purplepeepee
02-11-2005, 03:51 PM
Gopher Tortoise Extermination Concern
The gopher tortoise is a gentle terrestrial land reptile that lives in several southern states of the U.S. It makes its living by eating vegetation in desolate dry areas and digs burrows under the ground to make a home. They need about 2 acres of land as their home in the wild in order to graze and build new homes.
Florida has recently been protecting the species, since they were becoming endangered during the great depression from starving people eating them. But, now they are being allowed to be killed again here in central Florida. Why? Because of construction. Since Central Florida is expanding, this animal has less room to live in, and construction companies are allowed to kill any gopher tortoises found on the sites.
This in my opinion is wrong. Do you agree? Why kill a gentle animal just because of the space it requires to live? Why are we even building so many new buildings? One day there won’t be any of natural Florida left. Just tourist attractions and other money grubbing companies will be left. None of the original Florida will be left to admire unless you travel many miles to a state park like Ocala or The Everglades.
These animals don’t deserve to die just because they are in man kind’s way. They deserve to live. We need to continue to protect these animals. If we can’t stop the construction, then I say they need to be relocated instead of being murdered. They could be sent to a safe haven like a game preserve or a zoo, without having their lives being taken away. How could you kill an innocent creature? These things aren’t even aggressive. They hide in their shells when threatened. Please take this information and think about these animals. They need to live just like we do. Please show some care for this matter and help out any way you can. Thank you for your time.
The gopher tortoise is a gentle terrestrial land reptile that lives in several southern states of the U.S. It makes its living by eating vegetation in desolate dry areas and digs burrows under the ground to make a home. They need about 2 acres of land as their home in the wild in order to graze and build new homes.
Florida has recently been protecting the species, since they were becoming endangered during the great depression from starving people eating them. But, now they are being allowed to be killed again here in central Florida. Why? Because of construction. Since Central Florida is expanding, this animal has less room to live in, and construction companies are allowed to kill any gopher tortoises found on the sites.
This in my opinion is wrong. Do you agree? Why kill a gentle animal just because of the space it requires to live? Why are we even building so many new buildings? One day there won’t be any of natural Florida left. Just tourist attractions and other money grubbing companies will be left. None of the original Florida will be left to admire unless you travel many miles to a state park like Ocala or The Everglades.
These animals don’t deserve to die just because they are in man kind’s way. They deserve to live. We need to continue to protect these animals. If we can’t stop the construction, then I say they need to be relocated instead of being murdered. They could be sent to a safe haven like a game preserve or a zoo, without having their lives being taken away. How could you kill an innocent creature? These things aren’t even aggressive. They hide in their shells when threatened. Please take this information and think about these animals. They need to live just like we do. Please show some care for this matter and help out any way you can. Thank you for your time.