Turtles, or also called turtles, make up an order of reptiles called Sauropsida, these are characterized by having a very wide trunk but, at the same time, very short, they also have a shell which is the main protection of all their organs. Unfortunately, these beautiful reptiles are currently in serious danger of extinction. If you want to know much more about the Endangered Turtles, keep reading this article.
Endangered Turtles
Based on different data from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, or IUCN in its acronym, species that are in critical danger of extinction have enormous possibilities of disappearing completely in their wild state, we can say that this would be the last step before its total extinction. Unfortunately, there are many types of land and sea turtles that are immersed in this critical state, largely due to the human hand.
Causes of Extinction of Turtles
It is outrageous to know that the main cause of the decline of turtles in the world is thanks to human beings. This is due to the great exploitation of these reptiles, the eggs of these turtles are usually hunted for their meat, and in turn, they are also hunted for their beautiful shell. However, over the last few years more threats have been added which turn out to be worse for this species, here we have accidental fishing, the enormous contamination of the waters, and finally, the constant destruction of its habitat.
Regularly, sea turtles have always been an important source of food for nearby towns, but today these turtles attract a large number of tourists, who seek to discover all the beauties and curiosities of nature in its purest state and wild, and also different people who plan to dive through the beautiful waters of the Caribbean with these turtles.
Thousands of these tourists also travel long hours to be able to observe how these beautiful reptiles lay their eggs, or also, the moment when these eggs break and their young are born. For all these reasons, sea turtles are a source not only of food, but also of wealth and life for the towns and small local communities.
However, tourism without conscience can generate impressive consequences not only for these turtles, but for many species of animals throughout the planet. Two of the species most affected by this are dolphins and turtles, since the same tourists go to the beaches where they live and grab their eggs to take photos, something which is extremely serious, it can generate some type of malformation, problems in development, or even the death of the fetus. This itself adds one more threat to these reptiles apart from their main predators such as seagulls.
Apart from all this, they are poached in many regions of the world to be sold, which is completely illegal. Their majestic shells are often used as decorative pieces, and their meat or eggs are considered delicacies.
We can insinuate that the central premise of the whole problem is that the amount of damage done to the entire species is not measured, all because of rampant poaching, not to mention serious water pollution. These same reasons prevent the number of its population from recovering, on the contrary, it decreases much more every day.
Endangered species
There are a large number of subspecies of turtles, but there are nine specific species that are in serious danger of extinction, or quite vulnerable to becoming so. Right here you can find a list with the names of all these majestic species that, today, are unfortunately in danger:
- Chelonia mydas (Green Turtle)
- Lepidochelys kempii (bastard turtle or parrot)
- Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill sea turtle)
- Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback sea turtle)
- Caretta caretta (Loggerhead or Loggerhead Turtle)
- Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive Turtle or Olive Ridley)
- Cuora trifasciata (Striped Box Turtle)
- Apalone ater (Four Marsh Turtle)
- Rafetus swinhoei (Shanghai softshell turtle)
How to Help Endangered Turtles
In addition to this great list of turtles, there are other species that are also very vulnerable but not so much, specifically some species from the Mediterranean Sea. The majestic sea turtles are one of the oldest species on earth, they have inhabited the earth for more than 110 million years. According to many biologists, it is said that they survived the extinction of the dinosaurs, despite this, scientists wonder if they will survive the extinction of humans.
If all the coasts and the sea are in good condition, the turtles will have a much better chance of surviving. The vast majority of species of these sea turtles flock to the coasts around the entire Caribbean to lay their eggs. These reptiles not only do this, but they also tend to move through all the marine corridors and enjoy very large regions to be able to feed properly. Now you can see a detailed list of different things that can be done to favor this majestic endangered species:
- Avoid at all costs being a consumer of any product that comes from turtles, be it their meat or their beautiful shells that are used as decoration. Possessing either of these two things is completely illegal in most countries of the world and is due to constant poaching and illegal trafficking
- Take meticulous care of all the seas and oceans of the world, as well as the land areas where they live and the coasts of the beaches.
- Actively collaborate with all organizations that seek the protection of all these species and the preservation of the environment.
- Another great way is to notify or inform the relevant authorities of any type of illegal act that is done against the environment, and in this specific case, against turtles.
If you want to learn more about other animal species in the world, do not hesitate for a moment to continue reading these articles: