Sea turtles have been around for more than 100 million years. They managed to survive the Earth’s marine and terrestrial changes. But if the modern-day humans are not careful, these species would not survive the next few generations.
Unless everybody does something, the children of tomorrow will only be able to look at sea turtles on videos, photos, and history books. However, you can do your small part by purchasing animal hats from brands that support wildlife conservation.
But why should you care about sea turtles anyway?
There are seven species of sea turtles:
- Leatherback
- Green Turtle
- Loggerhead
- Hawksbill
- Olive Ridley
- Flatback
- Kemp’s Ridley
Of the species, the Hawksbill and Kemp’s Ridley are listed as critically endangered. The others are classified as vulnerable, while there is no sufficient data for the flatback to make any kind of conclusion.
What is Critically Endangered?
When you say critically endangered, the species is on the path to extinction. Several factors need to be present to classify a species as endangered:
- The habitat is limited to one location
- The decline of habitat and the number of the adult population
- The decrease in the population of at least 25% covering three generations or 10 years, whichever comes first
- The population of mature individuals is less than 50 heads
There are more factors to consider, of course. The species may stay under critically endangered for a while before scientists elevate the classification as “extinct in the wild,” and finally, “extinct.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature defines vulnerable as a situation where the species is likely to become critically endangered without any intervention.
The Cost of Saving a Species
However, saving a species is not going to be cheap.
According to The Scientist, the cost of saving the world’s most at-risk species reaches $76 billion annually.
Everybody should do their part for the conservation of the species. You do not have to make a grand gesture. You can buy things like animal hats since a portion of the proceeds will go to Oceana.org, a non-profit that works for the protection of marine life and habitat.
The next problem is which of the species should be prioritized considering that fundraisers and donations are nowhere near the $76 billion needed every year. You have to set priorities to maximize the value of the raised funds.
For example, in the United States, the species that received the most help is the bald eagle. Other countries have flagship animals that they help first to the detriment of others.
So, Why Are Sea Turtles Important?
Sea turtles are vital to marine biodiversity. They have a significant role to play for healthy oceans.
For instance, the primary diet of green sea turtles is seagrass, which sits on the ocean bed. They are the breeding grounds for crustaceans, shellfish, and other fish species. Think of the seagrass as your lawn grass. You need to cut it short for a healthy lawn. In recent years, marine biologists have noted the decline in seagrass.
Meanwhile, loggerheads play a significant role in promoting a healthy ecosystem on the ocean floor. They use their jaws to crush the hard shells, thereby accelerating their disintegration rate. These crushed shells provide nutrients to the ocean floor, which are then eaten by small fish to help them grow.
This is a collaborative post.