Turtles moved inside to keep metal away

COLUMBUS (AP) -- Veterinarians at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium have moved two sea turtles from public view after X-rays confirmed they had been eating coins and other pieces of metal tossed at them or dropped by visitors. The animals' doctors worried the objects might cut the turtles or cause an infection.
Veterinarian Gwen Myers first noticed the problem while conducting a routine exam of the turtles' droppings last week. She found nickels, pennies and a dime, as well as a nail and a key chain.
Myers said visitors to the zoo sometimes don't follow the rules.
"They throw bubble gum at the turtles. They throw stuff at the alligators to see if they move," Myers said. "One night, one guy dumped his whole container of popcorn into the cougar exhibit. We usually ask security to escort them off the grounds. It's a pretty simple rule: 'Don't feed the animals.'"
But even visitors who accidentally drop items can cause problems for the animals, zoo officials say.
"At the Indianapolis Zoo, people would drop cell phones and sunglasses and the ostriches would eat them," Columbus veterinarian Andrea Goodnight said about her former employer.
John Dinon, director of animal conservation programs at the Cincinnati Zoo, said sunglasses and children's shoes are the items most frequently lost in zoo exhibits.
The two sea turtles in Columbus are healthy despite eating the objects, Myers said. They have been swimming together in a deep holding tank.