Peanut: The Unstoppable Turtle

Back in the early 1980s, a young red-ear slidder turtle got tangled in a 6-can soda ring while swimming in Missouri, she would later become known as Peanut. Peanut remained entangled within the plastic and continued to grow even though the plastic was restricting her. Nine years later in 1993 rescuers found Peanut with the plastic still around her. The plastic restricted her shell from developing normally and has prevented the development of many of her internal organs. Researchers said that had Peanut not had a protective shell around her the plastic ring would have cut into her skin as she was growing and cut her, resulting in death by infection. Peanut was taken to a zoo in St. Louis where the plastic ring was removed. The staff wound up naming her Peanut for the distinctive shape of her warped shell. Currently, Peanut lives in St. Charles at the Busch Conservation Area and is doing well. She serves as an educator for young children, illistrating the devasting and lasting effects of our pollution. Due to the state of her shell Peanut will never be able to live back in the wild as a result of the detrimental effects of our trash.