove them.
At the moment they cant breed in England because of the temps, but with global warming and the lifespans of terrapins who knows.....

well apparently england is supposed to get colder because of global warming, because the gulf stream will stop or something

 

[Esfa]

well apparently england is supposed to get colder

is that even possible?!

Gale force winds and torrential rain in the middle of summer... and it's supposed to get colder, too?!

 

[Ace Of Spades]

Currently the latest piece of obvious prediction scareing Europeans is that Europe and the USA will enter permanent winters where temperatures even in summer will remain below freezing, but still they do not mention what will happen to the hemisphere nearest to the sun.

Luckily I dont believe in Global Warming

 

[Genesis]

Global warming is a complete myth

http/uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iMDi_u0dcig

 

[UBigBobby]

Someone definately dumped him as they are native to the Southern USA.

He may be ok there, he may not. Not much you personally can do. As long as he has ample prey, he should be ok. Of course the Thames gets much colder than the lakes of the Southern US...but if he finds a good place to bury into for hibernation, he has a good chance.

 

[mr130gallon]

i live in southern manitoba (canada) and ive seen red eared sliders in the wild there too, with some of them being small as though they may have been born here. and you say it cant be possible for england to get colder, it is, ive never been there but i bet it doesnt compare to a winter that is averaging days of -30 celcius and with some days of -40 celsius, you guys can get a lot colder...

 

[keenonfish]

This fella lived in Heaton Park lake Manchester and I remember the boat guy telling me it had been there a number of years. Went for a row last week and seems he may not be with us any longer. Knowone has seen him this year at all

Tell you what, he was huuuuge! At least 14" I reckon.

 

[Truck]

global warming isnt a myth...your right in saying the earth is naturally warming as were coming out of an ice age, but ever since the industrial revolution the temperature is rapidly rising

 

[keenonfish]

global warming isnt a myth...your right in saying the earth is naturally warming as were coming out of an ice age, but ever since the industrial revolution the temperature is rapidly rising

My mind is not made up with this global warming fiasco. Sorry, I meant climate change! I mean, the likes of Al Gore own carbon trading company's so they are hardly impartial, many of the scientists involved are not actually climatologists afaik! Also the developed nations will be able to pillage the developing nations all in the name of 'global warming' under the guise of carbon trading.
Reading stories like this really make you realise the book is closed and the case is concrete. This is NOT very scientific IMO and only invokes further questions. And what about the climate station down south who refused a freedom of information request for a skeptic to see data for the last x years? They refused on the grounds of 'muddying waters', and then promptly lost all the data!!!!

There is of course an argument for renewables, and that is the fact that current resources are at peak production and increasing demand.
Something I have always found more alarming is the stuff we throw away.

If only richard feynman was still alive, I am sure if anyone could convince me either way it would be him!