Conservationists are celebrating because efforts to protect sea turtles have helped increase their population. Scientists have been studying sea turtle numbers around the world to learn how human activities impact them. A recent study conducted by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Marine Turtle Specialist Group reveals that decades of ongoing conservation efforts have improved the status of the majority of marine turtle populations worldwide. Sea turtles face many threats, including ocean pollution and rising sea temperatures. However, in areas where protection projects have been put in place, sea turtle populations are growing. Still, not all sea turtle species are thriving, and experts say it is important to continue these conservation efforts.
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Published in Endangered Species Research, the study titled “Updated Global Conservation Status and Priorities for Marine Turtles” reviewed 48 sea turtle populations across six species worldwide. Over several years, nearly 150 experts from the Marine Turtle Specialist Group, representing 50 countries, came together to evaluate the risks, threats, and conservation needs of these turtles. Surprisingly, the results show that threats to most sea turtle populations have decreased. Now, over 40% of sea turtle groups are considered low risk-low threat, compared to only 23% in 2011. This is a hopeful sign that conservation efforts are working well in many areas. Even though there is still work to do, scientists say this is a real conservation success story.
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Did you know ?
- Sea turtles have been around since the time of the dinosaurs- over 100 million years!
- There are seven different species of sea turtles, and all of them are either endangered or threatened.
- Sea turtles eat jellyfish, seaweed, crabs, and even sponges.
- The largest sea turtle, the leather back, can weigh as much as a small car!
- May 23 is celebrated as World Turtle Day.
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