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Brett Westwood explores how the venerable, slow moving and long-lived turtle has become a symbol of good fortune and stability while being hunted for tortoiseshell and turtle soup.

Brett Westwood explores how the venerable, slow moving and long-lived turtle has become a symbol of good fortune and stability while being hunted for tortoiseshell and turtle soup. Featuring Molokai the turtle and his keeper at the National Sea Life Centre Jonny Rudd, conservation scientist Professor Brendan Godley from the University of Exeter, documentary-maker Tran Le Thuy telling the story of a legendary turtle in Vietnam and Gregory McNamee who dives into the cultural world of turtles.

First broadcast in a longer form : 17th October 2017
Original Producer (2017) Eliza Lomas
Archive Producer (2023): Andrew Dawes

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 31 Dec 2023 06:35
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Jonny Rudd

Jonny Rudd is curator at the National Sea Life Centre, Birmingham. He is responsible for looking after Molokai, the green sea turtle.

Brendan Godley

Brendan Godley is Professor of Conservation Science at the University of Exeter. He has been working withΒ marine turtles for over twenty-five years.

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Gina Ebanks-Petrie

Gina Ebanks Petrie works closely with turtles as Director at the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment. Her Grandfather, Captain Ali Ebanks, was a captain of a turtle fishing boat.

Annie Gray

Annie Gray is a food historian specialising in British food and dining from the 1600s to today. She is also a cook, broadcaster and lecturer.

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Gregory McNamee

Gregory McNamee is a writer exploring the intersection of nature, culture and humans. He is also a journalist, photographer and publisher.

His book A World of Turtles (co-edited by Luis Alberto Urrea)Β gathers literary sightings of turtles over many times and cultures, celebratingΒ the venerable creatures inΒ human imagination.

Tran Le Thuy

Tran Le Thuy is a journalist, founder of the Centre for Media and Development Initiatives in Vietnam and is making a documentary about the turtle of Hoan Kiem Lake inΒ Hanoi. Β 

Kerry Elkins

Actor.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 17 Oct 2017 11:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Mon 23 Oct 2017 21:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 31 Dec 2023 06:35
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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