Cycling, dangerous cars, and my poor turtle

Narrow paved rural roads for cars which at both sides are overlooked to rice fields are like a death trap for any living creatures. In the spring and just before the start of the rice-growing season, a problematic event occurs that can sometimes have horrible and abnormal results.

Just before the rice season, farmers flood their lands.

Not everyone may know this, but rice fields are actually like man-made wetlands. And these agricultural lands, like a swamp, are filled to the brim with water. Their soil is thin and mud-like, and after preparing the land, it is in such a way that the rice farmers, put their bare feet into this muddy land cultivate rice.

However, one of the things that happen when agricultural lands are flooded is the awakening of every creature that lives there. These poor animals, turtles, and water snakes save themselves from suffocation and run into the road. A dangerous road where high-speed cars are moving there at any moment and these dear turtles are very vulnerable and helpless when crossing this dangerous road.

I met one of them. My kind turtle was injured and I took him home with me and tried to heal him. I did not do much and my turtle did not last long, as he or she was injured badly while lost has lost an eye and you could see blood on its lips.

I built a nest for him in the garden yard and it was a good and quiet friend for me at this short time.

I still miss it sometimes and remember it by saying: “I wish you would stay with me! I heard that turtles have a long life, but you did not keep your promise ...”

I drew this painting for my turtle, mostly to consult myself and every time I pass that road that killed my turtle by my bike, it is a reminder of how cruel life is.