Page 8 - Palm City Spotlight - September '23

Page 8, Palm City Spotlight

Book Review

Of Time And Turtles: Mending of a private nonprofit turtle they themselves were born. With strong legs they dig holes

The World, Shell By Shattered rehabilitation center there in the dirt, deposit various numbers of eggs depending on
the turtle species, then cover the nest and return to the water
and decided to volunteer their
Shell services. Matt is an award- or wooded area where they live. When the eggs hatch, the
winning wildlife artist whose
hatchlings (baby turtles) instinctively find their way to their
By Nils A. Shapiro black-and-white drawings natural habitat. Depending again on the species, some turtles
People throughout the of various turtle species are can live for up to 250 years, many for 100 years.
world will consider this book included in the book. The problem is that over the years and centuries, mankind has
a “must read” when they see Sy and Matt’s gratifying changed the environment so drastically that the turtles’ instincts
the name of award-winning experiences over several often prove fatal. For example, the path from a turtle’s pond to
author Sy Montgomery on years at the Turtle Rescue the place where it was born, perhaps many yards away, may
its front cover. Her more League, and which continue now require crossing a highway with the result that one of the
than 30 previous books to the present day, are what most common and serious emergencies brought to the Turtle
include those which have motivated the writing of this Rescue League involves patients with cracked or crushed shells
climbed the bestseller lists new book. What they learn as or legs or internal injuries who have been run over by cars. Each
in 25 countries. volunteers, and we along with them, is fascinating, inspiring, is treated with expert care. Some will survive, some will not.
The Boston Globe has yet often shocking and deeply moving. Hundreds of thousands of turtles die this way each year on roads
referred to Sy Montgomery as “a combination of Indiana Jones To begin with, since turtles are in the category of reptiles and highways on the way to laying their eggs or returning.
and Emily Dickinson” for her ability to describe so beautifully their faces have fixed features that cannot express feelings of Some turtles are brought in who have been bitten by
her extraordinary adventures, including being chased by a any kind, so it is difficult for most people to think of them as unleashed dogs who see it as some kind of toy. We even
silverback gorilla in Africa, hunted by man-eating tigers in “pets.” But we soon discover that each is an individual with witness here a turtle with an arrow sticking out from its neck
India (which became the subject of a National Geographic TV its own personality, and in these pages we get to meet many that was shot by someone “just for fun.”
special), working in a pit with 18,000 snakes, studying octopuses turtles who have bonded with their “people,” for example As Sy and Matt volunteer at the hospital and get to know
in the Gulf of Mexico, swimming with manta rays and sharks, following them around the house and even wanting their each of the turtles by name (or number) and individual
being undressed by a wild orangutan, and so many more … necks and shells scratched. personality, we share that journey along with them, and
never once harming another creature. She even encouraged a They are also smart: Tests have shown that some turtles the awareness of what these creatures are going through
giant tarantula to walk across the palm of her hand. are able to navigate mazes for food rewards as quickly as becomes a part of our own experience.
I am familiar with Montgomery’s works, having read, can laboratory rats. When word reaches the league that the nesting sites at a
loved and reviewed six of them in earlier columns. So it was The two women who started the Turtle Rescue League business’s large parking lot (which had been thoughtfully roped
with much eagerness that I looked forward to this newest in 2009 are Alexxia Bell and her partner, Natasha Nowick, off from cars in advance by the company’s compassionate
book – although with some degree of apprehension since the who is legally blind yet somehow skillfully performs every management) are showing signs of activity in the eggs, we
subject matter, turtles, seemed a bit tame for this author’s often task both inside the hospital and out among the fields join Sy, Matt and Natasha who drive to the sites and collect
dangerous escapades. To say that I was in for a surprise is the and ponds during the rescue and release operations. They the dozens of baby turtle hatchlings – each only the size of a
understatement of the year! have assembled a team of many volunteers throughout quarter coin – and bring them back to the rescue center where
As expected, this newest of Montgomery’s works proved Massachusetts and neighboring states who bring to them they can be cared for until they are big enough to be released
to be as wonderfully informative about its subject as are all injured turtles in need of their help, knowing of this facility’s into their proper habitat without running the risk of either road
her other works. You will learn many hundreds of fascinating commitment: “Never give up on a turtle.” traffic or attack by predators because of their tiny size.
facts about the 300 species of the world’s turtles, creatures At any one time there are more than 200 patients in their With Sy and Matt, we will witness several important
that have walked this Earth for 250 million years and outlived care, fed daily and stacked high in appropriately equipped releases into the wild, including the hatchlings from the
the dinosaurs – taking to the seas when the asteroid that tanks and bins. At first, each is given a number. Not until it is parking lot – and one very tender and emotional gift of
crashed on our planet extinguished all other life on land – certain that the turtle will survive is it given a name because of freedom for one very special turtle, Nibbles, in the keeping
only to become endangered today because of the deadliest the emotional attachment that develops between humans and of a promise made a decade earlier – for turtles ready to face
of all predators: humans. turtles until the patient is released back into the wild where it lives that can last for half a century or more, long after Sy
What is different about this newest book is that it reveals was found, after care that can often take years of treatment. and Matt and Alexxia and Natasha are gone. It is awesome
more about Sy Montgomery the author herself than ever Many turtle species live in water, even able to stay to contemplate how many lives have already been saved.
before as she becomes emotionally involved in the events underwater for as long as months at a time through a special So when at last Sy devotes herself to reflecting inwardly
she describes for us here. The result is that I left many of breathing process explained in the book. (Turtles that live on life and time and reveals her own deeply personal feelings
the pages stained wet with my own tears of empathy … as I solely on land are called tortoises.) Females, when ready to about the meaning of it all, we are privileged to understand
suspect many readers will. lay their eggs, instinctively return to the place on land where more about her … and perhaps about ourselves.
Interestingly, while most of Sy’s adventures have been set
in all corners of the globe, this one required Sy and a friend of
hers, Matt Patterson, to drive just several hours from their New The Book Of Turtles
Hampshire homes to Southern Massachusetts when they learned
A Book For Children By Sy Montgomery
And Matt Patterson

An oversized book by Sy Montgomery with full-
Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing color, almost photo-realistic, paintings by award-
Palm Beach County and is a privately winning illustrator Matt Patterson of more than 30
owned and managed company. turtle species, enchants children and young readers
Captain’s is committed to providing with such interesting facts as the turtle who lived for
dependable, reliable and professional 288 years (he was alive when George Washington was
ground transportation to and from all
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212 born!), the largest and smallest, fastest and flattest
To reserve your vehicle: turtles, the ones with longest necks, most colorful, Book jacket when opened shows life-size painting of
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com stinkiest … and more! Burmese star tortoise.

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