By Alexandra

This story begins in a marina in Linton Bay, Panama.

Arabella, Naomi, Luca, Tama and I had been working on our bird project when my mom got a message from Naomi, Luca and Tama’s mom.  She came across a little fresh water/ land mystery critter and asked us to find some rocks to make an aquarium with fresh water. Naomi, Luca, Tama and I (Arabella refused to join) went to find some rocks for the mystery critter’s new tank!

Suddenly Amandine arrived with a cute little turtle, the size of a pebble and named him Diego. Naomi and I decided that we would be in charge of Diego because we loved him the most. For quite a long time Diego wouldn’t eat, then Apple found out that he loved to eat the vegetable morning glory.

I felt like Diego never really liked his home on the boat because he kept on trying to escape. We tried to make it seem like his very own habitat but it wouldn’t work. His personality in his home really worried me. I felt bad for keeping him in a box rather than the open wild. 

Diego was probably the first freshwater turtle that made it alive sailing in the ocean for so long. He sailed from Panama to Galapagos and all the way across the Pacific Ocean! He was the bravest turtle I have ever met.

Finally we arrived at French Polynesia and we decided to find a new home for our amazing pet Diego, because we feel he will be happier to live in nature. We have kept Diego with us for over three months already. 

We went walking into the forest in Hiva Oa and found a small pond filled with leaves and rocks next to a bamboo forest and a river. I brought him some extra food like cabbage and carrot if he was picky with the food in his future home.

We all said goodbye and left the greatest freshwater turtle in his new home.

Alex’s feelings

This turtle was more than just our pet. He was a wonderful friend to each and every one of us.  When Naomi and I claimed him ours, I felt so happy to have a new friend to join us on our voyage and it made me feel a little better about Lee Junior the octopus (long story). When we set sail from Panama I was confident he would have a perfect home all the way across the Pacific. Later on I felt a little guilty for keeping Diego with us, it made me think, what if I were him and I was taken away from my home and put in a box with some water in it. It made me feel sad. Then we sailed across the Pacific, and I got quite annoyed with him cause he kept on pooping, and his poop made his tank green, and green means I have to clean it since Naomi was not on our boat. When we arrived I was determined to find Diego a beautiful home that he’d love. We found a small pond by a lake and bamboo forest.  We said our goodbyes and I prayed to the Olympian gods that he would be safe forever and ever.

Naomi’s feelings

Diego was such a nice little friend. When we first got him, I would not stop carrying him. I loved carrying him around and looking the beautiful patterns on him. When we left Panama, I felt a bit guilty that we took him. The first few days I saw he was trying to climb out but after having him a long time he got used to his tank.  Alex and I had to clean his tank quite a bit and the first few days we remembered to feed him.  I wasn’t there much so I could not feed. He did not eat very much I was a bit concerned, luckily, he did start eating a lot.  After having him for a long time it was very hard to say goodbye, since I have strong emotions for animals.