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Cayman Turtle Farm
Along with Stingray City, the Cayman Turtle
Farm is one of the island's top attractions. It's the only farm of its
kind in the world and for over 30 years this site has offered visitors
the chance to get up close and personal with green sea turtles. Allow
about 45 minutes to tour the farm. The turtle farm displays the life cycle of
the green sea turtle from birth through the breeding stage. A nursery
shows where the eggs, which are laid by the big breeder turtles on a sand
beach at the farm, are incubated. The hatchlings live in tanks and are
fed a high-protein pelleted diet similar in appearance to dog food. This
accounts for the rapid growth of the farm's turtles compared to their
relatives in the wild. You'll also see land residents of the Cayman Islands in several exhibit areas. Along with the American crocodile, check out the agouti or the Cayman "rabbit" in one area. These rodents, who make their home in the eastern districts of Grand Cayman, have long, thin legs with hoof-like claws. Once a food source, today it is rare to spot an agouti. The last stop on the walk-through of the farm is the extensive gift shop. You might be shocked to see turtle steak and turtle shells for sale in the shop. Remember, however, that this is a working farm. Many turtles are released into the sea every
year, although others find their way onto Cayman dinner tables. The turtle
plays a role in the Cayman diet and culture much like a turkey in the
United States. Much of the turtle meat served at local restaurants comes
from the Cayman Turtle Farm. The farm defends its efforts and points out
that by providing turtle meat, a longtime Caymanian favorite, to the local
market it diminishes the need for turtle hunting. Also, the survival rate
at the farm is much higher than in the wild (here, nine out of every 10
turtles survive, as compared to one out of 10 in the sea). TIP Location: West Bay Back to the Grand
Cayman Sightseeing |
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The
self-guided tour of the turtle farm takes you past many tanks filled with
turtles in various life stages. A special tank contains turtles that you
may pick up and hold, an excellent photo opportunity. Reach down and clutch
the turtle's body just behind his front flippers. He'll flip and flap
around, trying to swim away in mid-air, unless you hold him vertically.