Red-eared slider turtles were spotted in the pond of Uruchcha Park in Minsk. Roman reported the discovery to Onliner: according to him, at least two individuals live in the pond.
One of the turtles is quite large — about 15 cm, with a noticeable plaque on its shell, indicating that it has been in the water for a long time. Another, smaller one was noticed nearby. According to eyewitnesses, similar turtles were seen in this park last year. This may mean that they managed to survive the winter.
It is unknown how the animals ended up in the pond. Most likely, they were released by their former owners. Red-eared sliders are often sold when small, but over time they grow to large sizes and require special keeping conditions. In addition, these animals can live up to 30 years.
This is not the first time such turtles have been spotted in Belarus. They have been seen in the Svislach River, in the Botanical Garden pond, as well as in the Sozh, Neman, and other bodies of water. Some individuals are able to survive the winter, but many do not withstand the cold.
The red-eared slider is considered an invasive species and is listed in the "Black Book of Invasive Animal Species of Belarus." Experts note that such animals can affect local ecosystems, although the degree of this threat is assessed as low.
Meanwhile, similar turtles are still on sale: for example, on the Onliner Flea Market, a "very cute" three-year-old individual is currently offered "for a symbolic sum."
What to do if you see such a turtle in a pond?
There is no need to remove red-eared sliders from ponds, as they currently cause no serious harm.
— How to proceed? Such a turtle currently poses no threat. One or two such individuals in an urban pond even enhance it to a certain extent. So I wouldn't be particularly worried. But if questions arise, call us at the Academy of Sciences, the Minsk Zoo, or the Biological Faculty of BSU, where they will advise you on how to proceed, — Candidate of Biological Sciences, leading researcher at the Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences Sergey Drabenkov told Onlíner.
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