Hello Fellow Animal Lovers:

FIU is home to dozens of Turtles across the many man-made lakes that are part of the landscape. Unfortunately, once such lake has proven to be a death trap for these turtles. Almost 30 years ago, FIU built Henington Island (http://gogreen.fiu.edu/topics/ecosystems/index.htm...) seen from the 8ST and 112 Avenue entrance . Since I walk/bike to campus every day, I have the unique and disheartening experience of seeing how turtles wonder off into 8 st or the 112 entrance where cars seldom ever stop to let the turtles pass or move them out of the way. The result is that I often encounter dead and crushed turtles (See petition image taken with my phone). When they are alive, I stop traffic to move them back into the lake.

I am not a conservation expert but I do have several ideas to propose to FIU. However, I've called several departments and none of them claim responsibility for these turtles. In fact one department rudely told me "We don't have a turtle department."

I plan to present this petition to the President's office and demand that they fix this issue. If you agree that a World's Ahead institution should provide a safe environment for the animals on campus please sign this petition.

Thank You,

Veronica Torres