This document discusses 7 species of sea turtles and the threats they face from human activity. It provides details on the appearance and characteristics of each species. The main threats are over-harvesting of eggs and meat, hunting for luxury items, and accidental killing from fishing nets and plastic debris. Conservation efforts include using Turtle Excluder Devices in shrimp nets, establishing protected nesting areas, promoting sustainable tourism, and advocacy work by organizations like the World Wildlife Foundation and Sea Turtle Conservancy.

1. By~B. Craven

2. Sea Turtles:
 Seven different species
 Their impact on humankind
 What is causing their extinction?
 What is being done to prevent further extinction?...

3. The Green Sea
Turtle
The Green Sea Turtle is one of
the largest and most widespread
of all marine turtles.
The oval carapace varies from
olive to brown, grey and black
with bold streaks and blotches,
but the common name Green
Turtle is derived from the green
color of the fat and connective
tissues of this species.
Males are generally smaller than
females and the green turtle
differs in appearance from other
marine turtles by the possession
of a single pair of scales in front
of the eyes and a serrated bottom
jaw.

4. Hawksbill Sea
Turtle
The critically endangered
Hawksbill turtle has been
exploited for thousands of years
as the sole source of commercial
tortoiseshell.
The beautiful carapace is
generally streaked and marble
with amber, yellow, or brown
and often has a strongly serrated
edge.
The strongly hooked beak on the
narrow head gives rise to the
Hawksbill turtle’s common
name. Unlike other marine
turtles, the scales (scutes) of the
Hawksbill turtle’s carapace are
imbricate, or overlapping.

5. Flatback Sea Turtle
The Flatback Sea turtle is
distinguished by its restricted
distribution and its very flat
carapace.
The fleshly carapace, which is
composed of thin, bony scales,
has an upwards turned rim,
particularly toward the rear.
The Flatback Turtle has one of
the most restricted ranges of any
marine turtle, it is found only in
the tropical waters of northern
Australia, and Papua New
Guinea, and only nests in
Australia.

6. Loggerhead Sea
Turtle
The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is
the most migratory of the marine
turtles, with individuals known
to cross the Atlantic, and Pacific
oceans.
Their name comes from its large
head, that contains very
powerful jaws.
Loggerhead Sea Turtles are the
most common sea turtle found in
the Mediterranean, and western
North Atlantic Ocean.

7. Kemp’s Ridley Sea
Turtle
This turtle is the world’s most
endangered sea turtle, with a
worldwide female nesting
population of a roughly
estimated 1,000 individuals.
Their slow decline has been
caused by the over-harvesting of
their eggs over the past century
and have not been able to
rebound.
They are also one of the smallest
sea turtles.

8. Olive Ridley Sea
Turtle
The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle is the
smallest of the sea turtles, only 50-
75cm.
The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle can be
distinguished from the closely
related Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle by
having more than 5 bony plates, or
scutes, running the length of the
carapace; Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles
only have 5.
This type of Sea Turtle is mostly
known for its nesting habits. An
arribada occurs while nesting,
which is the congregating of many
thousands of females on the same
beach at the same time.

9. Leatherback Sea
Turtle
(Dermochelyidae
Family)
The Leatherback Sea Turtle is
the largest of all living turtles,
145 to 160 in length.
The Leatherback Sea Turtle has
no visible shell. The shell is
present but it consists of bones
that are buried into its skin.
The Leatherback Sea Turtle also
feed in waters much colder then
other marine turtles can handle.
They have a network of blood
vessels that work as a counter-
current heat exchanger; a thick
insulating layer of oils and fats
in their skin, and are able to
maintain body temperatures
much higher than their
surroundings.

10. The Basics about
Sea Turtles:
Anaerobic system of Respiration.
Most Sea Turtles have a life
expectancy of 80 years, but can
live much longer.
Sand temperature determines the
gender of the baby hatchlings.
Lighter sands maintain higher
temperatures, which decreases
incubation time and results in
more female hatchlings.
Just behind each eye is a salt
gland. The salt glands help sea
turtles to maintain a healthy
water balance by shedding large
“tears” of excess salt.

11. The Importance of Sea Turtles to
Humankind
 The Moche people of  Sea Turtles, especially
ancient Peru worshipped Green Sea Turtles, are
the sea and its animals. one of the few animals
They often depicted sea that eat sea grass.
turtles in their art.
 Sea Turtles enjoy  They help keep dunes
immunity from the sting and beaches from
of the deadly box jellyfish, becoming eroded with
and regularly eat them, the nutrients gained
helping to keep tropical from baby hatchlings.
beaches safe for humans.

12. Continued…
Sea Turtles also serve
entertainment purposes such as
in the movie Finding Nemo.
In Finding Nemo we are
introduced to an 150 year old
Eastern Pacific Green Turtle
named Crush.
The popularity of this character
has resulted in the Disney theme
parks to create an exhibit called:
Turtle Talk with Crush.
Turtle Talk with Crush

13. The Slow Extinction of Sea Turtles
 (Natural Occurrences)- Natural threats are common in
the animal kingdom. Sea Gulls, and crabs are the main
surface predators for young hatchlings. Once the
hatchlings reach water, Tiger Sharks and other marine
life become the predators. Once the hatchlings reach
maturity, they are immune to predator attacks, and
instead are killed-off by the actions of humans.

14. Food Source:
 Although Sea Turtles have spiritual or mythological
importance in many cultures around the world, this
has not prevented humans from consuming their eggs
or meat.
 In many coastal communities, especially in Central
America and Asia, sea turtles have provided a source of
food. During the nesting season, turtle hunters comb
the beaches at night looking for nesting females.
 Often, they will wait until the female has deposited
her eggs to kill her. Then, they take both the eggs and
meat.

15. Luxury Items:
 Hawksbill sea turtles, recognized for their beautiful gold
and brown shells, have been hunted for centuries to create
jewelry and other luxury items. As a result, these turtles
are now listed as critically endangered.
 Scientists estimate that Hawksbill populations have
declined by 90% during the past 100 years. While illegal
trade is the primary cause of this decline, the demand for
shells continues today on the black market.
 The lack of information about sea turtles leads many
tourists to unwittingly support the international trade in
these endangered species.

16. Debris:
 It is estimated that more than 100 million marine
animals are killed each year due to plastic debris in the
ocean. More than 80% of this plastic comes from land.
 The plastic washes out from our beaches and streets. It
travels through storm drains into streams and rivers. It
flies away from landfills into our seas.
 As a result, thousands of sea turtles accidentally
swallow these plastics, mistaking them for food.
Leatherbacks especially, cannot distinguish between
floating jellyfish, a main component of their diet, and
floating plastic bags.

17. Continued:
 Besides the causes mentioned, these too cause sea
turtle extinction: Commercial Fishing, Artificial
Lighting, Coastal Armoring, Beach Dredging, Climate
change, and marine pollution such as oil spills.

18. What is being done to prevent
further sea turtle extinction?
 TED’s- Turtle Excluder Devices have reduced sea turtle
bycatch in shrimp nets by 97%. The use of the devices ideally
allow all bycatch larger than ten centimeters to escape the nets
unharmed.
 This selectivity is achieved by metal grids integrated into the
trawl net structure. The grids act as a barrier for large
creatures such as turtles from passing through the bars into the
back of the net.
 A small opening in the net is then available either above or
below the grid so that creatures that are stopped by the TEDs
are allowed to escape the net, relatively unharmed. Targeted
species such as shrimp however, are pushed to the back of the
net.

19. Continued…:
 Besides TEDs simple things such as recycling, and if
you live near coastal lines to turn off outdoor lights
from May 1st to October 31st (the mating season)
 Along with these simple solutions, sea turtle
conservation is another way to help the decline.
 Three companies in particular are helping to conserve
sea turtles: The WWF, the STC, and Disney.

20. The World Wildlife
Foundation (WWF)
Conservation Efforts to Protect Promoting regional and international agreements to
turtles: Effective conservation conserve marine turtles.
requires protection at all stages Lobbying for turtle-friendly fishing practices, such as the
of the life Cycle. The WWF is use of TEDs in nets.
working around the world to Halting the illegal trade of turtle meat and eggs, through
conserve marine turtles by: TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network
Establishing and strengthening created by WWF and IUCN.
protected areas around nesting
beaches.
Raising awareness and
promoting ecotourism at marine
turtle sites, so that local
communities become involved in
and benefit from protecting
turtles and their nests.

21. The Sea Turtle
Conservancy (STC)
Through sea turtle research, Habitat Protection: The Sea Turtle Conservancy program
conservation and advocacy, STC work to enact protective laws to establish sanctuaries for
sea turtles. Through environmentally-sound tourism,
is addressing the threats to sea
visitors experience nature without harming it, and
turtles and the natural habitats enhance the economies of local communities.
upon which they depend.
Advocacy: The STC monitors numerous state, national, and
international issues affecting marine turtles. As issues
One can chose to make a small arise that pose a threat to turtles, their experts intervene
donation of $25 to become a with appropriate direct action.
member of STC and will ensure Research: Over four decades of scientific study sponsored by
sea turtles are swimming free in the STC has generated essential data about endangered
oceans for future generations. species and their habitats and has advanced the world’s
understanding of the ancient and enigmatic sea turtle.
Education: The STC works with members, coastal residents,
With the donated money, STC conservationists, and governments to increase awareness
helps fund many programs… about sea turtles and the threats facing them. Education
is the first step toward effective and long lasting
protection of endangered species.

22. Disney
Lastly, Disney is helping to
conserve sea turtles by making Surprisingly, very little information is known about the
efforts at tracking sea turtles. movement patterns of juvenile sea turtles. Once
hatchlings leave the nesting beach, it is very difficult for
The Walt Disney World Animal scientists to document where these turtles spend their
Programs team has been involved time. However, recent advances in technology have made
in sea turtle rehabilitation for
many years. To date, the Seas team it possible to learn more about the habitats of juvenile
has cared for and released more sea turtles. Telonics, Inc., a manufacture of telemetry
than 200 turtles. Most of the turtles devices for monitoring wildlife, has produced a satellite
that find their way to Walt Disney
World are animals that have been transmitter that is now small enough to be carried by
rescued by various organizations juvenile sea turtles. In collaboration with the Archie
and come to them with medical Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research at the University of
challenges. A majority of the
turtles suffer physiological Florida, the Seas and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we are
problems attributed to extended testing the first satellite transmitters for use on juvenile
periods of time in cold water. sea turtles that measure approximately 30-40cm.
These cold stunned turtles are
rescued, rehabilitated at the Seas,
and than released under the
supervision of the Florida Fish Sea Turtle Tracking
and Wildlife Conservation
Commission.

23. Conclusion:
 If anyone would like further information about sea
turtles, or how to do your part in saving this beautiful and
majestic creature visit the following websites…
 www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/marineturtles/marine
turtles.html
 www.conserveturtles.org/stctmp.php
 www.tourdeturtles.org/2011/sponsors.php