Text 555, 55 rader
Skriven 2007-08-01 16:59:05 av Carol Shenkenberger (3:800/201)
     Kommentar till en text av Nancy Backus
Ärende: Re: extinct  was Re: HOW
================================
*** Quoting Nancy Backus from a message to CAROL SHENKENBERGER ***

-=> Quoting Carol Shenkenberger to Nancy Backus on 07-29-07  14:57 <=-

 CS> Groan, I will have to watch the show again then.  Moa maybe?  It was
 CS> the  largest flightless bird of relative modern times (dies out about
 CS> 800 years ago  when man arrives in NZ and feasts on it til they are
 CS> gone).  About twice the  size of osterich and with meaty legs such that
 CS> one would feed a family of 6  easily.
NB>  
NB> I think that is the bird.  I remember reading a SF story once, I think
NB> the name was "The Big Chicken" -- that was the story line, about this
NB> big bird, that could feed so many people... and it got hunted out of
NB> existence...  

That might be it.  The show is about 'Mega Beasts' and 'extinction reasons'.  I
still (sorry) havent watched it again yet.

We *know* what killed off the buffalo herds of the USA but this one took a wee
bit of backtracking but is the most recent one mentioned.  I wonder why they
do not mention the obvious (to me) giant sea turtles of Florida?  These things
were galapagos island sized but sea going.  Gone now I gather.

I learned about those Florida turtles as a kid (about 8?) when Mom dated a
fellow who had a yacht and he took her and all 3 of us kids to (memory, Key
Largo?) just south of florida but part of it though a grand sail from the
mainland.

As I recall from these many years later, a (to me) old man (probably 60, his
hair wasnt even all grey yet) took to us 3 kids and showed us about a little
museum side part of a restraunt.  Wood building on stilts with wood floor you
could just barely see the ground under through.  Showd us a huge shell he said
his grandfather had caught before they knew they were over-killing the turtles
because they didnt have a high rate of survivial.  He said they were no more
of that version at all since he was old enough to fish.  

THere are other big sea going turtles still, but i gather not that specific
species.

Another turtle memory for all to enjoy.  When I was at sea, sorry cant recall
now if it was ESSEX or FORT MCHENRY as my ship, we found a big sea turtle
swimming along but trapped in a fisherman's net.  Oh yeah.  We stoped the ship
to a dead halt and sort of backed up (it couldnt swim well enough to get away
fast enough) and pulled it in then untangled it and let it go.

They kept it from biting them by stuffing it's mouth with lettuce while the cut
it free and at the end it was 'gawping' up for more lettuce so they used it to
make a trail back to the water which it followed then swam off.

THere's lots of things that never make a news blip other than momentary and
that was one.
                                       xxcarol

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