Turtles Take Flight
A runway at New York’s JFK airport had to be closed for a time last week because 78 turtles emerged from a nearby bay and crawled on to the tarmac.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said ground crews rounded up the wayward reptiles in about 35 minutes and deposited them back in the water, farther from airport property.
The incident disrupted JFK’s flight schedule and led to delays of up to an hour-and-a-half.
The turtles were identified as Diamondback terrapins, a species common to Jamaica Bay, which surrounds the airport. They’re about 8 inches long and weigh 2 to 3 pounds each.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s wildlife strike database, jets hit turtles a few times each year at JFK, usually at the end of June or in early July when it’s the breeding season.
by Andy Moreton
Check out Luxique’s selection of luxury hotels in New York – from the traditional to the chic boutique.
Poor turtles! That is what happens when progress encroaches on Nature’s territory. I’m sure the airport can carry out a more permanent way of ensuring the safety of the local wildlife.
Comment by Luxury Travel — July 14, 2009 @ 11:15 am