Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Balto the Magnificent

Balto.

You've all heard of him--the Siberian husky that led his team on the epic journey from Nenana, Alaska to Nome, Alaska with diphtheria antitoxin to squash a disease outbreak. This run is commemorated by a statue of him in Central Park and an annual sled dog race.

It is this spirit of exploration and adventure that made the spunky yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta) that we discovered at Dixie Plantation the perfect namesake and candidate for our class mascot.

Allow me to remind you of his handsomeness:



Let me list the reasons why he should be our class mascot: 
  1. "Look at those sexy claw." - Dr. Welch
  2. This is the only critter that both lab sections got to interact with.
  3. He obviously loves us, as evidenced by the fact that he allowed himself to be caught again for the Thursday lab class.
  4. Turtles are an easy sell to outsiders.
  5. Balto the husky is a national hero.
  6. Our Balto also deserves to be a national hero (or at the very least a classroom hero). 
  7. LOOK AT THOSE SEXY CLAWS
  8. He is older and wiser than most of the other critters we've caught.
  9. We found him at Dixie Plantation, a College of Charleston institution.
  10. He is the only species that I consistently get right on lab tests.
For these reasons and I'm sure many more, Balto should be our class mascot--I hope you agree!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great Suggestion for our mascot!

I just want to add that in general yellow belly sliders are a very attractive species and well known in South Carolina. Also they are long lived turtles, where in captivity they can live more than 20 years.

Plus Balto was amazing.

Allison Welch said...

Oooh, a compelling nomination. And did I mention those sexy claws?