Dear Tortoise

4th of July is coming.

Today, the oldest living land animal on Earth was presented with one of his two official Guinness World Records certificates! The Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, presented Jonathan with his award recognising him as the planet’s oldest ever recorded tortoise/chelonian.

Turtle art

The problem of plastic pollution is not limited to sea turtles. Freshwater turtles and tortoises are also at risk from plastic pollution. For example, the red-eared slider turtle, which is commonly kept as a pet, is often released into the wild when people no longer want to take care of them. These released turtles can become invasive species, and they can outcompete native turtles for food and habitat. Red-eared sliders are known to consume plastic debris, which can lead to health problems and even death.