Florida Woman Arrested for Hitching a Ride on a Sea Turtle
Thinking about catching a wave on a sea turtle? You may want to reconsider. Police in Melbourne, Florida, arrested a woman Saturday for doing just that.
Stephanie Moore, 20, was arrested Saturday after police responded to a domestic disturbance, according to the Melbourne Police Department’s Facebook page. Moore was charged with possessing, selling, or molesting a marine turtle or its eggs, a third-degree felony.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission opened a criminal investigation after fielding multiple complaints when photos of two women sitting or riding on the endangered species went viral in early July.
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The Endangered Species Act of 1973 and Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act protect the green sea turtles.
Green sea turtles have been making a comeback on Florida’s Atlantic coast. In 1979, there were only 62 sea turtle nests left in the entire state, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. This year, researchers recorded 35,000 nests.
Moore was taken to Brevard County Jail, and bond was set at $2,000.
Related stories on TakePart:
• This Is the Only Place in the World Where an Endangered Sea Turtle Is Thriving
• Every Turtle Counts: Why This Animal’s Return to Sea Is a Big Deal
• Environmentalists Attacked for Protecting One of the Ocean’s Most Endangered Animals
Original article from TakePart
