Download 10 facts about green turtles

Kelly Harrison
Sea Disc
11/14/12
10 Statistics about Green Turtle
1. “For more than 100 million years marine turtles have covered vast distances across the
world's oceans, performing a vital and integral role in marine and coastal ecosystems.
Over the last 200 years human activities have tipped the scales against the survival of
these ancient mariners. Urgent global action is needed to ensure their future.” (Marine
Turtles, 2012)
2. “Three of the seven existing species of marine turtle are critically endangered. All 7
species of marine turtles are listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). 3 are classified as
critically endangered by IUCN and a further 3 are classified as endangered.” (Marine
Turtles, 2012)
3. “Researchers estimate that each year poachers take 30,000 green turtles in Baja
California and that more than 50,000 marine turtles are killed in Southeast Asia and the
South Pacific.” (Marine Turtles, 2012)
4. “In a 2004 Green Turtle Assessment , the Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) of the
IUCN classified green turtles as endangered globally. Analyses of historic and recent
abundance information by the MTSG indicates that extensive population declines have
occurred in all major ocean basins over approximately the past 100-150 years. The
MTSG analyzed population trends at 32 index nesting sites around the world and found a
48-65% decline in the number of mature females nesting annually over the past 100-150
years.” (Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas, 2012)
5. “Green turtles are widely harvested for meat in many tropical countries. An estimated
100,000 are killed in the Indo-Australian archipelago each year.” (Green Turtle, 2012)
6. “In some areas, of green turtles suffering from debilitating and potentially lethal tumours.
The cause of these tumours is unknown but there is suspicion that increasing chemical
pollution levels might make turtles more vulnerable.” (Green Turtle, 2012)
7. “Green turtle consumption in Bali peaked in the late 1970s when more than 30,000 green
turtles were landed each year. In 2002, landings were estimated at 684 green turtles per
month.” (Green Turtle, 2012)
8. “On some of the Hawaiian Islands, almost 70% of stranded green turtles are affected by
fibropapillomas, a tumorous disease that can kill marine turtles. While the cause of the
tumours has not yet been discovered, a herpes-like virus that causes similar tumours has
been identified in the wild.” (Green Turtle, 2012)
9. “Green turtles consume large quantities of seagrass. Studies in Caribbean waters indicate
that seagrass may support as much as 10,000,000 kg of Green turtles per square
kilometer. Grazing by green turtles has significant effects on the structure and nutrient
cycling in these systems (Eckert).” (Green Sea Turtles Chelonia Mydas, 2012)
“In many places in the world, development has destroyed the green sea turtles' nesting
beaches. Fortunately, in Hawaii more than 90% of the nesting activity takes place far
from highly populated main islands. Hawaiian green turtles navigate up to 800 miles to
nest at a group of small atolls (low islets) called French Frigate Shoals.”(Why Are Sea
Turtles So Special, 2012)