https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg426qqqqnro
“The green turtle has been rescued from the brink of extinction in what
scientists are calling a major conservation victory.
Once hunted extensively for turtle soup, its eggs as a delicacy and decorative
shells, the ancient mariner saw its numbers plummet and has been listed as
endangered since the 1980s.
Now, thanks to decades of global conservation efforts - from protecting eggs
and releasing hatchlings on beaches to reducing accidental capture in fishing
nets - new data shows green turtle populations are rebounding.
"We must use this win as a catalyst to achieve numerous other wins," said Dr
Nicolas Pilcher of the Marine Research Foundation, a non-profit based in Sabah,
Malaysia.
Green turtles are one of the largest species of sea turtles, named for the
greenish colour of their body fat, which comes from their plant-based diet.
They are one of seven living species of sea turtles, two of which are
critically endangered.
Prof Brendan Godley, a conservation scientist at the University of Exeter, said
green turtle populations in many parts of the world are showing signs of
recovery because of conservation over the last five decades, and while this
work must continue for years to come, it gives cause for optimism.
"Sea turtles are iconic and charismatic species... they inspire people," he
said. "Hundreds of thousands of people have been working for decades to try and
look after these creatures, and undoubtedly, it has had an impact."
The conservation efforts include patrolling beaches, protecting females and
their eggs at nesting sites, releasing hatchlings into the sea, education and
awareness to reduce turtles being killed for meat and eggs, and using measures
to stop turtles being captured in fishing nets.”
Via Rhysy and Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
