Man Buys Turtles From the Market Just to Release Them Back into the Sea

December 8, 2015

Even though six of the world’s seven sea turtle species are classified as endangered or threatened, tens of thousands of marine turtles die every year due to overharvesting and the illegal trade.

One American in Papua New Guinea did his part in helping two sea turtles live on after they were caught to be legally sold as food by purchasing them and releasing them back into the wild.

Documented on in Dec. 3 post to his Facebook page, Arron Culling and an Anitua Mining Services co-worker purchased the turtles for less than $40 at a local market in the Pacific island country.

found these at the local market got them for 50 bucks drove 5km up the road and let them go

Posted by Arron Culling on Thursday, December 3, 2015

“[F]ound these at the local market got them for 50 bucks drove 5km up the road and let them go,” Culling wrote.

Culling and his co-worker are many a sea turtle’s best friend — they’ve bought and released about 10 so far.

According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, you can help the sea turtle population simply by reducing plastic waste and recycling your old cell phones.

Share this Article