Turtles
Latest IUCN news on threats to species everywhere !
Cats, dogs, tigers and sharks, turtles, butterflies and beetles: take your pick. The danger is in every species we know becoming more and more uncommon. Habitat loss varies from wetland draining, damming and forest clearance to marine pollution, ice loss and mountain tourism. The IUCN at least keep us up-to-date on many animals and plants. Beware- you could be losing one of your local favourite species, and you never knew!
Corals need more spawning, not more light.
What a mess the oceans are becoming. Climate change and surface temperatures currently occupy our thoughts, alongside the acidification so drastically affecting reefs and molluscs. Light pollution on beaches has misled turtle egg-laying habits and now is proved to prevent corals from spawning in this paper. When we finally reduce carbon footprints, it is likely the sea can breathe easier, but human ecologies must soon recover their ethics as far as all of these neglected species are concerned.
Jumby hawksbills enjoy their beach
While plastic and chemicals destroys turtles at sea, the nesting sites are receiving much more care now to ensure the rarest species can still slowly reproduce. There are officially none more cared-for than Jumby Bay on an island off Antigua. The private island situation helps, but any extra aid has to count with all critically endangered species that we so often have to save from extinction.
Navigating the Atlantic as a giant turtle.
When we have learned of the sensory abilities of marine creatures such as the superb world traveller, the leatherback, perhaps then we will be able to both use new linked technology and understand the oceans better.
Hatching Giants on Galapagos!
The Galapagos tortoise is, along with one or two other island species, precious and almost mythical in its great size and long life. Now, we at last, we are conserving these interesting creatures properly, instead of letting them slowly die out, like Lonely George!
Turtle! Turn and migrate to the SE Pacific!
We worry and then worry again about our turtles, so any good news is welcome, even if one area of success is unlikely to help all the other species. The Olive Ridley turtle was found once in this study reminding us of all the life trials that these unlucky reptiles have to endure.
Green turtles need help
How to provide for indigenous and other peoples with a rare animal as a food source and sustain their diet? (As well as make sure we dont have another extinction on our hands). A scientific approach is required in the Caribbean, where little seems to be going well for some countries, while others conserve their fauna and flora to make large profits from tourism.
Jellies delicious for this fish
This little sea-bream is able to conveniently dispose of and control jellyfish populations, just as the big turtles can. The research involved has a lot of relevance to turtle conservation as well as the massive jellyfish blooms reported in Japan and other parts of the world.
Leatherback logging in the Atlantic
The study of marine turtles is linked with tagging of many other animals, but if we lose these leatherback giants of the seas, we will have lost a species that can relay how conditions millions of years ago influenced even bigger turtles and of course every other species that existed at the time.
Turtle conservators needed (we mean you)
Protected as they are by soft, hard or leathery shells, you would expect one of our most ancient vertebrates to be safer. But no. The turtles (and the tortoises) are among the most likely to disappear for ever, after 65 million years, at least, on earth. They need help, but quickly, just like many more iconic and obvious species.
IUCN Endangered List Latest
The wonder of a beautiful sea monster is never lost, but while some species like the great leatherback turtle have varying fortunes, many birds and others are in the process of disappearing for ever.
Superman releases turtle after plastic ingestion.
Yet again, the Hainan group of seaturtles911 get a recovered turtle into the sea, after she was found emaciated and hungry in the Pacific. Finally we get up-to-date with these busy conservationists.
Straight from the turtle's mouth
The golfing fraternity and sorority have joined forces with Seaturtles911 to put back a little of that we have taken, in the case of hawksbills and green turtles. Its about time that sport generally associated itself with clean water and pristine environment, without destroying any useful habitats for rare species.
Conservation and sport help turtles
New methods of promoting conservation are very much needed, as turtles approach extinction for some species. The golfers are among those who could easily give a lead in helping out endangered animals, or even those plants on the links!
Kemp's Ridley turtles saved by science?
Evidence is needed for the survival of many critically endangered animals when they disappear from our sight and reappear many years later in situations such as the open ocean or the dense tropical forests. Conservationists desperately need to know how they can be helped through their young stages and brought back from the brink of extinction.
Turtles turn to gelatinous prey
While loggerhead turtles have been investigated to try and find out how best to conserve this endangered species, new techniques with tiny data-collectors show video and positional information about their foraging.
Origins of turtle shells
The turtle is a fantastic design, unequalled among other vertebrates for its adaptable protective shell and its endurance through time. Here is a breakthrough paper that tells us just how the reptiles managed to produce such an endearing and successful creature.
Turtle hatchlings as robots?
Tiny hatchlings' flippers have been mimicked (but not mocked!) by an advanced robot that discovers all about their locomotory progress. Long may they swim with those remarkable limbs.
The Leatherback Strikes Back
In Puerto Rico, near one of the leatherback turtles nesting areas in the southern Caribbean and northern South America, the conservation battle has raged long and often.
Surfing by tortoises
Genetic surfing in tortoises. It's created among a population that is subject to many founding events and lots of genetic drift!
The Terrible Turtle Trade in Indonesia
The illegal trade in endangered freshwater turtles. The pig nosed turtle is unique, its facial features add to its desirability for 'so-called' enthusiasts.
Sea Turtles Dig the Dark
Artificial lighting kills thousands of sea turtles every year, it disorients newborn sea turtle hatchlings, which are trying to find their way to the sea. The The Sea Turtle Conservancy has highlighted this environmental issue and is implementing a program to educate people and address the problem.
The Last Remaining Sea Turtle Breeding Farm in the World
At one point in time the temperate oceans of the Caribbean were filled with billions of sea turtles. Not any more..
Marine Turtle Ingestion of Plastic Investigated
Plastic pollution continues to kill marine turtles around the world as they mistake plastic debris for prey. Turtles in Australia are making their own sad statement on reducing plastics in their marine environment.
The role of what we eat on turtle conservation
Fishing gear and methods such as longlines, trawls, gillnets and other types of gear catch sea turtles unintentionally, as bycatch. Sea turtles lives reflect the depths and mysteries of the ocean world - their survival is critical to the health of our oceans and environment.
Now climate change threatens turtles
Leatherback turtles have to dig through 80cm of sand after hatching on the beach. Hotter dryer conditions associated with changes in climate are making this increasingly difficult.
Threatened jaguars prey on endangered green turtles
Panthera onca versus Chelonia. Threatened jaguars preying on endangered green sea turtles and other marine turtles is giving conservationists a headache in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica.
The magnificent meanderings of Lightning McQueen
Sea turtles like Lightning McQueen have plenty of troubles to contend with, thanks to man's often thoughtless activities. But they also have allies, like the Sea Turtle Conservancy, the world's first turtle conservation group setup over 50 years ago. As well as conservation, education and research, the STC are also bringing the journeys of sea turtles to a video screen near you - thanks to satellite technology.
WCS pledges to protect endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises
The Wildlife Conservation Society says it plans to do all it can to protect some of the world's most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises.
Turtles are specialists at hearing underwater
The turtle is specialised more for hearing underwater, with a large middle ear. A new study shows just how specialised the middle ear of turtles can be for sound detection.
Lost Years of Leatherback Sea Turtle Hatchlings
Come back, Leatherback! When leatherback sea turtle hatchlings take off from their nests they enter the 'Lost Years' (from 0-10 years old). This period is important to us now that declining populations have forced us to adopt any conservation means at our disposal.
Loggerhead sea turtle habitat locations discovered in the Gulf of Mexico
Two new feeding 'hotspots' of the endangered loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) have been discovered by scientists using satellite tags to track their movements in the Gulf of Mexico.
Endangered green turtle migration mapped
Cruising the eastern Pacific is everyone's dream, but the green turtle, the only herbivore among the sea turtles, seems to have it made in one sense. The invaluable Gorgona National Park, not far from Galapagos, was used for the sampling of green turtles migration by snorkelling at night around the eastern reefs.
Khaki Army to protest against dugong and sea turtle killing
A protest organised by Earthrace Conservation UK will take place in London later this week against the killing of dugongs and sea turtles in Australia.
'Extinct' giant Floreana tortoise may be alive, say scientists
DNA tests suggest the giant Floreana tortoise, which has been thought to be extinct for 150 years, may be alive on Wolf Volcano in the Galapagos Islands.
Sharks and marine turtles in trouble around the world
New research indicates that sharks and marine turtles are in trouble around the globe. Scientists offer some new insights into possible methods for reversing these trends. Pressures on marine environments - from rising sea temperatures and overfishing to pollution and oils spills - is taking an increasingly heavy toll on a variety of marine species including turtles and sharks.
Some loggerhead turtle populations downgraded to endangered status
Loggerhead turtle populations across the globe have been divided into nine distinct populations, with more than half downgraded from threatened to endangered status under the United States Endangered Species Act.
Holidaymakers can help conserve leatherback turtles
Keep your eyes peeled for the leatherback turtle this month in the UK, says the Marine Conservation Council - and let them know about your sightings. These monstrous paddlers are most common in the UK's waters at this time of year, as they follow the jellyfish swarms northwards.
DNA tests unravel a tricky tortoise mystery
Just how many species of desert tortoises are there? For 150 years since the species' discovery, it was believed that the desert tortoise is one species. However, evidence has been mounting that desert tortoises should in fact be two separate species.
Celebrating Turtles: World Turtle Day 2011
Celebrating turtles! Sponsored by American Tortoise Rescue since 2000, World Turtle Day 2011 aims to increase our knowledge of, and respect for, turtles and tortoises. It also aims to encourage human actions to help turtles and tortoises survive and thrive.
Africa's sea turtles need extra protection
Existing protected areas are inadequate in safeguarding turtles from fishing nets, a new study has found. This is the first comprehensive tracking study of olive ridley turtles during the nesting season, using satellite transmitters to follow 18 female turtles.
China and U.S. announce fisheries and climate change deals
The world's two largest economies have announced cooperation on fisheries and greenhouse gases. They hope to stop unregulated fish stocks from going on sale, monitor the management of threatened species and to reduce the toll of protected marine animals like sea turtles.
WSC wades in to stop US bog turtle decline
Bog turtles, tiny fen-dwelling reptiles found at scattered sites in the north-east and eastern US, are being hit by a mysterious decline in numbers. Now the Wildlife Conservation Society (WSC) has partnered with other wildlife agencies to track the scope of the problem, and try and find out why North America's smallest turtle is coming under renewed threat.
Ile aux Aigrettes rewilding experiment reports success
Researchers at the University of Bristol's School of Biological Sciences report that after ten years, introduced tortoises served as ''effective seed dispersers'' for regrowing an endangered tree species in Mauritius' Ile aux Aigrettes nature reserve. Beginning in 2000, 18 adult and sub adult Giant Aldabran Tortoises were brought to the island of Ile aux Aigrettes in an effort to save and regrow the island's endangered ebony forest
Loggerhead turtles 'on the move' pick up more pollution
In a first for conservationists seeking to help the beleaguered loggerhead sea turtle, scientists making use of satellite transmitters have been able to accurately track how the turtle's movements expose them to a range of man-made chemicals. And it seems that those turtles that are Floridan stay-at-homes fare better than those ranging along the eastern US seaboard.
Marine life under threat because of our dependence on plastic
Plastic is flooding the world's oceans, damaging sea-life. The stomach contents of a young sea-turtle found dead off the Argentinian coast were examined by scientists. It was found to contain hundreds of small pieces of plastic detritus. More than half of the 90 sea-turtles found dead of the coast of Brazil were found with similar shards of plastic in their guts or faeces.
Loggerhead turtle migration mystery solved
Geomagnetic cues help young loggerhead turtles navigate the open ocean during their epic 8,000 mile journey between leaving their natal beaches in Florida, and returning 5-10 years later to breed. Researchers have just worked out how they do it. The loggerhead's secret is to use both the angle, or inclination; and the strength of the earth's magnetic field to deliver enough information to determine its exact position on the planet both east-west and north-south.
Danger signals for the future of turtles
Human intervention is causing a serious decline in the world turtle population. 2011 has been designated 'The Year of the Turtle' by Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC). Turtles are currently disappearing from the planet faster than any other kind of animal and although they have been around for about 220 million years.
2011: The Year of the Turtle, for conservationists at least
Conservationists around the world have pledged to make 2001 the Year of the Turtle and bring some of the world's oldest species back from the brink of extinction. While for the Chinese 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, for an international group of conservationists it is the Year of the Turtle. For, after some 220 million years of being on the planet, around half of all species are now under threat from a range of man-made problems
Scientists track leatherback turtle travels for the first time
Satellite tracking technology has helped British scientists map the route taken by female leatherhead turtles for the first time. The marked decline seen in global populations of leatherback turtles can be partly attributed to the fact that their annual migratory routes force the animals to run the gauntlet of long-line fishing boats in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Save sharks and sea turtles but not bluefin tuna says fishing industry
A recent international meeting in Paris has agreed to increase global protection for sharks and sea turtles; but the bluefin tuna appears to have lost out. Representatives from 48 nations recently met to discuss the fate of fishing quotas in the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas.
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