 After
reading Dr. James Spotila’s book, Sea
Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior and
Conservation, it became his mission to save the
Leatherback.
With
his family, he made a life sized model of a Leatherback named
Leopold. Johnny,
now 9, travels with Leopold to beaches and schools to present
the plight of the Leatherback to the public. He
has also produced a mini documentary called Project Leopold
which he hopes to develop into a feature documentary in the
future.
Johnny became involved in The
Great Turtle Race after visiting Las Baulas National
Park in Costa Rica, while researcher George Shillinger
was tagging the Leatherbacks for the race.
Johnny has been interviewed by his local paper,
is presenting on Leatherbacks at the NYC high school, and
is doing a public radio address. He is pushing
a 3 point call-to action for students across America...
- Educate
yourself about endangered sea turtles
- go to the library
- research online
- ask your teachers to teach your class about sea turtles
- Clean
up the environment
Pick up garbage, especially plastic bags, which make their
way to rivers and out to sea where leatherbacks might mistake
them for jellyfish, their favorite food. This can be fatal!
- Raise
money
Donate your allowance or start a fundraiser at school to
save the Leatherback and other sea turtles. Contact
The Leatherback Trust about a silicone bracelet
sale fundraiser.
|
Johnny Glidden has been a sea turtle champion
ever since a family trip to Hawaii in 2004.