UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES CONSERVATION FORUM
Virtual Tours: Ascension Island
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Features of Natural Interest
Features of Other Interest, including Cultural
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Features of Other Interest, including Cultural

Turtles were also transported to the UK for the consumption, by the King and the Lords of the Admiralty, of turtle soup which was considered a delicacy. These turtles were kept alive during the journey, received no food and had infrequent buckets of water thrown over them. While occasionally only few survived the journey, for the most part it appears that the majority did. Over-harvesting of green turtles greatly depleted their populations and, in 1940, the harvesting of females was stopped as it was no longer viable on a commercial basis. In the present day, all Ascension Island turtles are protected under both international and national legislation, with the latter including The Endangered Species (Ascension) Control Ordinance (1976) and The Wildlife Protection Ordinance (2013).   

Turtle shell, from turtle harvested in earlier times.


© Dr Mike Pienkowski
(Features of Other Interest, including Cultural, 6 of 10 - Slide ref. 625)