loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta)
description
The Loggerhead Turtle is the same size as the Green Turtle but is bigger then the Hawksbill Turtle, they can grow to 1m in length.
diet
Loggerhead Turtles feed on Jellyfish, sea grass, algae, fish, mangroves, worms and crustaceans. Their jaw is strong. If it bit your hand your fingers will come off!
breeding, early life & threats
They often get trapped in fishing nets. 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 an adult. But scientists think 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. There are many places where they treat injured turtles such as Australia Zoo, Under Water World and many more.
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 it is fake or not, just don't buy it.
- Reduce Reuse Recycle.
- Make rubbish into art.
- Adopt A Loggerhead 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.
- Get solar panels or wind power.
image credits
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loggerhead_sea_turtle#mediaviewer/File:Loggerhead_sea_turtle.jpg
misshennypenny.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/you-see-the-difference-a-turtle-does-not/
misshennypenny.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/you-see-the-difference-a-turtle-does-not/