Why is hawksbill turtle endangered

Contact us today. Privacy Policy. American Oceans. Facebook Twitter Reddit Pinterest Email. Ocean Facts. Add comment. Hawksbill Sea Turtle. Are Brown Pelicans Endangered? You may also like. Follow Us! Related Posts. What Do Sea Snakes Eat? What Do Giant Clams Eat? Another 2, lay their eggs on the northwest coast of Australia and another 2, in both the Solomon Islands and Indonesia.

The remaining significant populations are spread throughout the Republic of Seychelles, Mexico, Cuba, and Barbados, with smaller groups in Puerto Rico, the U. Virgin Islands, and Hawaii. Hawksbill turtles are vulnerable to many of the same threats as other sea turtle species , such as loss of habitat, excessive hunting, fishery bycatch, coastal development, and marine pollution.

However, hawksbill turtles are particularly threatened by the illegal wildlife trade and sought after in the tropics because of their ornate shells.

Hawksbill turtles continue to be harvested illegally for their eggs and meat, but mainly for their beautifully patterned shells. The shells, which are commonly carved into combs, jewelry, and other trinkets, have been popular since the time of Julius Caesar over 2, years ago. Japanese tortoiseshell imports of over 1. Hawksbill meat is consumed less regularly than that of other sea turtle species because the meat may contain toxins that can be lethal to humans.

A study in the journal Science Advances found that 9 million hawksbill turtles were hunted for their shells in years between and , over six times that of previous estimates. Rather than nesting in large groups like most sea turtle species, hawksbill females nest throughout their range in more isolated populations. Hawksbill turtles also nest higher on the beach, sometimes going as far up as coastal vegetation under trees or grass, making them more vulnerable to development. In North Western Australia, which hosts one of the largest populations of nesting hawksbill turtles on Earth, researchers identified three separate nesting areas to find that Turtles are prone to disorientation from artificial light near nesting areas, which can affect females as well as hatchlings when they make their first journey to the sea.

Although hawksbill turtles are found all around the world, individuals migrate to coral reefs as their preferred habitat, their namesake pointed beaks helping them forage for sponges, anemones, and jellyfish. Their close tie to coral reefs entails additional stressors to the turtles when effects of climate change, such as ocean acidification , take negative tolls on their habitats.

Hawksbills are routinely caught in nets of large-scale fishing operations accidentally, especially since they tend to dwell near coral reefs abundant with fish. Despite a nearly exclusive lifetime spent in the ocean, these animals still require oxygen to breathe and can often drown if unable to reach the surface in time after becoming entangled.

Not only do hawksbill turtles help maintain healthy marine ecosystems by removing invasive prey from coral reef surfaces which helps maintain high coral cover on a reef , they also have cultural and tourism value for the local residents of their range.

Raising awareness for hawksbill turtles is the first step to establishing nesting and foraging sanctuaries to protect them, though maintaining effective enforcement of those protective laws remains a more difficult element to consider. The good news is that there are already a number of countries that have banned all exploitation of hawksbill sea turtles, their eggs, and their parts on the local level in an attempt to improve international trade enforcement. Wildlife exploitation is often driven by the demand of souvenirs and products made with animal parts.

The hawksbill turtle is particularly vulnerable because of the beautiful golden brown coloration of its shell, often used to make jewelry, trinkets, sunglasses, combs, and decorative pieces. They are easily identifiable by their unique carapace, the scutes of which overlap. Their narrow heads and beak-like jaws from which they get their name allow them to forage in the crevices of coral reefs, where they feed predominantly on sponges.

Hawksbills reside throughout the central Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions. In the first few months of life, they inhabit open ocean environments. They take shelter under drifting algal mats, however recruit to coastal foraging areas once they reach approximately cm in length. For thousands of years, Hawksbill turtles have been prized for their beautiful carapace.

Their scutes, streaked and marbled with amber, yellow, black and brown tortoiseshell , are fashioned into jewellery and other decorative items. In the last years, it is estimated that millions of Hawksbill turtles have been killed to supply the tortoiseshell markets of Europe, the United States and Asia. Currently, despite domestic and international trade bans, the tortoiseshell trade remains a pervasive threat in the Americas and South East Asia.

In addition, hawksbill turtle eggs are harvested for human consumption, with many cultures believing the eggs have aphrodisiac qualities. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this. In fact, extensive research suggests that sea turtle eggs contain high levels of pollutants, bacteria and parasites, which may actually lower fertility.

Similarly, sea turtles are harvested for their meat, which is considered a delicacy in many cultures. Unfortunately, fishermen targeting lobster and reef fish will often take hawksbill turtles if encountered.

In some areas turtle meat is also harvested for use as shark bait. Hawksbills feed predominantly on toxin-containing sponges, which, if consumed, can result in neurotoxicity, kidney disease, liver cancer, developmental defects in unborn children, and even death. Despite this, harvesting hawksbills for human consumption still continues, albeit to a lesser extent.

Unfortunately, in many countries, hatchling hawksbill turtles are taken from nests and kept as pets. These hatchlings are typically kept in small tanks of fresh water rather than saltwater , are given inappropriate food, and are handled too often. When hatchlings hatch naturally and run to the sea, they somehow imprint the location of their natal beach.