Today, 23rd May, has been one among the days for the people who care for the environment. Today is, “WORLD TURTLE DAY”.
Turtles and tortoises are some of the favourite creatures of the people. But when it comes to a larger picture, such as saving the species, these small creatures are being neglected. These attractive, often seemingly helpless creatures continue to beat incredible odds to survive in today's world of increasing trade (particularly for the pet industry) and shrinking habitat.
World Turtle Day was started to increase respect and knowledge for the world’s oldest creatures. These gentle animals have been around for about 200 million years, yet they are rapidly disappearing as a result of the exotic food industry, habitat destruction and the cruel pet trade. And as a part of this day, I too share some facts and try to awake the responsibility of saving the turtles among people.
Turtles, basically, have been the favourites of the children as they have been fascinated by the stories relating them. One can never forget its story with the hare, which it won by its mythic stroll over the finishing line and the hare making a last minute dash. They find a lot of curious allurements under the dome of its shell and even passionately wait for the small head to come out and the lazy eyes open. To top it all, they love its languorous stroll from one spot to another. The turtle certainly is an idiosyncratic creature.
Turtles are arguably the most endangered of all the species that are facing threats of extinction. Despite being termed one among the ancestors of the world as they had been living for the past 200 million years, it is a little sad about the fact that has been revealed about them. ”If the present situation continues, then the turtles will become extinct in the next 20 years.”
These serious threats of extinction have propelled a rescue organization to declare May 23 as the World Turtle Day in 2000. On this date people express their appreciation for the growth of the turtle species as well as propose the ways of surviving of the turtles, to the common people. These will enable the turtles to survive for a longer period without perishing into the ‘sands of time’.
The main threats posing to the turtles are:
Poaching
Artificial lighting
Beach armouring (building sea walls, sand installations, etc.)
Beach cleaning (with mechanical equipments)
Beach erosion
Predators (of course!)
On to the top of all predators, stand the ‘Homo sapiens’.
[/list]
Here are some suggestions on how we can help turtles and tortoises in our own neighborhood and around the world:
1. By trying to stop the (illegal) trade of turtles. Turtles have been kept in filthy, unhygienic conditions and also, are being slaughtered alive.
2. Do not pollute or litter, mainly the beach and surrounding areas as turtles often come there mainly for laying eggs.
One of the major points to be noted here is this:
The American beaches are one among the favourite habitats of the turtles owing to their excellent climatic conditions. But, due to the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, several marine creatures including a large number of turtle population have been poisoned to death. These kind of incidents result in even more faster declination of a species.
3. Become active in your local conservation commission or parks and recreation department, and work to preserve the turtles
4. If we see a turtle in the middle of the road, try to take it to the side in which it was moving, or if it is a bigger one, gently push it with a stick. Do not try to disturb them. Enjoy them from a distance.
5. Do not shine bright lights on the beach at night. Oppose coastal development such as condominiums, houses, resorts, and hotels; they tend to expose beaches to excessive artificial lighting, which discourages female turtles from approaching the beach to lay eggs. The light also draws hatchlings away from the ocean, disorients them, and exposes them to predation and deadly dehydration.
6. Do not hesitate to report about any crime bestowed upon these creatures, if you see. It has been proposed by the Government as an illegal activity.
People must spread the awareness on World Turtle Day how everyone can make a significant contribution toward protecting the turtle. We must put the hard shell back in its place. The old fable had made the turtle victorious; its time we provide the turtle with sympathetic conditions to continue its slumberous walk upon the face of earth.
Turtles and tortoises are some of the favourite creatures of the people. But when it comes to a larger picture, such as saving the species, these small creatures are being neglected. These attractive, often seemingly helpless creatures continue to beat incredible odds to survive in today's world of increasing trade (particularly for the pet industry) and shrinking habitat.
World Turtle Day was started to increase respect and knowledge for the world’s oldest creatures. These gentle animals have been around for about 200 million years, yet they are rapidly disappearing as a result of the exotic food industry, habitat destruction and the cruel pet trade. And as a part of this day, I too share some facts and try to awake the responsibility of saving the turtles among people.
Turtles, basically, have been the favourites of the children as they have been fascinated by the stories relating them. One can never forget its story with the hare, which it won by its mythic stroll over the finishing line and the hare making a last minute dash. They find a lot of curious allurements under the dome of its shell and even passionately wait for the small head to come out and the lazy eyes open. To top it all, they love its languorous stroll from one spot to another. The turtle certainly is an idiosyncratic creature.
Turtles are arguably the most endangered of all the species that are facing threats of extinction. Despite being termed one among the ancestors of the world as they had been living for the past 200 million years, it is a little sad about the fact that has been revealed about them. ”If the present situation continues, then the turtles will become extinct in the next 20 years.”
These serious threats of extinction have propelled a rescue organization to declare May 23 as the World Turtle Day in 2000. On this date people express their appreciation for the growth of the turtle species as well as propose the ways of surviving of the turtles, to the common people. These will enable the turtles to survive for a longer period without perishing into the ‘sands of time’.
The main threats posing to the turtles are:
Poaching
Artificial lighting
Beach armouring (building sea walls, sand installations, etc.)
Beach cleaning (with mechanical equipments)
Beach erosion
Predators (of course!)
On to the top of all predators, stand the ‘Homo sapiens’.
[/list]
Here are some suggestions on how we can help turtles and tortoises in our own neighborhood and around the world:
1. By trying to stop the (illegal) trade of turtles. Turtles have been kept in filthy, unhygienic conditions and also, are being slaughtered alive.
2. Do not pollute or litter, mainly the beach and surrounding areas as turtles often come there mainly for laying eggs.
One of the major points to be noted here is this:
The American beaches are one among the favourite habitats of the turtles owing to their excellent climatic conditions. But, due to the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, several marine creatures including a large number of turtle population have been poisoned to death. These kind of incidents result in even more faster declination of a species.
3. Become active in your local conservation commission or parks and recreation department, and work to preserve the turtles
4. If we see a turtle in the middle of the road, try to take it to the side in which it was moving, or if it is a bigger one, gently push it with a stick. Do not try to disturb them. Enjoy them from a distance.
5. Do not shine bright lights on the beach at night. Oppose coastal development such as condominiums, houses, resorts, and hotels; they tend to expose beaches to excessive artificial lighting, which discourages female turtles from approaching the beach to lay eggs. The light also draws hatchlings away from the ocean, disorients them, and exposes them to predation and deadly dehydration.
6. Do not hesitate to report about any crime bestowed upon these creatures, if you see. It has been proposed by the Government as an illegal activity.
People must spread the awareness on World Turtle Day how everyone can make a significant contribution toward protecting the turtle. We must put the hard shell back in its place. The old fable had made the turtle victorious; its time we provide the turtle with sympathetic conditions to continue its slumberous walk upon the face of earth.