
Sea turtles are ancient mariners, having existed for over 100 million years. They are a vital link in marine ecosystems, maintaining the health of seagrass beds and coral reefs. The seven species of sea turtles are the flatback, green, hawksbill, leatherback, loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, and olive ridley. While sea turtles are strong swimmers, they cannot fly. However, they sometimes need to be relocated to warmer waters and this is where aviation comes in. Organisations like 'Turtles Fly Too' partner with aviation authorities to relocate sea turtles and aid in their conservation.
What You'll Learn
Sea turtles need relocation help due to cold waters
Sea turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines and of the suborder Cryptodira. They are unable to retract their heads and limbs into their shells for protection, unlike other turtles and tortoises. They are also air-breathing reptiles, which means they regularly surface to breathe.
Sea turtles need warm waters to survive. During the summer, many sea turtles on the East Coast of the United States head north, but as winter arrives, they are sometimes unable to return to the warmer waters further south. This phenomenon is called "cold-stunning" and it causes the turtles to float to the surface, making it impossible for them to swim. Cold-stunning is often caused by a sudden drop in water temperature.
When sea turtles are stranded in cold waters, they need human intervention to relocate them to warmer environments. Turtles Fly Too is a non-profit organisation that helps relocate endangered sea turtles by air. They partner with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to educate people about the importance of aviation in rescuing endangered sea turtles. Volunteers and government organisations work together to arrange the relocation of sea turtles when needed.
In the United States, most strandings occur in Massachusetts, around Cape Cod, when the waters suddenly get cold. Volunteers walk the beaches looking for stranded turtles between October and January. When found, the turtles are taken to the New England Aquarium's Sea Turtle Center in Quincy, where they are stabilised. Once healthy, Turtles Fly Too helps find volunteer pilots to transport them to rescue centres in the south. After being released back into the sea, the turtles are able to continue their life cycle.
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Sea turtles are endangered and threatened
Sea turtles are one of the oldest species on the planet, having existed for around 100 million years. However, their survival is now threatened by human activities. Six out of the seven species of sea turtles are classified as threatened or endangered. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has identified five major hazards to sea turtles: fisheries, direct take, coastal development, pollution, and climate change.
Fisheries pose a significant threat to sea turtles, especially longlines, gill nets, and trawls. Sea turtles can become entangled in fishing gear, leading to injury or death. They may also ingest fishing hooks or other gear, causing internal damage. Additionally, the presence of fisheries can alter the food web and destroy the habitats of sea turtles.
Direct take refers to the killing of sea turtles and the collection of their eggs by humans for various purposes. Sea turtle meat and eggs are consumed as food in many parts of the world, and their parts are used in products such as oil, leather, and shells. This exploitation for international trade is detrimental to their populations.
Coastal development, including shoreline and seafloor alterations, nesting beach degradation, seafloor dredging, vessel traffic, construction, and vegetation changes, destroys and degrades sea turtle habitats. Light pollution from roads and buildings disorients hatchlings, leading them away from the sea, and the compacted sand from vehicle traffic makes it difficult for female turtles to dig nests.
Pollution, particularly plastic debris, discarded fishing gear, and petroleum by-products, can entangle sea turtles, causing drowning or impairing their ability to feed or swim. Additionally, the ingestion of plastic or other pollutants can lead to choking or internal damage. Chemical pollutants weaken their immune systems, making them more susceptible to diseases.
Climate change intensifies the challenges faced by sea turtles. It increases the frequency of extreme weather events, resulting in the loss of nesting beaches and alterations to critical habitats. Warmer sea surface temperatures can lead to the loss of important foraging grounds, and severe storms and sea-level rise can destroy nesting beaches and damage nests. Climate change also impacts the sex ratios of hatchlings, with unusually warm temperatures resulting in fewer male hatchlings.
While nations are collaborating to protect and conserve sea turtles, the combined impact of these human-induced threats endangers their long-term survival.
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Sea turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines
Turtles are ectotherms, or "cold-blooded", meaning their internal temperature varies with their direct environment. They are generally opportunistic omnivores and feed mainly on plants and animals with limited movements. Many turtles migrate short distances seasonally, but sea turtles are the only reptiles that migrate long distances to lay their eggs on a favoured beach.
Modern turtles are divided into two major groups: Pleurodira (side-necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden-necked turtles). These groups differ in the way the head retracts. In Pleurodira, the neck vertebrae flex laterally, allowing the neck to bend and pull the head in sideways. In Cryptodira, the neck vertebrae flex vertically, allowing the head to be drawn straight back within the shell.
Turtles have appeared in myths and folktales around the world. In Hindu mythology, the World Turtle, named Kurma or Kacchapa, supports four elephants on its back, which in turn carry the weight of the whole world on their backs. In Aesop's fable, "The Tortoise and the Hare", the slower partner wins an unequal race.
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Sea turtles are susceptible to drowning
Drowning is a leading cause of premature death in both captive and wild sea turtles. In captivity, drowning is often due to husbandry errors, such as loose rocks that trap the turtles underwater. In the wild, sea turtles face a higher risk of drowning due to human activities, such as entanglement in fishing nets or "ghost gear" (abandoned fishing equipment). This entanglement can deplete their oxygen stores rapidly, leading to drowning within minutes if they cannot break free and reach the surface.
Additionally, during mating, female sea turtles can drown if they become overly exhausted from carrying themselves and a male partner to the surface to breathe. This natural cause of drowning highlights the physical demands placed on female sea turtles during reproduction.
The signs of a drowning sea turtle include a comatose state, lack of reflexes, water in the lungs, and specific tissue alterations in the lung visible on radiographs. It is important to note that not all turtles die immediately after drowning, and some may have a chance of recovery if they receive prompt assistance.
To prevent drowning, it is crucial to address the human-caused factors that increase the risk for sea turtles. This includes implementing measures to reduce entanglement in fishing gear and nets, such as the use of Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) in crab traps. Conservation efforts are vital to mitigate these risks and ensure the long-term survival of sea turtle populations.
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Sea turtles are susceptible to ingesting plastic
One of the main reasons sea turtles ingest plastic is because they mistake it for their natural food. For example, they may confuse plastic bags or mylar balloons for jellyfish, one of their favourite foods. Sea turtles are also attracted to the smell of marine plastics, which is likely due to the organisms that latch onto plastic debris in the ocean. As a result, it is estimated that more than half of all sea turtles have eaten plastic.
Ingesting plastic can cause severe health issues for sea turtles. It can physically damage their intestines, lead to blockages, and create a false sense of fullness, making them sick or even leading to death. Additionally, sharp plastics can rupture their internal organs.
Young sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to ingesting plastic. During their early years, they float with ocean currents and live among flotsam, such as Sargassum mats, where plastic waste is also transported. This convergence puts them at a higher risk of encountering and ingesting plastic. Unfortunately, their developmental habitats are difficult to access, so there is limited understanding of how young turtles are impacted by plastic pollution.
The impact of plastic ingestion on sea turtles highlights the importance of reducing plastic pollution and properly disposing of waste. By making conscious choices, such as reducing the use of single-use plastics and disposing of waste in appropriate bins, individuals can play a crucial role in protecting sea turtles and ensuring their long-term survival.
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Frequently asked questions
No, sea turtles cannot fly. However, there is an organisation called "Turtles Fly Too" that helps relocate sea turtles by air.
Sea turtles are reptiles that need warm waters to survive. They can get stranded in cold areas and require assistance to be relocated to warmer waters.
Sea turtles can live anywhere from 50 to 100 years.
There are seven existing species of sea turtles: flatback, green, hawksbill, leatherback, loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, and olive ridley.