Leatherback Sea Turtles have been here for over
65 million years. They have witnessed the fall of the dinosaurs and
the rise of humanity. Their habitat spans the globe from the North
Atlantic near the Arctic Circle to the South Pacific around New Zealand.
Extraordinary creatures, they hold important secrets about biology
and medicine. Leatherbacks are the largest turtle, reaching a shell
length of 1.7m and a mass of 700kg. In 1980 there were over 115,000
adult females, but there are now less than 25,000 worldwide, and
they are close to extinction in the Pacific Ocean. If action is not
taken soon to protect leatherbacks in the ocean and on nesting beaches
the leatherback will disappear in our lifetime.
(adult leatherback, photo credit: Leron Tonge,
21, Antigua and Barbuda
morning leatherback, photo credit: '08 Playa Grande Field Team )
Saving the World's Sea Turtles - WHYY.org Interview with Jim Spotila
All the Earth’s seven sea turtle species are endangered. The United States waters are home to six of the species, including the Gulf of Mexico, where the 2010 BP oil spill devastated much of the turtle population. Fishing, climate change, tourist density and coastal manufacturing have been closing in on the habitats of turtles throughout the last century and actions of conservationists like our guest, Drexel University biologist and ecologist JIM SPOTILA, help to slow the decline of turtles in the 21st century. Spotilia has been working over 30 years in turtle conservation and his new book is Saving Sea Turtles: Extraordinary Stories from the Battle Against Extinction, which tells stories of saving turtles from egg poaching; limiting coastal development; establishing laws and enforcing oil drilling safely in the world’s
oceans; and eating less wild marine life.
Listen to the mp3
Threat to Las Baulas Park
and the Leatherback turtle - It died in Committee
The
battle over President Arias’s latest bill that would eliminate
the park was fast and furious. The uproar in Costa Rica was heard
around the world and thousands of people and many international
conservation organizations joined in to protect the park. The fight
reached a crescendo in the final week of the Congressional session
before a new government took office after the national election
in February. On April 29th hundreds of Ticos came out to the National
Assembly along with all of the national media. Channel 7, the major
TV station, ran a story the night before and we and our conservation
allies took out a major ad in the newspaper. In the face of this
display and a poll showing that 89% of the voters opposed the bill,
the Environmental Commission held one last hearing and decided
there was not enough time to vote on the proposed bill.
Yes-
it died in committee!!
Conservation Allies Newspaper Ad
Voice of the Leatherback Turtles ezine
This
28 page ezine is the definitive compilation of the efforts of
so many who have contributed to the groundswell of support in
favor of preserving Las Baulas National Park and protecting
the Leatherback sea turtle. It is most likely the first time
this relatively new format has been used in this manner and
it is a very powerful tool that can now be added to the arsenal
of the conservation movement.
Go
to the Voice of the Leatherback Turtles ezine
Beautiful Sea Turtle Artwork Now Available
Jeanette Chupack is offering her beautiful paintings
and prints of Green Sea Turtles for sale
with proceeds to benefit the Leatherback Trust. Jeanette
won first place in the Utrecht 60th anniversary Painting
Competition, juried by the American Artist
Magazine.
To learn more and to order...
  
Baulas Blend Coffee
Enjoy this excellent gourmet coffee and help the
leatherback sea turtle in the process!
Learn more...
The Great Turtle Race II, sponsored in part by The Leatherback
Trust.
Follow 11 leatherback turtles on a two-week
journey as they swim from their nesting sites on Playa Grande beach
in Costa Rica to the Galapagos Islands.
Learn
more...
Turtle Website of Interest
An online library for sea turtle journal articles, where visitors
can search for primary literature references related to sea turtles,
and view the reference abstract with a link to the full-text
version. Also includes conservation information, a discussion
board, and a links page. www.ccaretta.com
Leatherback Trust products now available at Zazzle
Your purchases help support the work of the Leatherback Trust...
click below...
buy
Leatherback products at Zazzle
What can one person do to save leatherbacks?
Maybe you could write books. Or start a lemonade
stand to raise money. Or perhaps you could give talks at local
schools and events to raise awareness. How about organizing an
Earth Day event and raising money? Well, one person has already
done ALL of those things, and she's still only 7 years old. Read
more about the inspiring Meghan Taschenberger...
Recommended Reading
 Turtle
Summer is a delightful book about sea turtles and sea life written
by award winning author Mary Alice Monroe and with photos by Barbara
J. Bergwerf. Aimed at young readers and those young at heart it
tells the story of loggerhead turtle nesting and the efforts by
turtle people to protect their nests and their hatchlings. It includes
many lovely pictures of sea life and birds along the Carolina shore.
A must read for all those who summer at the Shore. Learn
more...
Johnny Glidden, Sea Turtle Champion
Johnny Glidden first became aware of the plight
of the sea turtle during a family trip to Hawaii in 2004. By age
7, it had become his mission to save the Leatherback, after reading
Dr. James Spotila’s book, Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide
to Their Biology, Behavior and Conservation. Learn
more about this amazing young champion's efforts to help the leatherback...
Save the Leatherback Campaign
More than 1,000 scientists call for U.N. ban
on longlining in the Pacific – U.N. General Assembly adopts
resolution to benefit endangered turtles. Read
details (PDF), or learn more at SeaTurtles.org |
