Stay updated! Subscribe now to receive updates about the latest news and stories!
Status: Endangered
Population: ???
Habitat: Open waters and coasts
Description: Sea turtles are generally solitary creatures. Female sea turtles climb onto the shore to lay their eggs and newborn turtles follow the moonlight reflecting off of the water to get to the ocean. However, city lights sometimes confuse the young turtles, causing them to go in the wrong direction. About 1 in 1000 turtles survive to adulthood.
Pollution is a big threat to sea turtles. They can mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and nets can choke them. Polluted beaches can also prevent baby turtles from reaching the ocean.
Another threat to sea turtles is over harvesting. Many people eat turtle meat and turtle eggs.
Habitat loss is another threat to sea turtles. Sea turtles rely on beaches to lay their eggs. But traffic, building, and other things caused by humans have destroyed sea turtles' nesting grounds. Coral reefs and other places where sea turtles eat have also been destroyed by humans.
Climate change is another threat to sea turtles. The gender of sea turtles depend on the temperature, and with warmer temperatures than usual, less male turtles are hatching out of the eggs. Rising sea levels can also damage nests where eggs are, sending the eggs out to sea.
Sea turtles are important to the ocean ecosystems. They help to keep seagrass healthy.
You can help sea turtles by not using so much plastic (see plastic in the ocean for more), and spreading awareness!