Special Tunnels Save Turtles From Train Deaths In Japan
The Suma Aqualife Park in Kobe, Japan is no stranger to turtle traffic. Every summer from May to September, hundreds of reptiles make their way to and from the nearby ocean. While most manage to cover the short distance safely, a handful get trapped inside the railway tracks that lie between the ocean and the popular park.
According to the aquarium officials, as the turtles are trying to cross the tracks, a few fall in. Unable to climb out, they start to walk along the track. The problem arises when a trapped turtle is close to a railroad switch that is in the process of shifting to accommodate an incoming train. As the point blades move, they crush and kill the reptiles.
To save the precious animals, the Suma Aqualife Park officials teamed up with engineers from West Japan Railways to create 'turtle' tunnels. The U-shaped concrete ditches that have been built close to the treacherous switches provide a place for the turtles to slip into and protect them from the point blades. The tunnels also help prevent costly train delays that occur every time a reptile gets caught in the switch.
Since the five concrete tunnels were installed at the two closest railway stations in April and November, railroad personnel have scooped up ten turtles from the ditches and delivered them safely to the aquarium. As Naoki Kamezaki, the head of Suma Aqualife Park succinctly puts it, saving the turtles is a "refreshing feeling."
Resources: Huffingtonpost.com, metro.co.uk,citylab.com, japantimes.co.uk
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837 Comments
malandeiveThursday, January 7, 2021 at 1:34 pmthat third turtle that got down in the tunnel in the video is so poor cause be is upsidown poor thing- malandeiveThursday, January 7, 2021 at 1:34 pm#saveturtles
science_loverWednesday, November 4, 2020 at 8:16 amThese poor little turtles are so cute. Thank god they saved them, and how can you not they’re so cute. #SaveTurtles #MakeTheWorldBetter #SaveAnimals 😊 😊 😊
ultrajangoThursday, June 11, 2020 at 11:00 amwe have box turtles in our backyard and they are SO CUTE!!!
sikowitzMonday, May 18, 2020 at 8:54 pmMy dad lived in Japan and I saved a turtle too and I kept it and named it shelly- science_loverWednesday, November 4, 2020 at 8:17 amThat’s such a cute name! I want a turtle, but I can’t get one. 😕😊😊
- sikowitzMonday, May 18, 2020 at 8:49 pmMy dad grew up in japan
- sikowitzMonday, May 18, 2020 at 8:48 pmI am so excited that they were saved I actually have a turtle of my own it is a box turtle
- ultrajangoThursday, June 11, 2020 at 11:01 amwe have box turtles in our backyard
logitechchFriday, March 6, 2020 at 5:40 amim glad there aok
jangoTuesday, February 25, 2020 at 6:07 ami think the Suma Aqualife Park could have made the sides rounder so that the adorable turtles slid down instead of falling but at least less precious turtles die #TurtlesAreCute
xtend12fghjkThursday, December 24, 2020 at 11:32 pmAgreed.
vinusyza-156720469301Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 1:16 pmam-olm1 is right, i would faint, cry, or scream a little and be covered by my blanket.- vinusyza-156720469301Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 1:09 pmThe video was so cute how they were falling