Monday, 20 July 2009
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Animal Fact
Only one out of a thousand baby sea turtles survives after hatching. In nature, once they emerge, hatchlings make bite-sized meals for birds, crabs and a host of predators in the ocean. These natural threats, however, are not the reasons sea turtle populations have plummeted toward extinction. To understand what really threatens sea turtle survival, we must look at the actions of humans. In many cultures around the world, people still harvest sea turtle eggs for consumption. Most countries forbid the taking of eggs, but enforcement is lax, poaching is rampant, and the eggs can often be found for sale in local markets. In these same areas, adult sea turtles are harvested for their meat. Turtle products, such as jewelry made from hawksbill shells, also create a direct threat to sea turtles.
