Dangers to the Sea Turtle

Dangers in the sea for the adult Sea Turtles

The sea Turtle is a unique, gentle and amazing sea creature which is also a reptile and is considered to be a jewel of the ocean. But this ancient sea reptile is in the danger of becoming extinct. In the land, Sea Turtles are hunted by humans for its meat, oil and leather, so they need to be cared and protected. Now an adult sea turtles live up to the age of forty years old. And even during their life time they have to face and overcome so many dangers to survive.

The first real danger for the sea turtles comes from the sea itself. When the ocean gets polluted it creates a great problem to the sea turtles because when they live in the contaminated sea water their health gets affected. And when the sea turtles try to survive in this polluted water they are affected by so many different kinds of diseases which kill the animal brutally. The pollution in the ocean contaminates the aquatic plants thus creating a danger to the food on which the sea turtles survive.

Now what makes the ocean polluted? There are so many factors that pollute the oceans, like the toxic metals which get dumped into the sea affect the eyes, kidneys and lungs of the sea turtles. And the major factor that contributes the pollution is the oil spill. When oil is spilled from the factories or urban machineries in to the ocean many hazardous chemicals are also being mixed in to the ocean which is dangerous for the turtles. Fertilizers from the farm that run into the ocean also pollute the sea and the chemicals from them mix with the water and causes pollution. Eutrophication is another important factor in oceanic pollution. Another big danger is the disease known as Fibropapilloma which creates tumours in the shape of cauliflower over the body of the sea turtles, first in the external parts which later spreads, also to the organs inside affecting them and thus killing the turtle.

Plastic is also another form of danger to the sea turtles. Any form of plastics from bags, bottles balloons, etc when they are thrown into the ocean, being non biodegradable becomes a health hazard when the sea turtle tries to eat them.

Many methods of solutions are being reviewed and discussed to avoid the marine pollution and protect these creatures. People should be educated on the facts about the dangers of spilling oil and fertilizer chemicals into the oceans, to buy organically prepared food, etc. Each of us needs to understand the importance of the riches of the ocean and help protect its jewel the Sea Turtle!

Dangers to the nesting sea turtles on the beach

Sea turtles are wonderful ocean reptiles surviving in this world for more than one hundred million years and yet they are finding it very difficult and struggling to survive these days. The female adult turtle lays more than hundred eggs in the nest it dugs in the beach sand. The period of time, which the sea turtles go through, when the little turtles hatch and enter into their home the sea is known as nesting period of the sea turtles.

The major danger faced during the period of nestling is the flashy and dazzling lights from the buildings and cars, due to the developments built because of tourism. These may mislead the little hatchlings from its destination the sea and might also get them killed. Now as a precautionary method light shields are provided to the offshore buildings, to help the hatchlings to find their way.
Do you know that the food left in the beaches by the visitors and tourists can also create a problem? They attract a big colony of ants which might attack the small little hatchlings which are emerging from the eggs. So we need to be very careful and not leave any food particles on the beach.
During the season of nesting the pet animals like dogs, horses, cats and even cows can be a great threat to the sea turtles. Stray Dogs which are hungry might dig the sand and break the eggs killing so many young ones.

Campfires can also be a heating up session for the nesting process. It might burn or break the eggs so we should never do campfires in beaches where nesting of young turtles is going on.
Another factor which is a big danger and if not stopped can create a very big problem is the usage of vehicles such as bikes, or cars in the sand of the nesting beach really can become hazardous. So in these days prohibitions are made to people not to use the vehicles in the sand during the nesting period of the sea turtles.

Man is another enemy for the nesting of the eggs. People might collect the eggs of the sea turtle and sell it for profit. This behaviour surly becomes a danger for the hatchlings to survive in the eggs.
Few steps like conserving the nesting beaches and protecting the eggs during the period of nesting are taken by all the government of the beaches where nesting is taking place, and we need cooperate with them and save this amazing sea reptile!