Sea turtles are a group of reptiles more than 100 million years old, adapted to life in the ocean, where they perform unique and crucial ecological functions. For example, they play a vital role in the functioning of coral reef ecosystems. What threatens these amazing creatures and how can you help protect them?
The currently living representatives of sea turtles are classified into two families, or seven species, and the populations of all seven species are now in steep decline. The situation is relatively best in the Atlantic Ocean, where turtle conservation on beaches is often already underway. The situation is worse in the Pacific Ocean, where populations are declining exponentially. The worst situation is in the Indian Ocean, where sea turtle populations have disappeared in many places.
Chart: Decline of the Green Sea Turtle population in Berau, Indonesia
The different types of threats and their interactions are closely related to the life cycle of turtles. During the terrestrial phase, which is only a small part of the sea turtle's life, females, eggs and hatchlings face a large number of threats. The possibility of prolonged flooding of eggs by tides, the effect of predation and intraspecific destruction of eggs are critical. Many of the dangers are natural, but humans have a major influence on their intensity!
Sea levels are rising due to climate change and there is a risk of more frequent flooding of eggs. The most common predators are non-native game species such as dogs and rats. Due to infrastructure development on the coast, beaches are shrinking and it is more common for a turtle to destroy an egg previously deposited in the same place while digging a nest. Residual light entering the beach from urbanised areas disorientates hatchlings.
How can you help? Donate with VAKOVAKO!
Support this great nonprofit and help sea turtles survive. 100% of your donation will go to Save Turtle, which will use the funds to finance conservation projects in Indonesia and Sri Lanka that will give hundreds of thousands of baby turtles a chance to hatch safely and boost the population of these endangered creatures.
Donate and become a tortoise shell to protect them from extinction!
