Nature & Environment
World Turtles Day Gives Light On Why Turtles Are Becoming Endangered And How to Prevent It
Johnson Denise
First Posted: May 24, 2016 04:00 AM EDT
Sea turtles have been in existence for more than 100 million years. At present, their number is quickly decreasing leading to the classification of all seven species as endangered. This is largely caused by human activities like poaching, the destruction of nesting sites and climate change, all of which is pushing turtles ever closer to extinction.
Celebrated every 23rd of May, World Turtle Day is a chance for campaigners to call people's attention to protect and conserve marine animals better. They answer questions why these sea turtles are under threat, and what can people do to help.
According to International Business Times, turtles have been hunted for many years for their shells which are often used to make jewelries and other items. The distinctive shell pattern of the hawksbill sea turtle made them very popular to shell traders despite it being illegal. As a result, hawksbill sea turtles are now considered critically endangered. Hundreds of sea turtles are also accidentally captured by commercial fishing nets every year, which often leads to these turtles drowning. The WWF is coordinating with fisheries to help lower down the number of turtles being captured.
Climate change has also been identified as a factor that has a significant impact on a turtle's life, and on the sex of the turtle's offspring. Globalanimal.org said that warmer temperatures caused by climate change can disrupt normal sex ratios which can result to an increase in female hatchlings. This will affect reproductive opportunities and will decrease genetic diversity. The melting of the polar ice caps and the increase in sea levels also affect the turtle's life since the erosion of coastal habitats give sea turtles smaller spaces for nesting.
Another factor identified by experts is poaching. The international trade in all sea turtle species and their parts is strictly prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. But despite this, sea turtles are still being harvested in an unsustainable way for human consumption. Their body parts and eggs are being traded making them a source of food and income in many countries. They are also killed for traditional medicines.
And last but certainly not the least, the destruction of nesting beaches as a result of tourism affected the turtles in the most detrimental way. The disturbance of nesting females can cause turtles to stop nesting entirely and return to the ocean. Coral reefs and seagrass beds, which provide feeding habitats for turtles, are being damaged as a result of tourist development, certain fishing techniques, climate change and more.
Humans can help sea turtles by making sure that beaches are clean by avoiding littering. Turning off beach lighting can also help prevent nesting turtles from being disoriented, as nesting turtles and turtle hatchlings are guided by moonlight.
Happy World Turtles Day!
See Now:
NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone
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First Posted: May 24, 2016 04:00 AM EDT
Sea turtles have been in existence for more than 100 million years. At present, their number is quickly decreasing leading to the classification of all seven species as endangered. This is largely caused by human activities like poaching, the destruction of nesting sites and climate change, all of which is pushing turtles ever closer to extinction.
Celebrated every 23rd of May, World Turtle Day is a chance for campaigners to call people's attention to protect and conserve marine animals better. They answer questions why these sea turtles are under threat, and what can people do to help.
According to International Business Times, turtles have been hunted for many years for their shells which are often used to make jewelries and other items. The distinctive shell pattern of the hawksbill sea turtle made them very popular to shell traders despite it being illegal. As a result, hawksbill sea turtles are now considered critically endangered. Hundreds of sea turtles are also accidentally captured by commercial fishing nets every year, which often leads to these turtles drowning. The WWF is coordinating with fisheries to help lower down the number of turtles being captured.
Climate change has also been identified as a factor that has a significant impact on a turtle's life, and on the sex of the turtle's offspring. Globalanimal.org said that warmer temperatures caused by climate change can disrupt normal sex ratios which can result to an increase in female hatchlings. This will affect reproductive opportunities and will decrease genetic diversity. The melting of the polar ice caps and the increase in sea levels also affect the turtle's life since the erosion of coastal habitats give sea turtles smaller spaces for nesting.
Another factor identified by experts is poaching. The international trade in all sea turtle species and their parts is strictly prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. But despite this, sea turtles are still being harvested in an unsustainable way for human consumption. Their body parts and eggs are being traded making them a source of food and income in many countries. They are also killed for traditional medicines.
And last but certainly not the least, the destruction of nesting beaches as a result of tourism affected the turtles in the most detrimental way. The disturbance of nesting females can cause turtles to stop nesting entirely and return to the ocean. Coral reefs and seagrass beds, which provide feeding habitats for turtles, are being damaged as a result of tourist development, certain fishing techniques, climate change and more.
Humans can help sea turtles by making sure that beaches are clean by avoiding littering. Turning off beach lighting can also help prevent nesting turtles from being disoriented, as nesting turtles and turtle hatchlings are guided by moonlight.
Happy World Turtles Day!
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone