Sea turtles are also called marine turtles. They are one of the world’s most ancient creatures and are found in the tropical and subtropical seas through out the world. There are about seven types of living species of turtles in the world. There can be differentiated by their anatomy, leather back is the only sea turtle species that do not have a hard shell. It is also the largest turtle measuring about 6 to 7 feet long 3 to 5 feet in width and weighs an amazing 1300 pounds, that’s about 590 kilograms. The other turtles are smaller and narrower measuring about 2 to 4 feet in length. Turtles’ streamlined bodies and huge flippers make them great sea adopters. Although turtles are always submerged in the water, they are actually air breathing creatures. Turtle’s surface to breathe and can take in a single huge inhalation as their lungs have adopted to take in rapid oxygen exchange. Turtles have eardrums covered in skin and they do not have visible ears. Amazingly their sense of smell is great and they hear well in low frequencies. They have great vision while they are under water are shortsighted when out of the water. Sea turtles feed on plants and other animals. They are mostly omnivorous, with the exception of the green turtle which is herbivorous in nature. The leatherback feeds on jelly fish which means in controlling the population in jelly fish.
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10. Stop Using Chemicals.
Photo Source: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/doing-good-science/tag/chemistry/
Chemicals are dangerous, even the seemingly mild ones have a compound that can be very fatal. If the chemical sweep in to the seas, they may lead to death of sea plants and sea animals including sea turtles. Ensure that you dispose off waste and chemicals in the right way. Take care of the environment and all that is in it by using natural products and if one has to use chemicals, dispose them well.
9. Be a Volunteer
Photo Source: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/8/7/161811/0644/travel/Volunteer+Travel%3A+Save+the+Turtles+in+Coast+Rica
There are many ways you can help save and preserve sea turtle as a volunteer. This can be as simple as gathering friends to clean up the beaches, collecting all wastes and disposing them in the right way. This is also a great way to give up to the community and environment. You can write an essay or project about sea turtle and share with your school or community and urge them to join in the work.
8. Avoid Nesting and Hatching them
Photo Source: http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/seaturtle/sthatch.html
As much as we might be tempted to touch the cute creatures, it is important to give them their space especially when they are nesting. Keep of the nesting areas and ask others to do the same. Females especially when they are nesting might get scared and in the process of protecting themselves and the eggs they might step on the eggs and ruin them. Also avoid stepping on the hatchlings as they head back to the sea.
7. Stay Alert When Boating
Photo Source: http://www.kctv5.com/story/19445463/troopers-ask-boaters-to-stay-alert-even-as-summer-boating-season-ends
Be careful when you are out boat riding. Turtles love to float on water and relax or even come up to the surface for a breath. Avoid accidents and collusion with sea turtles that might lead to their death. Just watch out, be careful and watch out for the sea grass beds to protect the habitats. Avoid running in the sea grass and reefs that act resting places for turtles.
6. Dispose your Garbage Properly
Photo Source: http://thegreenleaf.staradvertiserblogs.com/2011/10/
Plastics and other garbage through in the sea can be fatal for sea turtles. Their might mistake plastics for food resulting to rather injury or death. Fishing nets and things like plastic bags may also lead to suffocation especially for small turtles. Avoid dumping garbage in the sea or in beaches that are then sleep away by the current back into the water.
5. Keep beaches clean
It is our responsibility as human being to take care of our environment for a better tomorrow. Ensure that when you are out on the beach you do not leave trash lying around. Most of trashes in the beaches are often sweep away by the current back in to the water and in to the sea. Collect your litter and any other litter near you before you leave the beach and dispose it correctly.
4. Rescue and Rehabilitate
There are people and organizations that are dedicated to taking care of turtles especially the injured turtles. These groups are doing a great work in preserving their lives and taking care of the future. Some of the groups are the Mote Marine Laboratory which is found in Sarasota, Florida, there is also the Marine Mammal Center found in Northern California, also the Clear Water Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida, and the Sea Turtle Inc. organization in South Padre Island, Texas. With all this organizations we need to help them protect turtles as they can’t do it alone.
3. Protect their Habitation
Photo Source: http://bluelivingideas.com/2013/01/10/conservation-groups-file-lawsuit-to-protect-loggerhead-sea-turtle-habitat/
Turtles always return to the same beaches to nest so it is important to preserve those habitations. Protecting turtle’s habitants starts with protecting their nests. In some beaches there has been great support with police and beach controls putting fences around the turtles’ nurseries. This is to prevent disruptions from people who are in high risk of stepping on them or disputing them. The fish and wildlife service is said to have put a fence around the creatures’ nests in the beach about 739 miles protecting about 84% of turtles nesting in the area. This is a great move and hope people can join and put an effort to protecting their habitation.
2. Don’t Eat Sea Turtles
Photo Source: http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Hawksbill-Sea-Turtle-Eretmochelys-Imbricata-Eating-Soft-Corals-Posters_i6016489_.htm
There are campaigns launched against eating and buying eggs and turtle meat. This will help reduce the black market for this commodity. Public figures like Dorismar, Los Tigres del Norte and Maná are on the top list to defending and preserving turtle lives. Turtles have a spiritual significance in some cultures in the world, although this has not prevented the precious animals to be consumed. Some Catholics do not consider turtle as meat thus choose to consume it especially during rent time. This has led to the some conservative organizations writing to the pope asking him to intervene and pronounce turtles as meat to avoid Catholics and other people from eating them. In some countries like Asia and South America, turtles are regarded as a major food delicacy. We need to educate people on turtles and their preservation, about their nesting. The government needs to impose strict measures regarding consumption of turtles.
1. Lighting Restrictions
Photo Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/newsimage/sea-turtles-dig-dark-11-Mar-135.jpg
Turtles are shortsighted outside the water into the land. The artificial lighting confuses them as they use the natural lighting from the sun and moon to find their way back into the sea or water. The artificial lighting might confuse them and lead them back in to the land instead of the sea leading to death or getting lost. If you live near a beach or sea reducing your lights will help in preserving and shielding the turtles. Reducing or dimming the bench lights especially during the nesting period will do an extra mile. Also avoid camp fires that attract turtles. Let’s take initiative and find ways we can preserve sea turtles.