Alligator Snapping Turtle in Philadelphia Zoo

We saw this Alligator Snapping Turtle in Philadelphia Zoo on 22nd March 2008. It stays still most of the time and looked old. At our first sight, we thought that it is old and therefore it does not want to move much. After talking to the volunteer at the zoo right by the turtle water tank, he changed what we thought completely. This turtle is already 80 years old and we were right about it. The way Snapping Turtle getting food is quite fascinating. When it is hungry, all it has to do is to open its mouth and stay still. The turtle has something special in its mouth which lures fish. When a fish comes by, the turtle shuts its mouth and traps the fish. So, the turtle has a good reason not to move too much and aging is not a factor at all.

Fortunately, human does not get food that way. Otherwise, everyone would stay still waiting for food to come alone. There would not be any social gathering, party, or things like that.