Terrapin Tales: Secrets Of The Sea Turtle

The ocean may appear beautiful, but for the sea turtle, the reality is far from it. From leatherbacks to loggerheads, six out of the seven species of sea turtles face threats and endangerment due to human activities. Unfortunately, they encounter numerous perils during their ocean journeys, such as unintentional capture and entanglement in fishing gear (referred to as bycatch), the loss of their nesting and feeding areas due to coastal development, illegal poaching, and pollution in the oceans, including plastic waste. Added to this, recent studies have shown a dramatic effect of rising temperatures on the ability of turtles to reproduce.

These ancient creatures have existed on Earth for over 100 million years, surviving even the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. They confront challenges like entanglement, habitat destruction, and polluted oceans.

Sea turtle species exhibit a wide range of sizes, with Kemp's ridley being the smallest, measuring about 50-70 cm in length and weighing up to 40kg, while the leatherback can reach lengths of up to 180 cm and weigh a staggering 500 kg – these majestic giants are now under threat of extinction after more than 100 million years, all because of human activity in the last 100 years.

If we are to save the sea turtle, we must first understand them. Have you ever pondered the distinctions between a turtle and a tortoise? If humans had a better understanding of these creatures, then maybe we would be more concerned with protecting their ecosystem. Tortoises have shells that are rounder and more domed, whereas turtles possess thinner, more hydrodynamic shells. Turtle shells are streamlined to aid in swimming, whereas tortoises spend the majority of their time on land and are adapted for a terrestrial lifestyle.

The scientific word for turtle is Chelonioidea. There are many types of Chelonioidea, one example in particular is called the green sea turtle. These sea turtles are herbivores and only eat plants which gives them their color. Interestingly, it's not just their shell that is green but their body as well. 

Sea turtles make incredible migrations, with some species crossing entire ocean basins. So how do sea turtles navigate these long distances? Research shows that sea turtles can sense the strength and direction of the sun and Earth’s magnetic field, which gives them a sense of where they are in the world.

Females return to the same beach they hatched on, to lay their own eggs and bury them in sand ‘nests’.

Turtles may sometimes look as if they're crying - but they're actually getting rid of excess salt (from swallowing salty seawater) through a 'salt excretion gland' near the corner of their eye. The salt excreted from this gland can have a salt concentration twice that of seawater.

It's estimated that only around 1 in 1,000 marine turtle hatchlings make it to adulthood. This is down to the long time it takes for them to reach maturity and the many dangers faced by hatchlings and juveniles – from predators to marine plastics. 

So how can we ensure the future survival of these amazing ancient creatures? If we reduce marine debris that may entangle or be accidentally eaten by sea turtles we could reduce the number of deaths and increase the number of sea turtles that make it to reproductive adulthood. We can also participate in coastal clean-ups and reduce plastic use, particularly single use plastics to keep our beaches and ocean clean. 

The other key change that needs to be made is a familiar story for many animals on the edge of extinction. Climate change is the biggest threat to ecosystems and the single largest cause of animal extinctions in recent times. The only way to prevent sea temperature rises is to reduce burning fossil fuels. Until we can do that, the sea turtle is staring at certain extinction. 

If humanity keeps acting the way they do, littering and consuming finite energy, it is sure that these innocent creatures along with countless others go extinct.