It’s a long way to the top…….

……. if you have to climb a hill at only 0,2 km an hour.


This turtle, the Red-eared slider, is a native of the southern United States, but has become common in various areas of the world due to the pet trade. They are very popular cheap pets in the United States, Canada, Japan, and some parts of Europe (United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany).

However, pet owners of a Red-eared slider often release the reptile into a wild habitat after becoming too big. Since this species is very hardy and adaptable it could compete with and even supplant native species of reptiles that occupy a similar ecological biotope !

The Red-eared slider is completely banned in Australia because of the threat the species poses to wildlife. Anyone who keeps or breeds Red-eared sliders could face fines of more than 100.000$ or five years' jail............!

Dutch name : Roodwangschildpad
German name : Rotwangen-Schmuckschildkröte
Latin name : Trachemys scripta elegans