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Jan 22, 2008 9:51 pm US/Mountain
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Turtle Clears A Hurdle At Colorado State Capitol
Adams County School District 50 Students Testify Before House Committee In State Reptile Designation Hearing
DENVER (CBS4) ―
The western painted turtle could soon become Colorado's official reptile.
Several young lobbyists pushed for the turtle to get the honorary designation at a State, Veterans, and Military Affairs committee hearing at the state capitol Tuesday, and they brought a live example with them.
"You sort of hold him like a hamburger," Grant Merrill of the Denver Zoo said as he displayed the creature.
"Every kid dreams of having a cute little turtle as a pet," Skyline Vista Elementary student Amy Loi said.
The group of 9 and 10 year olds from Adams County School District 50 had Skyline Vista's Horatio Duarte with them. He's the one who dreamed up the turtle proposal.
"The western painted turtle would make a magificent addition to other state symbols like the bighorn sheep (the state animal) on the lark bunting (the state bird)," Duarte said.
The well dressed and eager children had adult support from another witness who pointed out that there are only five native species of turtle in the state.
"It's found on both the east and west slopes -- it's the only turtle that is -- so I think it's an excellent choice," Grant Merrill of the Denver Zoo said.
Duarte said the western painted turtle is superior because it's colorful, just like Colorado.
One of the lawmakers on the committee said he might rather see a lizard get the designation, such as the Texas Horned Lizard, found on the eastern slope, or the Western Whiptail, which is found on the western slope.
"I don't want a poisonous or odd-looking reptile to be the state reptile," Loi said during her testimony.
The measure passed 9-1, leaving Duarte and the other students very pleased. The bill now goes to the full House for debate.
State Rep. Douglas Bruce, the only "no" vote, told CBS4's Terry Jessup the legislation is frivolous.
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