http://www.nps.gov/history/history/hisnps/NPSThinking/nps-oah.htm Preservation History

<< Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a unique and generous act of wildlife preservation on the part of Mr. Hugh B. Chalmers, Jr., a businessowner in West Memphis, AR. The story of Mr. Chalmers and a giant alligator snapping turtle not only reminds us that we all have a part to play in protecting endangered species, but that opportunities often come in unusual ways. The lakes and bayous of Arkansas are home to a wide variety of animal species. Turtles are commonly seen on fallen logs or along the banks of these waterways. However, fishermen for the C&L Fish Market in West Memphis recently happened upon a most uncommon catch; a 101 pound alligator snapping turtle. Despite its incredible size, this creature was destined for slaughter until Mr. Hugh Chalmers intervened. After seeing the turtle, Mr. Chalmers became convinced that this was a special animal. A curator at the Memphis Zoo confirmed his belief. The snapper was from a dwindling species and might be more than 130 years old. Believing the venerable creature deserved a better fate, Mr. Chalmers purchased the turtle and donated it to the Memphis Zoo in honor of his 15-month-old daughter, Emily. For the turtle, it was a very happy ending. A specialist studied the snapper for a few days, and then returned it to its natural habitat. While this is basically a lighthearted story, it does hold a serious lesson. Most of us are unaware of the wide variety of animal species around us which are endangered. Mr. Chalmers might easily have taken a look at this rare animal, and then walked away without a second thought. Instead, he took the time to ask questions and was generous enough to assume responsibility for saving the creature. As Mr. Chalmers put it, `I just knew that any animal that had lived more than 100 years deserved to live a few more days.' I commend Mr. Chalmers for his actions, and suggest that we should all strive to be more attentive of preservation efforts in our local areas.New Text >>