green turtle
description
The Green Turtle is larger then the Hawksbill Turtle and can grow to 1m. The difference between males and females is that females have short tails and the males have long tails.
diet & IMPORTANCE
The Green Turtle diet is mainly seagrass. It is important to the Great Barrier Reef because when it eats the seagrass it is like its giving it a hair cut or mow. When it gives the seagrass a hair cut it makes it grow better and helps many fish species.
breeding, early life & threats
The first 15 years of a turtles life is called the mystery years because scientists don't know what they are doing! The Green Turtle is classified as endangered. It unfortunately got its name because when you make it into soup it's meat turns green! They often get trapped in fishing nets and are made into many products such as hair combs, hand bags and jewellery! They will often call it Tortoise Shell. As well as that the threats to the Great Barrier Reef is destroying its home. Rubbish is another massive threat. When its stomach gets filled with rubbish its proper food gets turned into liquid. Only one out of 1000 will survive to be a adult. But scientists believe that may be less now because of human threats. Some natural predators are crabs, monitors, dingos, seagulls and sharks. Another threat is that the temperature of the nest determines the gender but with heat increasing because of Global Warming they will all be females and eventually there will be no males to mate with.
conservation
There are many conservation groups trying to help Marine Turtles. They have been working with locals and have successfully educated them how to protect marine habitats. Marine Turtles often get caught in fishing nets but there is a special net where the Turtle can escape. But not every fishing boat has one. Rangers cut nets on beaches that have Turtles caught in them. Beach care is doing a great job at cleaning up beaches. Some islands hunt turtles but some find them sacred and can't touch them! Heron Island are thinking about culling seagulls because they are a threat to baby sea turtles.
how you can help
- Join Beach care.
- Try to not use plastic bags when possible, instead use green bags.
- Spread the message.
- Support Turtle Conservation.
- By protecting the Great Barrier Reef you are helping all animals there including the Hawksbill Turtle.
- Don't buy animal products or if you are not sure if its fake or not just don't buy it.
- Reduce Reuse Recycle.
- Make rubbish into art.
- Adopt A Green Sea Turtle.
- Pick up rubbish.
- If you see a turtle that is sick, injured or in distress contact the Department of Environment and Resource Management on (07) 5459 6152.
image credits
http://www.arkive.org/green-turtle/chelonia-mydas/image-G140290.html
http://goodpriceforyoumyfriend.com/category/sad/
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