They are locked up to preserve the peace
Back in January of 2017, in a story about healthcare accreditation, I mentioned that the turtles at our geriatric campus had been forced into turtle prison by the American team doing the accreditation of our facilities. The team felt that it was dangerous for patients if turtles were walking around the courtyard, while not on a turtle leash. After all, they said, what if someone tripped over a turtle. So we had to build a fence around our little pool to keep the turtles in and the patients out. [note]In over 30 years of operations, no one has ever tripped over a turtle, but whatever. In order to get accreditation, our turtles had to be imprisoned.[/note]
The other day, while doing some work at the geriatric campus, I checked in on the inmates and was surprised to see how many there were and how big they had gotten. I don’t remember there being so many. Maybe prison has been good for these guys.
Anyway, the turtles seemed happy enough, although one did make an unsuccessful escape attempt, but was thwarted by the fence. Fortunately, there are no armed guards in towers, so no turtles get hurt during their attempts at freedom.
It’s a bit of a shame that patients can’t more intimately share the courtyard with the turtles, but that’s the way it goes. Lots of visitors and kids come by from time to time to take a look at the prisoners. Pictures are taken and I suppose, if the turtles had phones, they could do the Thai thing and take lots of ‘shellfies.’
I think they are probably prisoners of love
I think they look lovely, but don’t they carry some weird diseases ?
Some hospitals I have visited around the world have dogs, cats, birds and even goldfish to help calm patients, but I have never seen turtles
A wise investment as they live so long, and often eat insects…..both good things!
The fact is that they are prisoners of accreditation. It’s sad bout true. Since our turtles have never been off the property, I think they are probably healthy and disease free. We do, by the way, have some dogs and cats at the geriatric campus, as well as an aquarium. But for some reason, maybe because they live for such a long time, our turtles remain extremely popular.
You’re right, it would be nice for all to interact.
I can understand why people come by to take pictures at this Turtle Palace – it looks like a calm, pleasant spot with the charming turtles being chums (Pic. 3).
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Yes, the turtles are pals. They have grown up together and gone to the same ‘school.’ The turtle prison (palace) is a pretty peaceful place to hang around, as long as there isn’t a prison riot going on.
Yes, I can just imagine them banging their shells and demanding more rations and visitors hours…
I think they each should be named.
I will throw out the first!
Aristotle!
Yea, every so often , they demand access to mobile phones, so they can take their shellfies. And, interestingly enough, they all do have names. But they are traditional Thai nicknames, like Money, or Trumpet, or Weasel, or Bullet. Thai nicknames can be confusing, but everyone, even turtles, has one.
Shellfies! I think the heat may be getting to you. Hahaha!
I thought the shellfie idea was pretty clever – heat or no heat. And the little turtle guy at the end is really cute.
Dear Skip
No matter how cute, do not touch any of the turtles!
You might end up with some weird disease….
Unless of course cooked to 197 F, like all shellfish especially clams.
Norovirus is bad in BC at the moment btw
Is it hot in Bangkok this time of year?
With all the humidity, I bet whether you touch a turtle or not, just standing in the vicinity would be like turtle soup!
I promise. I will not touch the turtles. They are in prison without visiting rights.
Maybe you could at least she’ll out some treats?
I’m not sure we can. What you might not have seen in the photos were the two monster fish in the pool. They are the wardens and anything thrown into the water immediately lands up in their mouths.
I have employees and relatives just like that!