Marine Turtles Blog about Endangered Animals from Animal Friends Pet Insurance

Marine Turtles

In the past century the marine turtle population has declined drastically. Ethical pet insurance customers will no doubt be aware that marine turtles used to be abundant in both temperate and tropical waters, but today hunting and marine pollution are killing off many of these amazing creatures, making their numbers alarmingly low.

The marine turtle population will take a long time to recover from such decimation because turtles are slow to reproduce. A female turtle will lay hundreds of eggs, but only a few, if any, will survive long enough to become an adult.

Turtles are mysterious ancient reptiles that have basically remained unchanged for over 200 million years. They may look slow when they walk on land, but in water they are agile and fast. There are five species that can be found in tropical and subtropical waters. The males stay at sea all their lives and the female only goes on land to lay her eggs.

Turtles have a very long lifespan of about 70 years and they mature around 30 years of age. The female will go to shore to lay here eggs after mating. She makes a nest by digging with her hind legs and then she lays about 100 eggs. The eggs hatch in 60 days and the hatchling head straight for the horizon and swim out to sea.

Turtles are solitary creatures and usually are only seen together during courtship and mating. They have streamlined bodies and long spread out flippers for swimming. Their hard shells protect them against predators.

The Born Free Organization is doing their part to help protect sea turtles. They have joined forces with Sea Sense and they are supporting their efforts in habitat conservation and nest protection. Marine turtles are a dying breed due to hunting, pollution and the destruction of their habitat. To help save the turtles and other endangered species we all need to become more aware of the impact that we have on our environment.