Turtles in Trouble

Table of Contents

Trouble Out At Sea

The Life of a Turtle

Against All Odds

How Pollution Affects Turtles

Oil Affects the Turtles, Too

Turtles Aren't Alone

How Can You Help Out?

Glossary

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Trouble Out At Sea

Sea turtles have been around since the late Jurassic period, which means they have coexisted with the dinosaurs and even out lived them. They have overcome many obstacles but now they are on the decline.

Humans have been destroying their habitat by dumping all our waste into the oceans. Now it's our responsibility to stop what we started and right our wrongs to ensure that an entire species doesn't go extinct. If they do, it will create a trophic cascade and that isn't a good thing for any creature, especially turtles.

The Life of a Turtle

It all starts with a clutch of between 50 and 200 eggs. The gender of those eggs is determined through the temperature of the nest. Not all of the eggs hatch but after about 60 days the remaining eggs hatch and the hatchlings the size of your palm crawl out of the nest and make a desperate dash for the water.

Along the way half of those babies get caught by seabirds, crabs, traps or any other dangers on the beach. Then when they make it to the water they might get eaten by sharks when looking for some where to hide or seabirds when they go for air. Half of those that make it to the water get eaten. Then they start to grow into adults.

With growth comes some protection but they aren't invincible. Because of plastics, oil, nets, long lines, beach development and poaching they are on the decline. Also turtles normally hatch at night and follow the natural light on the horizon to the water. But bright light from buildings such as houses confuse the young turtles and they head in the wrong direction.

Against All Odds

Here is something crazy to think about...

... a clutch of 1000 eggs is laid...

800 hatch...

400 make the dash to the water and survive.

200 survive the harsh waters and grow into strong adult turtles.

20 survive to breeding age without human interference.

BUT

Against all odds somehow 2 turtles manage to survive to breeding age with human interference.

This is a tragic loss all because civilization was careless and dumped waste into the water.

How Pollution Affects Turtles

Pollution is the introduction of some thing like a chemical or piece of trash that affects the local environment. Pollution is a big threat to all sorts of animals all over the world, including the sea turtle. An estimated 14 billion pounds of garbage ends up in the ocean every year. Over half of the sea turtle population left on Earth have ingested garbage in some form. 100,000 marine animals including the sea turtles die every year due to garbage.

Turtles often mistake plastic bags for something edible.

Floating bags usually resemble jellyfish which a turtle might try to eat for lunch.

Oil Affects the Turtles, Too

Oil is another major threat to the turtles as well as other species. Oil gets in the water in a number of ways, such as being dumped in the water by factories or from spills caused by offshore drilling rigs. One of the biggest oil spills in US history happened in the Gulf of Mexico on a drilling rig called the Deep Water Horizon. It was a devastating event to all sorts of wildlife. The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle would be more vulnerable to this than other animals because it is the most endangered species of sea turtle.

The fire on the Deep Water Horizon on April 20th, 2010.

The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle

Turtles Aren't Alone

Turtles aren't the only ones suffering. Entire ecosystems are also being affected by oil and plastics. We humans have been eating plastics too and don't even know it.

Over 1 million sea birds lose their lives to oil each year. Sea birds also eat plastic and about 66% of sea bird population has already ingested some form of plastic. In 2050 scientists estimate around 99% of sea birds will have ingested plastic.

Fish eat small plastics which is then carried up the food chain straight to the fish on your dinner plate. Even whales have been eating plastic. Whales who have passed away and end up on a beach have been found with their stomachs full of plastic.

Our oceans are being turned into a torture zone for animals that live there. Humanity's carelessness has destroyed the habitat that takes up around 76% of the earth surface. We need to put a stop to the pollution of our oceans.