A Peek Inside the Uchinaa Farm in Mabuni Itoman

The Plan Was to Arm Wrestle a Sloth

 

 

A few weeks ago, the Japan Update, informed me about this place.

All excited about a zoo, where you could pet a buffalo and a sloth, I've been aching to go.

Well, things didn't turn out as expected, but, I had some fun, anyway.

 Best Part First

The girl, walking a pony, in front of the horses corral, gave me permission to shoot her.

The sun was still glaring, high overhead but, I liked the background.

This is probably, the best photo, I took all day and, it made me feel a little better.

Itoman Is Over 30 Miles Away

 

 

That, doesn't sound very far, to some folks but, it's too far, for me.

So, I had plenty of time to talk with Doc Graff, as he drove and, we came up with this plan.

If they let kids, pet a sloth maybe, they'd let me, arm wrestle with one.

Then Doc, could snap a picture of me and the critter grunting and groaning, for a blog post.

Some Things Just Don't Turn Out According to Plans

 

 

 This sloth was locked up inside a steel cage and, couldn't come out.

Thinking there must be more sloths not held captive, I looked around the place, for some.

A zookeeper dude, told me, they didn't have anymore; just this one.

The sign, hanging next to the cage, tells you in English and Japanese:

CAUTION: This Sloth Bites !

That, sort of busted my bubble but, I always try to get happy.

So, we would have to find some other critters, to entertain ourselves with.

 A humongous land turtle, was munching on grass, just around the corner.

There were other animals, like rabbits, guinea pigs and racoon, I guess, you could pet.

But, I figured this turtle, would hold still for photographs and, make the best model.

Moving over close to get a nice shot, I sat down next to him.

And, he stuck his tongue out at me.

That's how, I knew it was time to get out of there and, visit the horses.

We probably saw a few dozen creatures today but, the friendly young girls, were the best !

Chinese Softshell Turtle

Listed as Vulnerable

 

 

Natives of Asia, these turtles are a threatened species sometimes, sold as pets.

This one was found at an irrigation ditch in Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan.

GPS Coordinates: N 26 26.621  E 127 56.098

Equipped with a 300mm lens a few quick, close-up shots were taken.

This amphibian was shy and didn't want to stay when it heard the camera clicking.

Confirmation on the identification came from Shawn Miller, a good nature dude, I know.

The scientific name for this subject is Pelodiscus sinensis.

In Japan,  Suppon ( スッポン ) would be the name.

Learn more about this turtle at:

ARKive

Invasive Species of Japan

Reptile Database

The IUCN Redlist

Unidentified Baby Turtle Gets Put Back in the Mud

The Little Amphibian Could Have Been Crushed

 

 

It was out on a newly paved stretch of road down by the rice paddies.

This morning, I was in the fields before any farmers showed up, with the camera.

Initially, it just looked like a clump of mud that had flown off a tractor tire.

And, I walked on past it.

When I stopped to have a can of iced coffee, the dirt ball was watching me.

After a few snaps of the shutter, I decided we should get off the road.

Down a slippery bank of clay, into the rice paddy we went.

Trying to get closer to the turtle's eye level, I wound up sitting in the mud.

The little creature must have been camera shy and, decided it was time to go.

A few seconds of crawling in the dirt and, it disappeared into the freshly planted rice field.

Now that I'm back in the office, I realize what I should have done.

It's easier to identify a turtle if, you look at it from all angles.

Next time, I find a turtle I'll remember to turn the thing upside down.

That way, I can take a picture of its belly.
 

And, it won't be able to escape so quickly !

Update: Turtle Identified

 

 

Alert Reader and Friend of Nature, Shawn Miller provided this information:

Black-breasted Leaf Turtle

Geoemyda japonica is an Endangered Species.

Ryukyuyamagame (リュウキュウヤマガメ) is the Japanese title for this animal.

References:

Okinawa Kearu Net

ICUN Red List of Threatened Species

The Turtle Room

Wildlife Photo: Baby Turtle Goes Out to Sea

Mother Nature Tickles You Sometimes

 

Wet up to my wallet but, thrilled with today's photography shooting, this will be quick.

It's the first time I ever witnessed newly hatched turtles run for the ocean.

It's way past midnight and time to get out of here.

The camera these photos came out of had over 500 images to download.

Tomorrow, we'll see what's in the other Pentax.

To be continued.....

Wildlife Photo: (Turtle) Red-eared Slider and Teenage Mutant Ninja

The Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is a fresh water turtle, originally from the south of the USA but, they may found around the globe today. This one, I shot in a pond in Okinawa, Japan.

Once somebody started calling them the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES they became a hot commodity. Parents around the world just had to buy them for their children because they didn't want to take the time to explain the facts of life. Turtles don't know Karate. They don't even know which aliens they're supposed to be fighting. They just let people take them out of the ponds in South Carolina, or somewhere like that, and throw them on airplanes to foreign countries.

Well, here are a few facts I discovered about these critters today:
1. They can live to be about 40 years old.
2. They may carry Salmonella.
3. They breed under water for about 45 minutes but, really only go at it for 10 minutes or so.
4. Flushing them down the toilet proved to be a problem in the UK.
5. Australia banned them: $100,000 fine or five years in jail is what one could cost you.

Red-eared Slider Turtles, listen to me: THE PEOPLE SELLING YOU ARE THE ALIENS !


RELATED POST: WHICH TURTLE IS THE DUDE ?

See the PHOTO OF THE DAY HERE