Quote from Dr Neil D’Cruze, Campaign Leader, WSPA

We had a positive, 90 minute meeting this morning with the Farm and Caymanian Government and agreed to enter meaningful dialogue as a way of addressing the Turtle welfare problems which we now all agree are real and present.

There was an acceptance, not least from a senior representative of the CTF, that WSPA’s intervention in highlighting animal welfare problems was positive, and has resulted in a recognition that things cannot stay as they are.

We recognise that the Farm have adopted steps to (for instance) mitigate the risk of illness posed to visitors from handling turtles and we are now awaiting the outcome of an imminent scientific report on those risks. However our overarching concern is the potential stress to those animals of being handled by people at all.

Our campaign goals remain the same. We are a pragmatic, respected animal welfare organisation, and we work with many stakeholders round the world, many of whom we disagree with but we do not let our differences act as obstacles on the road to progress for animals where we see it compromised. We are always respectful of cultural practices and traditions, and firmly believe that progress can still be made to improve animal welfare while being respectful of these.

I think there was agreement amongst those who attended the meeting that while we may not be on the same page, we are at least now reading the same book.