Drinking Turtle Blood: Is It Safe?

Drinking turtle blood is a tried and tested method for surviving at sea. It is said to be a reliable source of hydration and has been used by sailors and castaways for centuries. In 1971, the Robertson family survived for 38 days in the Pacific Ocean after their boat was attacked by orcas, drinking turtle blood and rainwater. In 2003, seven Nicaraguan fishermen lost power on their 33-foot boat and drifted for a month, staying hydrated by drinking turtle blood. Another man, Jose Ivan, claimed to have survived for 16 months in the Pacific, also drinking turtle blood.

Drinking turtle blood can keep you hydrated when stranded at sea

Drinking turtle blood can be a lifesaver if you are stranded at sea. It is a tried and true method of survival when stranded at sea for a long time. It is said to have saved many castaways.

Turtles are slow-moving animals and can be easily caught with your bare hands, hooks, or gaffs (hooked poles). They have about 50ml of water in their blood per kilogram of body weight, so a 20kg animal will give you about 1 litre of water.

Drinking turtle blood is not the only way to survive at sea. You can also drink rainwater or the blood of birds. However, it is important to note that fish blood is too osmotically heavy and too concentrated in salts and proteins to be a source of hydration.

If you are stranded at sea, it is also crucial to have food. Turtles can be a good source of food as they have a layer of fat underneath their shells.

In addition to these survival tips, it is important to stay mentally strong during a crisis. Many survivors find themselves able to endure weeks or months of hardship, only for their health to rapidly decline once they are rescued. This is because they have effectively "given up" and handed their fate to those who have come to rescue them.

Staying hydrated is crucial for survival, and drinking turtle blood can be a lifesaving method when stranded at sea. It is important to remember that this method has helped many people survive and should not be overlooked in a survival situation.

It is a tried and true method of survival

Drinking turtle blood is a tried and true method of survival. It has been proven to be a reliable source of hydration for centuries by sailors and castaways.

In 2003, seven Nicaraguan fishermen lost power on their 33-foot boat and drifted for nearly 600 miles in the Pacific Ocean. They ran out of water early in their voyage, but managed to catch turtles and drink their blood. The men stayed completely healthy and surprised the crew of the merchant ship that rescued them by scrambling up the pilot ladder unaided, which is unusual for adrift sailors who are typically weak and severely fatigued.

In another instance, a man washed up on Ebon Atoll in the Marshall Islands claimed he had been stranded at sea for 16 months, surviving on turtles, birds, fish, and drinking turtle blood instead of rainwater. He was emaciated but basically alright, and said he caught the animals with his bare hands as he had no fishing or hunting tools.

Drinking turtle blood is recommended in the book "Wilderness Survival for Dummies", which states that it can save your life and has saved many castaways. Sea turtles are slow-moving animals that can be easily caught with your hands, hooks, or gaffs (hooked poles).

Turtles have about 50ml of water in their blood per kilogram of body weight, so a 20kg animal will give you about 1 litre of water. This can be a lifesaver when stranded at sea, where water is a more pressing concern than food.

In addition to drinking turtle blood, it is also possible to render the fat down in the sun to make oil that can be rubbed on the skin and drunk to keep warm.

However, it is important to note that turtle blood should not be consumed during the first 24 hours of being stranded, as studies have shown that waiting a full day before drinking actually increases the chances of survival. This is because it tips the body into crisis mode, triggering hormonal changes that reduce overall water consumption.

It is recommended to wait 24 hours before drinking turtle blood

Drinking turtle blood is a tried and tested method of survival for people stranded at sea. It is said to have a high water content and can be drunk raw. However, it is recommended to wait 24 hours before drinking turtle blood.

This is because, in a survival situation, the absolute minimum amount of water a human needs to survive is 125ml to 200ml, or a quarter of a pint per day. Waiting a full day before drinking anything at all increases the chances of survival. This is because it puts the body into crisis mode, triggering hormonal changes that mean the body will consume less water in the long run.

Turtles have about 50ml of water in their blood per kilogram of body weight, so a 20kg turtle can provide about a litre of water. This can be the difference between life and death for someone stranded at sea.

In 2003, seven Nicaraguan fishermen survived a month at sea after their boat lost power. They drifted for nearly 600 miles and stayed healthy by drinking turtle blood. In another instance, a man who washed up on Ebon Atoll in the Pacific Ocean claimed to have survived 16 months lost at sea, drinking turtle blood and rainwater.

In 1971, the Robertson family also survived on turtle blood and rainwater after their boat was attacked by orcas and sank in the Pacific Ocean. They were stranded for 38 days and drank turtle blood to stay alive.

It is best to catch turtles with your hands

Drinking turtle blood is a tried and tested method of hydration for those stranded at sea. In fact, it is said to have saved the lives of many castaways.

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to catch a turtle, perhaps to drink its blood, it is best to catch it with your hands. Here's how:

First, locate the turtle. You can usually find them near smaller ponds with plenty of hiding spots and rocks. If the water level is slightly low, look for turtles at the very edge of the water.

Next, assess what kind of turtle you are dealing with. This method works best for catching small turtles. If you're dealing with a large turtle, you may be able to simply sneak up on it and grab it from behind. However, be cautious of snapping turtles as they have long necks and can bite your fingers!

Now, it's time to attract the turtle. Put your fingers in the water near the turtle and wiggle them slowly. This mimics the movement of insects on the water surface and should draw the turtle's attention.

Allow the turtle to get close, but not too close that it can bite you. You'll need to judge the right moment to grab it with your other hand.

Finally, quickly grab the turtle by its sides. If you're worried about getting scratched or bitten, you can wear gloves or use a small container to scoop it up.

Remember, it's best to release the turtle back into its natural habitat after you're done. Native turtle populations are in decline worldwide, so it's important to help them survive by letting them live in their natural environments.

Additionally, always wash your hands after handling a turtle as they can carry Salmonella.

It is also possible to survive by taking enemas of turtle blood

While it may sound unusual, taking enemas of turtle blood has proven to be a successful method for survival in extreme circumstances. In a 2003 article, "Dying of Thirst? Try Turtle Blood," OceanNavigator.com shares the story of seven Nicaraguan fishermen who survived a month at sea by drinking turtle blood. In addition to this account, there have been other reports of individuals and families who credited turtle blood enemas for their survival during life-threatening situations.

One such story involves a man named Jose Ivan, who washed up on Ebon Atoll in the remote Marshall Islands after being stranded at sea for 16 months. Ivan claimed that he survived by drinking turtle blood instead of rainwater when necessary. He also indicated that he caught turtles, birds, and fish with his bare hands, as he had no fishing or hunting tools on his boat.

In another remarkable account, a family survived a shipwreck by taking enemas of a mixture of turtle blood and rainwater collected in the bottom of their lifeboat. The mother, a nurse, knew that drinking this contaminated water orally would be poisonous, but if administered rectally, it could provide the necessary hydration. She fashioned a makeshift enema from the rung of a ladder, demonstrating quick thinking and ingenuity in a life-or-death situation.

The success of these survival stories highlights the potential life-saving benefits of turtle blood enemas. While it may not be a conventional method, it underscores the importance of adaptability and creativity when faced with extreme challenges.

It is worth noting that the taste of turtle blood is reportedly unpleasant, and there are also potential risks of infection or other complications associated with this practice. However, in desperate situations, the benefits of hydration and nutrition from turtle blood can outweigh the potential drawbacks.

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