The Leatherback Turtles☺☺☺
Help Save The Leatherbacks!!!♫♫♫
Introduction☼☼☼
The Leatherback turtle has survived for more than a hundred million years, but is now facing extinction. Recent estimates of numbers show that this species is decreasing gradually throughout its range.The Leatherback sea turtle, sometimes called the 'lute turtle', is the largest of all living turtles and is the fourth-heaviest modern reptile. they have also see the fall of the Dinosaur millions and millions of years ago...
*Population Estimate*: Between 34,000 and 36,000 nesting females
Description Of The Leatherbacks(SIZE,WEIGHT, AND SPECIALTY)🌟🌟
__________________________________________________________
Class
Reptiles______________________________________________
Habitat
They are usually found in the open ocean, but often feed just offshore of land.
________________________________________________
WEIGHT AND SIZE
The Leatherback turtle ranges in size from 4-8 feet in length (1.2 - 2.4 meters) and weighs between 500-2,000 pounds (225 - 900 kg). The average adult measures in between 5-6 feet (1.5 - 1.8 m) and weighs 600-800 pounds (270 - 360 kg).
___________________________________________________________
The Leatherbacks is somewhat flexible and almost rubbery to the touch. Ridges along the carapace help give it a dynamic structure. Leatherbacks can dive to depths of 4,200 feet (1,280 meters)—deeper than any other turtle—and can stay down for up to 85 minutes.
_____________________________________________________________
DIET
Leatherbacks are unique among sea turtles in that their primary food is jellyfish. They also will eat fish, mollusks, squid, sea urchins, and other marine creatures. Adult leatherbacks ply the seas alone, except on occasion gathering to feed in areas with large numbers of jellyfish. Sea turtles swim with grace and speed and have been clocked at an amazing 22 miles per hour.
___________________________________________________
*NOTE: the Leatherback has a pink spot on its head.
WHY the Leatherback turtle matter.
Marine turtles are the living representatives of a group of reptiles that has existed on Earth and traveled our seas for the last 100 million years. They are a necessary link in marine ecosystems(cycle).
Leatherback turtles consume large numbers of jellyfish which helps to keep populations of these marine organisms in check. Marine turtles, including Leatherbacks, also provide a vital source of income, especially in the Coral Triangle.
What are the threats to Leatherback turtle💎💎💎
- Habitat loss and degradation(cause:human)
- Wildlife trade(cause:human)
- Collection of eggs and meat for consumption:(cause: human )
- Incidental capture (by catch)(cause:human)
- Climate change(cause: Human(e.g. global warming because too much gas)
- Pollution(cause:human)
- As you can see not most but all the threats to the poor turtle are HUMAN! So, PLEASE do our part to save Gaia and the animals facing extinction.
HOW we can do our part and Save the TURTLES😎😎😎
- Send a turtle to rehab! Help the recuperation process for thousands of sick and injured turtles.
- Don't buy products which have been made from sea turtle parts. Guitars, ashtrays, Jewell and other products made from sea turtles are sold to tourists around the world...
- Don't Pollute the sea with our litter!
- Try helping instead of eating the eggs of the leather back turtle!
THANKYOU!!!!! THERE ARE OTHER SUPPORTERS SUCH AS THE WWF. THIS ARE WHAT THEY ARE doing:
WWF is working to conserve Leatherback turtles and their habitats in Central and South America, and the Western Pacific through concerted Pan-Pacific and trans-Atlantic approaches that aim to protect critical nesting beaches and migratory pathways. This is being achieved by:
Protecting nesting beaches and near-shore habitats by establishing and strengthening wildlife refuges;
raising awareness so that local communities will protect turtles and their nests;
promoting regional agreements to conserve marine turtles;
reducing long-line by-catch through promoting and facilitating gear modification, using new migration and genetics information to develop and trial management measures and,ensuring that any traditional take is sustainable.
Specific projects include:
Junquillal leatherbacks programme, Costa Rica
Tracking the movements of the Leatherbacks in the Atlantic
What is Extinction?
When a plant or animal becomes extinct when the last living individual of its species dies, causing it to vanish from the earth forever. If there is ever a time when the last green turtle on earth dies, then never again will this magnificent creature grace our world.
Species have been going extinct for millions of years; it is a natural part of the evolutionary process. For example, most of the species that existed during the time of dinosaurs have perished. Many probably went extinct because of sudden geological or climatic changes -- possibly because of a large volcanic eruption or because of a giant meteor hitting the earth. Today, however, species are going extinct because of abrupt changes brought about by humans. Habitat destruction, pollution and overconsumption are causing species to decline at a rate never before seen in history. This loss of species is eroding the diversity of life on earth, and a loss of diversity can make all life vulnerable.