Turtles have survived for over 200 million years—but they may not survive the
next century without our help. Here's what threatens them and how we can act.
The Challenges
⚠️Six of the seven sea turtle species are threatened or endangered
⚠️Light pollution confuses hatchlings—they follow lights instead of the moonlit ocean
⚠️Plastic bags look like jellyfish to sea turtles, causing fatal ingestion
⚠️Climate change affects turtle sex ratios—warmer nests produce more females
⚠️One nest can produce 100+ eggs, but only 1 in 1,000 hatchlings reaches adulthood
⚠️Sea turtles have existed for over 100 million years—they survived the dinosaurs
⚠️Shrimp trawling is the largest cause of sea turtle deaths worldwide
⚠️Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in fishing nets save thousands of turtles yearly
⚠️Beach armoring and development destroys nesting habitat
⚠️Tortoise shell trade, though illegal, continues to threaten hawksbill populations
⚠️The illegal pet trade removes millions of turtles from the wild annually
⚠️Road mortality kills countless turtles during nesting migrations
How You Can Help
🐢Turn off beachfront lights during nesting season (May-October)
🐢Reduce single-use plastics, especially bags and straws
🐢Support marine protected areas and conservation organizations
🐢Fill in holes on beaches—hatchlings can get trapped
🐢Give turtles the right of way when driving near wetlands
🐢Never buy products made from turtle shell or turtle leather
🐢Report injured or stranded turtles to wildlife authorities