Advice From A Sea Turtle - Take It Slow | Keep Calm and #savetheseaturtles

#savetheseaturtles #seaturtles #SaveTheTurtles Seven different species of sea (or marine) turtles grace our ocean waters, from the shallow seagrass beds of the Indian Ocean, to the colorful reefs of the Coral Triangle and the sandy beaches of the Eastern Pacific. While these highly migratory species periodically come ashore to either bask or nest, sea turtles spend the bulk of their lives in the ocean. WWF's work on sea turtles focuses on five of those species: green, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, and olive ridley. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sea-turtle Over the last 200 years, human activities have tipped the scales against the survival of these ancient mariners. Slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin, and shells, sea turtles suffer from poaching and over-exploitation. They also face habitat destruction and accidental capture—known as bycatch—in fishing gear. Climate change has an impact on turtle nesting sites; it alters sand temperatures, which then affects the sex of hatchlings. Nearly all species of sea turtle are now classified as endangered, with three of the seven existing species being critically endangered. Sea turtles (superfamily Chelonioidea), sometimes called marine turtles, are reptiles of the order Testudines and of the suborder Cryptodira. The seven existing species of sea turtles are the green sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, Kemp's ridley sea turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, flatback sea turtle, and leatherback sea turtle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_turtle

How can we identify and differentiate between the 7 different marine turtle species?

 Infographic by Paige Strudwick

Celebrate World Sea Turtle Day!

There’s World Turtle Day (May 23) and then there’s World SEA Turtle Day, which is - June 16th. World Sea Turtle Day - it is the birthday of Dr. Archie Carr who is widely known as “the father of sea turtle biology.” Dr. Carr focused his entire career on sea turtle research and conservation.

According to The Sea Turtle Conservancy:

Of the 7 sea turtle species, 6 are listed by the IUCN Red List as either vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. They are: leatherbacks (vulnerable), loggerheads (vulnerable), hawksbills (critically endangered), green sea turtles (endangered), Kemp’s Ridley (critically endangered), Olive Ridley (vulnerable), and flatback sea turtles (data deficient). What can you do to protect sea turtles?

Information About Sea Turtles

Sea Turtles and Humans Sea turtles have long fascinated people and have figured prominently in the mythology and folklore of many cultures. In the Miskito Cays off the eastern coast of Nicaragua, the story of a kind “Turtle Mother,” still lingers. Unfortunately, the spiritual significance of sea turtles has not saved them from being exploited for both food and for profit. Millions of sea turtles once roamed the earth’s oceans, but now only a fraction remain. Why Care About Sea Turtles? https://conserveturtles.org/information-about-sea-turtles-an-introduction/

SEA TURTLES 101

Find out about sea turtles' oldest known ancestor, how certain adaptations may have helped the reptiles survive, and the conservation efforts being made to save them. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/group/sea-turtles/ Sea turtle babies Featured snippet from the web Baby Sea Turtles. Watching a baby turtle (known as a "hatchling") struggle out of the nest and make its way to the water is an emotional experience. ... After an adult female sea turtle nests, she returns to the sea, leaving her nest and the eggs within it to develop on their own. All About Sea Turtles. Baby leatherback sea turtles thriving due to quarantine beach restrictions 2020. Baby leatherback sea turtles are doing better than they have in years, now that many humans are opting (or being ordered) to stay off beaches due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Protect Baby Turtles - Green Sea Turtle Protection‎. Save endangered sea turtles - Protect Sea Turtle Babies‎. New Born, Baby Sea Turtles Race to the Ocean! How Baby Sea Turtles Find Their Way Home. Beaches are becoming safer for baby sea turtles.

ADVICE FROM A SEA TURTLE

Swim with the current Be a good navigator Stay calm under pressure Be well-traveled Think long term Age gracefully Spend time at the beach!