We came across this guy (or girl, we're not sure which) a couple weeks ago in one of the seafood sections at Kuala Lumpur's Pudu Market. He was offered for sale alongside mackerel and snapper and prawns.
His mottled shell stretched at least fifteen inches front to back. Turtles (or tortoises, we're not sure which) don't grow fast; he had to have seen at least a couple of decades on this earth. We couldn't imagine him ending such a long life in a soup pot.
'Should we buy him?' we wondered. Dave and I have a fairly large garden, and we've both long been enamored of turtles. We've swam alongside them off Thailand and Hawaii. They somehow strike us as noble creatures.
With the encouragement (and bankroll) of a sympathetic friend we negotiated a price with the seller. He, claiming that this specimen would draw one million in Hong Kong (really?!) wanted 300 ringgit (almost one hundred US dollars). We offered two hundred and he waved us away. We came back at 250. In the end the vendor - no doubt pitying the foreign nutters, with their utter lack of bargaining savvy - took 200.
We trundled LB (his name) off to the car and hurried home, where we soaked him and set him on a damp towel on the grass. We cheered when he stuck his head out of his shell and took a teeny step. We set some greens and water out for him and, figuring he needed to recover from his near death-by-cleaver, let him be.
The next day, as I was furiously googling, trying to figure out whether he was a tortoise or a turtle (different diets, different water needs), LB passed on. He'd been with us for only 24 hours, but it felt like a defeat.
Who knows what he'd endured in the days leading up to his appearance at Pudu. Now he lies in our garden, where we'd hoped he'd live out a long life. We can only hope he sensed his return to the outdoors in his last hours.
Rest in peace, LB. We tried.
Well! You are a person with good heart! May god bless you all.
LY.Tai
Posted by: coketai | 2007.08.21 at 17:42
Same thing happened to me with a school fete goldfish. 15 hours from winning him in a tombola to death a chez moi.
Posted by: Graham | 2007.08.21 at 18:27
Might it be a terrapin?
That's just real sad, and I really applaud your effort in saving him from the chopping board! Most people won't even bother - and it's small good deeds like this that remind me that there's still good people in this world :)
Posted by: OniYon | 2007.08.21 at 22:19
This is so sad but I'm still so very glad you rescued him.
Posted by: Sui Mai | 2007.08.21 at 22:34
I don't know how many people would have done what you and your friend did, but I am just so glad and proud of you guys.
Oh BTW, I forwarded your blog on this little restaurant "Dong Bei", she went to check out the food there and loved it. Thanks so much for sharing good food with us!!!
Posted by: coco | 2007.08.22 at 01:55
Robyn and Dave,
I am sorry LB died. However I applaud your effort and intent. I too find turtles noble creatures, and am glad LB's last hours were spent free in a garden.
ELE
Posted by: ELE | 2007.08.22 at 02:17
I was told by a friend that turtle bring good luck to people who keep them. Even thought LB is now RIP, I hope your deed of trying to save him/her would bring you and Dave lots of luck.
Posted by: Cindy | 2007.08.22 at 06:18
I'm sorry to hear that LB passed on. :( May be rest in peace.
Posted by: Cynthia | 2007.08.22 at 06:25
Oh no! You still did a very good deed for the poor creature.
Posted by: Chubbypanda | 2007.08.22 at 07:22
What a noble act! I am sure LB (?) knew where he was and that he was with humans who cared.
Posted by: Chris | 2007.08.22 at 08:16
RIP my turtle friend, RIP
Posted by: Steamy Kitchen | 2007.08.22 at 09:04
So sorry to hear that. Tho it's only 24 hours.. i believe you felt a connection with that poor turtle. Looking at the bring side.. it's better passing away at the hands of good people than in the chopping board of a restaurant.
Posted by: teckiee | 2007.08.27 at 08:54
This is just sad.. :( I remember a turtle I found when I was 4 years old, it just came out of nowhere, I saw it at the side of our house (I live in Manila, Philippines, during that time, our subdivision was still underdeveloped, so there was a rice field at the back of our house).. Our maid carried it inside our backyard and put it on a basin filled with water, but eventually we transferred it on soil. It did not die but it escaped, for the following day there was a huge whole in the soil..
Posted by: blaise | 2007.09.21 at 16:27