[Valpal1]

Is there some reason they can’t be released back to the desert?

[RC one]

because then the agency will lose its hostages? They came from the desert so they can go back and mother nature will do the rest.

[Hardraade]

There’s a sudden Vegas demand for Tortoise soup? Is there some large liberal convention coming up?

[colorado tanker]

The story explains the problem. The whole thing was a government scam. When developers began building in the "habitat" the government made them pay a fee on each house built to fund the center. They accepted all donations of turtles. Now, the builders aren't building and the fees are running out. So, they are closing down.

I don't know why the turtles can't be released but I suspect they have collected so many that most could not survive. The turtles would have been better off if the government hadn't meddled in the first place.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

That is what they should do.

As the casinos don't have an interest in it though that isn't what they are planning to do.

[BradyLS]

Is there some reason they can’t be released back to the desert?

No. But that would get in the way of the orders to euthanize them. In the Era of Hope and Change, orders are orders. And the BLM is, uh, just following orders. *shrug*