San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge has a residential group of approximately 60 protected Eastern Pacific Green Sea Turtles. No one knows how they got here, but it is assumed they were caught many decades ago in Mexico, brought to the bay alive, and escaped from fishing pens, prior to being slaughtered. They settled successfully in the bay due to waters that are artificially warmed by nearby industry.
This is the only area on the west coast of the US where green sea turtles are known to congregate and thrive.
These turtles are an endangered species due to habitat destruction, illegal poaching, inadvertent fish netting, boat strikes, and plastic ingestion.
San Diego Bay Wildlife Refuge is one of the few safe sanctuaries for these peaceful and VERY large turtles. The largest turtle ever measured here weighed 530 lbs, which is the largest known green turtle in the Eastern Pacific.
There is a rehab, rescue and education center in the refuge, where injured and rescued native wildlife are cared for, including a small number of green sea turtles. The center provides education on the pressing need for conservation of native species and is open to visitors.
I was amazed at how friendly the turtles are!
They swim to the sides of their plexiglass tank to interact and seem genuinely happy to goof around with you!
Cheers to you from the magnificent, goofy & gregarious, seriously endangered Pacific Green Sea Turtles.
Do you want to imagine the world without them? Do you want the Trump administration to repeal existing environmental and vulnerable species protections?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
For more info: https://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?Division=PRD&ParentMenuId=212&id=4378
cindyknoke.com 
It is my experience that we get what we focus on. It does not matter if it is positive or negative. Beautiful amazing creatures surround you because you have focused your life on the beautiful and amazing. Trump was elected because those who wanted him elected and many of those who did NOT want him elected focused their attention on him — incessantly. So I will support you in the desire for maintaining and enhancing the notion that ALL living creatures deserve to live peaceful, harmonious, healthy lives.It may sound like just a rearranging of words to say this rather than fighting against Trump repealing the environmental protection laws. But the statements will bring about two very different results. Peace and thank you for bringing beauty and amazement to my day.
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Intriguing & interesting way of looking at the world. I do very much agree with you that focusing on the beauty and the amazing things around you makes you happier and more able to perceive more of the beauty around you. And I also agree with you that all living things deserve “peaceful, harmonious lives.” But I wonder what the American slaves, or WWII concentration camp internees, or parents who have children who die of cancer, and so many more people who suffer so terribly and unfairly, would say about their focus bringing about their results? They certainly didn’t get what (they) focused on.
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These people certainly did not get what they deserved. To me the Law of Attraction is non-judgmental. To explain this I’m working on a few blog posts to explain why bad things can happen to good people. No matter if we agree. I am glad that you focus so much of your time on bringing beauty to the world. ❤
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Thank you for such a level headed response. It’s not important to me that people agree with me. I values diversity of people, values, beliefs and practices. I don’t want everyone to agree with me or vis versa. I am glad that you share acceptance of divergent belief. I find your philosophy interesting and agree with parts of it. Hugs to you my friend~ ❤
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Hugs to you too. It would be a pretty boring world if all agreed with everyone about everything. As you say it is not important we agree, it is important we accept divergent beliefs. Peace.
Hope the rain is falling in just the right amount in the Holler.
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Yes. It is the epitome of mutual respect! Bless the rain! It is falling~
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They are just so beautiful. I love, love, love them 🙂 It would be the worst tragedy if they were no longer afforded protection D:
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We are turtley in accord! 🐢🐢
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What characters … beautifully captured Cindy 💛
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They are wonderful aren’t they! So playful~ ❤ 🐢
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Like so many other species, these great turtles are also listed among endangered species. Such a pity! We are doing so much harm to Mother Nature… 😦
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We are and there is no excuse for it because we know what we are doing. 🐢 ❤
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That’s true!
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They are so beautiful and your images so true that I ache for them and the world. 😦
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I resonate strongly. Last night I woke up dreaming of nuclear war.
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Reblogged this on penpowersong.
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❤ 🐢
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This is amazing, Cindy 🙂
You captured the turtle like she make gymnastics exercises :))
Mo-hugs and kisses ❤
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🐢 kisses back 2U my friend~ ❤
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❤
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Outstanding captures of these beautiful creatures … and cheers to the sanctuary.
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The 🐢🐢 and I thank you my friend & cheers to you~
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Thank you for sharing these beautiful creatures. I’d love to take my daughter to see them one day. Thank you for the inspiration.
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Go during the week and they will play with her at the sides of the tank. I took my kids here when they were little. Wonderful place for children~ 🐢
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Awe! Thank you for the tip!
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❤
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Stunning photos of these gentle and beautiful creatures. I love turtles – I love all wildlife, flora, and nature. We are the caretakers of our planet and must protect all endangered species. It is not only our duty but a mandate. I am thankful for the sanctuary and for the information you shared.
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You are a sweetheart and I am lucky to know you. Hugs to you and thank you too~ 🐢 ❤
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Super images Cindy.
Are you aware of Ocean Cleanup’s efforts? Find them on FB to see/support their efforts…out of the Netherlands…this group deserves massive support and Trump cannot interfere…I recently saw photos of beached/stranded turtles engulfed in fishing lines…a true crime and horrible death for these wonderful sea creatures. Diane
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It is horrible to see creatures ensnared in our drift nets, plastic beer can holders, the massive plastic wastelands in the oceans, over fishing. We were in Antarctica and the sea creatures came up to us totally unafraid and then we saw the whalers come with their booming harpoons killing the minke whales we were playing with just a few minutes ago. Ocean Cleanup sounds wonderful!
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What magnificent creatures! Thank you for the wonderful pictures. ❤
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Thank you more for such very kind appreciation & cheers to you~
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My pleasure, milady. 🙂
Thank you so much. ❤
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❤
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Simply beautiful, Cindy! I am happy these turtles have a sanctuary…just like we have one here in Clearwater Marine Aquarium/Hospital. One of the things I am most afraid of with the incoming administration is an eventual relaxation and roll-back of environmental protections.
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This and the possibility of wwIII wake me up at night. Sad times ~
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Those wake me up too, plus the already ongoing repeal of ACA, which is likely to hit hard so many of our fellow human beings, especially those who are already sick, the self-employed and those working in small enterprises. I know many of them. So sad.
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I know it is devolving. It is hard to imagine the type of human heart that wishes to deny medical care to people who need it.
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Você sempre me surpreendendo. Lindas fotos!
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Gracias querida amiga!
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Cindy, I can rarely find a mean bone in my body, or a nasty thought in my head, but, if Trump really does do everything he tweets about or says on TV, I really think he should be put in a secure tank, with special protection orders, not as an endangered species but as an endangering one. There, I have said my piece; now I better wash my mouth out with soap on behalf of all the words I said but didn’t dare print. 😀
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I feel the same struggle you are feeling. I don’t want to get pulled into negativity but I woke up last night dreaming of nuclear war. I have never dreamed of nuclear war.
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Neither have I, but I have worried about the possibility since I was a little girl. Maybe I am just a worrier. 😦
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I used to be quite a worrier and am less so now, at least I used to be less so, but I have noticed a significant increase lately, unfortunately. Towards the end of the Vietnam war I used to worry intensely about people I loved getting drafted, now these sorts of worries, after decades of peaceful slumber are returning. Thank you Mr. Trump.
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Sigh….. and I am sure Mr Trump has no trouble sleeping at all. Arrgh.
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Well, actually he is a chronic insomniac. Sleeps at most 4 hours a night. Maybe he should start to ask himself why? Maybe there is a conscience in there yearning to get out~
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Ha!
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My Dear Cindy,
Your photos are gorgeous, but the info you impart is sad.
What is wrong with us? i do believe the planet is treacherously overpopulated.
Your photos may be all that is left one day. TY for taking them! xx
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There really is a divide between two groups of people on this planet, those who wish to save lives and prevent suffering in both human and animals, and those who are insensitive to taking lives and are unconcerned with other creature’s suffering. Now the divide is becoming very clear, especially in the US.
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I don’t understand the insensitivity, but I accept that it exists. I don’t understand Trump, but he exists.
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Precisely.
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T liked these. =)
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Makes me happy to know! You sound like such a good mom~ 🐢
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Pingback: Green Sea Turtle Refuge~ | writerchristophfischer
Thanks for sharing this captivating post. Did the same. 🙂
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Thank you more for supporting the turtles!
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Gorgeous photos as always, Cindy! I don’t believe I’ve seen turtles from such closeup angles before. It’s very interesting, and it’s breathtaking how beautiful these creatures are.
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Awww, so great to hear from you Halim! I hope all is well with you and thank you too!
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Love those glass sided pools for aquatic critters.
Oscar
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It was so intensely scratched by kids and smeared that the photos were a significant challenge!
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But, grand that kids are getting something other than pixels and screen time. Hurrah, for live animals.
Oscar
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Yes! 🐢
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Wszystkie Twoje zdjęcia są wspaniałe. Ogląda się je z przyjemnością.
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Jestem tak szczęśliwy, że cieszyć się nimi! Dziękuję wam i okrzyki~
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Nice, nice, nice and nice, nice, nice
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As is your comment! Thank you~
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We usually see huge sea turtles when we scuba dive. They look so graceful and cute in the wild. 🙂 Looking at them is like looking at true freedom.
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Yes, they are wonderful to swim with and amazing to watch them dive mid-ocean and get cleaned by tropical fish on coral reefs. Peaceful creatures~
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Thank you for the like Cindy. 🙂
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❤
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Love this post, Cindy! We have a turtle rescue near here and every year we get to see turtle laying their eggs and if we are really lucky we get to see a nest erupt and little babies try to make it to the ocean! It’s awesome! Hope you are super!
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I have never seen a hatch except on video and I would so love too!
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Cindy…I’ve only seen one while it was happening…and I was so disoriented because the sand was bubbling like boiling water…it threw my balance off!! But so incredible to see those babies wobble to the shore!! Blessings to you ♡
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I like how gentle turtles appear as they paddle and glide through the water. You captured their peaceful presence and had me saying, “You go, all those who support sea turtle sanctuaries!” ❤
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I hope the vulnerable species protections put in place over the last decades by both democrats and republicans do not get over turned by the current administration.
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good photos
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Thank you kindly~
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Your pictures are outstanding! Beautiful. I feel like I could reach out and touch the green sea turtle. JM
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Awww, you are very kin and most appreciated! Thank you & stay well my friend დ
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You too!
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დ
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